Hisar Hospital Intercontinental
Prof. Dr. M. Emre Üstündağ ist Professor für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde und Kopf- und Halschirurgie am Anadolu Medical Center in Gebze. Seit 2006 ist er Professor an der Universität Kocaeli. Sein Medizinstudium und die HNO-Facharztausbildung absolvierte er 1983–1995 an der Universität Istanbul. Er war an den Universitäten Istanbul und Kocaeli sowie an den Acıbadem-Kliniken tätig. Seit 2006 führt er zudem eine Privatpraxis.
Klinische Schwerpunkte: Kopf-Hals-Onkologie und -Chirurgie; Rhinologie und Rhinoplastik; Laryngologie; Septoplastik; Schlafapnoe-Chirurgie.
Er absolvierte internationale Weiterbildungen in Irland (Ardkeen). In Deutschland bildete er sich in Tübingen, Freiburg (Otologie, 4 Monate) und Regensburg (Rhinologie, 4 Monate) fort. In den USA absolvierte er an der Stanford University eine 4-monatige Weiterbildung in Laryngologie und Schlafapnoe. Er verfasste 47 internationale Publikationen mit 788 Zitationen (Google Scholar, Jan. 2026). Er ist Mitglied der türkischen HNO-Gesellschaft, der HNO-Vereinigung der Universität Istanbul und der deutschen HNO-Gesellschaft.
Dr. Dogukan Aydenizoz ist spezialisiert auf die HNO-Heilkunde mit einem Schwerpunkt auf Stimmbandlähmungen im Medical Park Antalya Hospital Complex.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Damar ist HNO-Facharzt am Privatkrankenhaus Optimed International Çorlu, HNO-Klinik. Er schloss 1997 die Uludağ-Universität ab. Von 2004 bis 2009 absolvierte er die HNO-Facharztausbildung an der Universität Istanbul.
Er ist Autor von 18 internationalen und 2 nationalen, begutachteten Fachartikeln und präsentierte 9 internationale sowie 16 nationale Kongressbeiträge. Seine Forschungsschwerpunkte sind chronische Otitis media, Septumdeviation, Speicheldrüsentumoren, Biomarker der Schlafapnoe und Materialien für die Myringoplastik. Er absolvierte Fortgeschrittenenkurse in Live-Chirurgie von Kopf-Hals-Tumoren, angewandter Schilddrüsen-Sonografie sowie mehrere Kadaver-Masterclasses zur endoskopischen Nasennebenhöhlenchirurgie. Er spricht Englisch.
Dr. Yasar Cokkeser ist HNO-Facharzt. Er schloss sein Medizinstudium an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Istanbul (1983–1989) ab. Seine HNO-Facharztausbildung absolvierte er am Ankara Numune Hospital (1989–1994). Ein klinisches Forschungsstipendium in Otologie und Schädelbasischirurgie absolvierte er am Gruppo Otologico, Italien (1993–1994). Zudem absolvierte er Hospitationen in der Neurochirurgie der GWU, am House Ear Institute, an der USC, an der Johns Hopkins University und an der University of Pennsylvania.
Er war an der Inönü-Universität als Assistenzprofessor (1994–1999) und als außerordentlicher Professor (1999–2005) tätig. Von 2005 bis 2007 war er Klinikdirektor am Ausbildungs- und Forschungskrankenhaus Ümraniye. Zuletzt praktizierte er bei Medicana Ataköy (2024–2025).
Er hat über 75 Publikationen, die im Index Medicus gelistet sind. Seine Artikel erschienen in Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, Am J Otol, J Laryngol Otol und Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. Thematisch arbeitet er zu Revisions-Stapesoperationen, Schädelbasiszugängen, Vestibularisschwannomen sowie zu DCR-Ergebnissen bei 115 Patienten (130 Augen).
Turkey offers advanced vocal cord paralysis treatments including voice therapy, injection laryngoplasty, and medialization thyroplasty. Specialized Ear, Nose, and Throat clinics in Istanbul and Antalya use Joint Commission International standards to perform micro-surgical reinnervation and laser-assisted procedures for airway management.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish ENT clinics demonstrate a high technical capacity for complex cases. Dr. Furkan Sokmen and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emre Ustundag specialize specifically in laryngology and thyroplasty at major centers. These specialists often work in facilities like Anadolu Medical Center or Memorial Şişli, which serve patients from over 160 countries, ensuring extensive experience with international medical standards.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that voice therapy is helpful as a first step or bridge treatment. Many emphasize confirming whether the recovery goal is primarily for speaking voice, swallowing safety, or easier breathing.
Turkish ENT specialists are highly qualified in laryngology and voice disorders. Many hold international fellowships and board certifications. Specialists at JCI-accredited centers perform advanced procedures like thyroplasty and medialization. Experts like Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emre Ustundag have trained at Stanford and German institutions.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish laryngology expertise is highly concentrated in academic-affiliated hospitals. For example, Prof. Dr. Yasar Cokkeser at Istinye University Liv Hospital Topkapi combines major surgical volume with research. His 75+ publications and training in the USA and Italy highlight a depth of knowledge that general ENT clinics often lack.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize finding a dedicated voice surgeon rather than a general ENT. Direct communication about laryngeal electromyography and post-operative voice therapy is considered essential for recovery.
Voice recovery after vocal cord surgery in Turkey typically requires 3 to 14 days of strict rest. Initial healing stabilizes within 2 to 3 weeks. Full vocal adjustment and complete tissue healing often take 6 to 12 months for most patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish ENT centers like Memorial Sisli Hospital often utilize multidisciplinary teams including speech therapists. Our data shows that Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Damar at Optimed International Hospital specializes specifically in voice disorders. Patients should prioritize clinics with dedicated speech therapy units to bridge the gap between surgical healing and functional clarity.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that the voice often sounds breathy or weak immediately after surgery. They emphasize that recovery happens in steps and suggest arranging follow-up therapy sessions before traveling home.
Vocal cord injection is a long-lasting but temporary treatment for glottal insufficiency. Materials like hyaluronic acid last 2 to 3 months. Calcium hydroxyapatite may last up to 2 years. Permanent results typically require thyroplasty surgery rather than injections alone.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish ENT specialists like Dr. Murat Damar or Prof. Mehmet Emre Ustundag often use injections as a diagnostic bridge. Because leading Istanbul clinics serve patients from 160+ countries, they prioritize these reversible fillers. This allows surgeons to test voice improvement before committing to invasive permanent surgeries.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that voice changes are often immediate but emphasize that the treatment is a bridge. They frequently repeat injections while waiting for nerves to heal or preparing for permanent surgery.
Specialized voice treatments in Turkey are performed at JCI-accredited centers in Istanbul and Ankara. These facilities offer advanced laryngology services like injection augmentation and thyroplasty. Leading institutions include Memorial Şişli Hospital and Hisar Hospital Intercontinental. Surgeons here specialize in head and neck oncology and voice rehabilitation.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patients often focus on general ENT clinics. Data shows that searching for hospitals with multidisciplinary tumor boards, like Memorial Göztepe Hospital, is more effective. These centers provide specialized care for complex paralysis caused by nerve damage or surgery. This high level of specialization ensures better voice recovery outcomes.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize finding a doctor who specifically handles voice disorders rather than a general ENT. They note that ensuring the clinic provides a long-term plan for voice therapy after surgery is essential for successful results.
Vocal cord paralysis occurs when nerve impulses to the larynx are disrupted, often requiring intervention such as thyroplasty or augmentation. Major causes include surgical trauma to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, tumors pressing on nerve pathways, viral infections, or neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patient data shows Turkish clinics often treat complex cases involving previous surgical injuries. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emre Ustundag at Anadolu Medical Center specializes in laryngology. His background includes training at Stanford, which is vital for precise nerve-muscle reinnervation. Selecting a specialist with international fellowship experience ensures a more accurate prognosis for recovery.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that symptoms like a breathy voice or choking on liquids often appear immediately after neck surgery. They emphasize getting a laryngoscopy and CT scan early to confirm if the paralysis is temporary or permanent.
Medialization thyroplasty in Turkey requires an overnight hospital stay and strict voice rest for 3 days. Full recovery usually takes 1 week. Turkish specialists at JCI-accredited facilities monitor patients for breathing stability before discharge. Most patients resume light communication within 14 days.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patients shouldn't mistake a 1-night hospital stay for an immediate voice fix. Data from clinics like Memorial Şişli Hospital suggests voice stability peak at 3 months. Plan to stay in Turkey for 5–7 days. This allows surgeons to check the external neck incision before you fly.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that voices often sound strained or weak initially due to surgical swelling. They emphasize planning extra rest days in Turkey to avoid the physical strain of immediate travel.