I had my surgery with Dr. Cem Altindag and I am very happy with the results. He is professional, kind, and listens carefully to what you want. He explained everything clearly and made me feel safe and comfortable.
The care before and after surgery was great. Dr. Cem and Ceren were always there to answer my questions and help me during recovery. Also at the hospital the nurses and everybody was so nice and helpful. The results look natural and exactly how I hoped.
I highly recommend Dr. Cem Altindag to anyone thinking about surgery in Istanbul because of how experienced and skilled he is.
Honest Review of My Rhinoplasty Experience with Cem Altindag
I’m sharing this review to help future patients make an informed decision.
Initially, everything looked professional. I booked the surgery through Bookimed, the ratings were high, and communication via Telegram (Bookimed) and WhatsApp (clinic) was smooth. However, once I arrived in Turkey, serious concerns started.
On the morning of surgery, I was taken to a hospital that had never been clearly disclosed beforehand. I had no prior information about this clinic from either Bookimed or the clinic itself, which was stressful on the surgery day.
I met the doctor for the first time just minutes before surgery. He briefly examined my nose and said, “Don’t expect an ideal result.” This was alarming, especially since I had previously been shown a 3D simulation of the expected outcome. I wasn’t expecting perfection, but I expected something close to what was presented.
The surgery process felt unsettling. I was taken to a very cold underground floor with many people around (likely interns), and I did not see the surgeon again until I was already being sedated, which caused serious anxiety.
Waking up from anesthesia was the worst sedation experience I’ve had: intense shaking, trembling, and feeling extremely cold for about 40 minutes, with no proper post-op comfort.
The swelling afterward was extreme—far worse than what I observed in other rhinoplasty patients staying at the same hotel. My face was heavily bruised and swollen.
After the casts were removed, the result was far from the 3D model. Eventually, my nose looked almost identical to how it looked before surgery. The doctor repeatedly insisted it was “just swelling” and would go away.
It didn’t.
Nearly a year later, a CT scan showed misaligned nasal bones and bone overgrowth, confirming this was a structural issue, not swelling.
Main issues:
The hospital was not clearly disclosed beforehand
Minimal pre-op communication; doctor appeared only minutes before surgery
Abnormally severe swelling
Final result: no visible improvement, and even a new hump appeared
The doctor never acknowledged responsibility and gave false reassurance
About a year later, I was offered a revision surgery for $700 (clinic fees only).
As of January 2026, over a year after surgery, my nose looks essentially the same as before (if not worse).
My surgery was performed by Dr. Cem Altindag. Based on my experience and outcome, the quality was objectively poor. I’m sharing this to help others avoid the same disappointment.
I was well looked after by Dr Cem and his team, very kind and lovely people. They were considerate and supportive with me, as I was slightly apprehensive and nervous. Very happy with the result, so glad I went through with it. Dr Cem also applied electrocautery to my turbinates to help with my breathing, absolute legend and great clinician.
