Step 1: Initial enquiry & remote photo consultation
The journey starts with a WhatsApp message or contact form. You'll be asked to provide:
- Three facial photos: straight-on, profile, three-quarter (instructions on lighting and angle on the suitability assessment page)
- Your age and country
- A brief description of what you're looking for
- Any relevant medical history or prior facial procedures
Doç. Dr. Erdal personally reviews each enquiry. Within 1–2 business days you'll receive an honest assessment: whether you're a candidate, what kind of resection would be appropriate, what alternatives exist, and a rough cost range.
About 30% of patients are politely advised that this procedure isn't the right fit for them. This is by design — we'd rather lose a booking than perform a regrettable surgery.
Step 2: Detailed planning & scheduling
If you proceed, the coordinator helps you with:
- Choosing surgery dates (we recommend 3–4 weeks notice minimum)
- Hotel recommendations near the clinic
- Flight timing advice
- Pre-op medical clearance requirements (if any — depends on age and health status)
- What to bring
A small deposit secures the surgery date. The balance is paid at the clinic, in person, on the day of in-person consultation or surgery.
Step 3: Pre-op preparation (2 weeks before)
About 2 weeks before surgery, you'll receive a pre-op preparation checklist:
- Stop blood-thinning supplements (fish oil, vitamin E, certain herbal supplements)
- Stop aspirin or ibuprofen 7 days before (unless medically required — we coordinate with your physician)
- Stop smoking ideally 4 weeks before, minimum 2 weeks
- No alcohol 48 hours before
- Confirm flight and hotel
- Pack a small post-op care kit (lip balm, button-front clothing, comfortable pillow for travel)
Step 4: Your Istanbul visit
The recommended schedule is 5–6 nights. See our Istanbul page for the day-by-day breakdown. The key constraint is that you should be in Istanbul for a minimum of 3 nights post-surgery for follow-up checks and clearance before flying home.
Step 5: Return home & remote follow-up
After you fly home:
- Week 1 check-in via WhatsApp (you send a photo, we reply with feedback)
- Week 4 check-in
- 3-month follow-up photos and discussion
- 6-month follow-up — final result documentation
You can WhatsApp with any concerns at any time during the recovery period. We respond within 2 hours during business hours, and within 24 hours otherwise. For urgent post-op concerns (significant unilateral swelling, fever, severe pain), we respond immediately.
Step 6: Long-term touch-points
We follow patients out to 1 year and 2 years post-op for long-term outcome documentation. This is opt-in but most patients participate — it's how we maintain the long-term photo library that informs our future case selection.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book?
Minimum 3 weeks; ideal 6–8 weeks. We can sometimes accommodate shorter notice but it depends on theatre availability and your preferred surgery date.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes — a small refundable deposit secures the surgery date. The balance is paid at the clinic on the day of in-person consultation or surgery. We accept cash (EUR/USD/GBP/TRY), bank transfer, and credit card.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Rescheduling more than 14 days before surgery is no problem and deposit transfers to the new date. Cancellations within 14 days forfeit deposit. Cancellations within 48 hours due to documented medical emergency are honoured at our discretion.
Not sure if you're a candidate?
Buccal fat pad removal is the right choice only for the right face. Send 3 facial photos (front, profile, three-quarter) and Doç. Dr. Erdal will give you an honest, no-pressure suitability assessment before you decide anything.
Ready to discuss buccal fat removal?
Schedule a free WhatsApp consultation with Doç. Dr. Erdal. Send a few facial photos and your questions — typical response within 2 hours during business hours.