05.09.2026 12:51
Gonca Uzhan, a 40-year-old woman who underwent chin liposuction and skin tightening in Antalya, was hospitalized shortly afterward when swelling and bleeding began in her neck and she had difficulty breathing. Uzhan, who received an emergency tracheostomy and was treated in intensive care, filed a criminal complaint against the doctor and opened a lawsuit seeking 5 million 64 thousand TL in compensation. Dr. A.S., however, denied the allegations, saying, 'If I have committed any crime, the law will decide.'
Gonca Uzhan (40), who underwent chin liposuction and endolifting laser (skin tightening) procedures at a private clinic in Antalya to improve her aesthetic appearance, was hospitalized shortly after the procedure. After receiving 2 days of intubated treatment in intensive care, Uzhan filed a criminal complaint against the physician who performed the procedure and initiated a lawsuit seeking 5 million 64 thousand TL in compensation. Dr. A. S., on the other hand, rejected the accusations, stating, "If I am at fault, the law will decide."
'I CAN'T BREATHE' MESSAGE
Real estate agent Gonca Uzhan applied to Dr. A. S.'s clinic in the Muratpaşa district on June 9th to improve her aesthetic appearance. Uzhan underwent chin liposuction and endolifting laser procedures there. According to the lawsuit petition, approximately 1-2 hours after the procedure, swelling, bruising, and bleeding began in Uzhan's neck area, followed by difficulty breathing.
The communications between Uzhan, Dr. A. S., and the clinic after the procedure were also submitted as evidence in the case file. In the screenshots, Uzhan is seen sending photos showing the swelling and bruising on her neck, with messages such as 'Hocam, it's swelling so much, it's about to burst' and 'If I don't open the bandage, I can't breathe.' In another screenshot, the bruising and bleeding on Uzhan's neck are visible, along with records indicating that audio and video calls were made with the doctor.
APPLIED TO THE EMERGENCY SERVICE
According to the complainant's statement and the narrative in the lawsuit petition, Uzhan, whose condition worsened, was taken to Antalya City Hospital by her husband. The lawsuit petition states that instead of returning to the clinic, Uzhan applied to the hospital's emergency service, where surgical intervention was performed due to a hematoma, a tracheostomy was performed to secure the airway, and she was admitted to intensive care treatment.
HEMATOMA DETECTED IN HER NECK
In the 11-page epicrisis and treatment documents from Antalya City Hospital, Uzhan's reason for admission was recorded as hematoma and difficulty breathing developing after the liposuction and endolifting laser operation. Hospital records detailed the interventions for airway safety and the surgical process due to the hematoma in the neck area. The operation note in the epicrisis file stated that Uzhan underwent a neck hematoma drainage operation and an emergency tracheostomy was performed. Hospital records also revealed that Uzhan received treatment in the intensive care unit. In the lawsuit petition, this process was described as 'emergency tracheostomy, intubation, a four-day intensive care process, and surgical hematoma evacuation.'
COMPLAINT TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
Following Uzhan's complaint against Dr. A. S. after her treatment, the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation. In the statement taken from Uzhan at the police station on July 24th, the incident was recorded as 'negligent injury.' In her statement, Uzhan described how her neck began to swell rapidly after the procedure, she experienced bleeding and shortness of breath, and was admitted to intensive care at Antalya City Hospital. Uzhan also filed a complaint against Dr. A. S., claiming nerve damage and loss of sensation in her face, alopecia and hair loss, and a collapsed lung.
ALSO APPLIED TO THE PROVINCIAL HEALTH DIRECTORATE AND MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Uzhan also filed a complaint with the Antalya Provincial Health Directorate regarding Dr. A. S. and the clinic where the procedure was performed. The application requested that the incident be examined in terms of patient safety, provision of health services, professional authority, and compliance with health legislation, and that the necessary administrative investigation be initiated. In the application made to the Antalya Medical Association, it was requested that the incident be evaluated within the scope of the Turkish Medical Association's Physician Professional Ethics Rules and relevant disciplinary legislation.
LAWSUIT FOR 5 MILLION 64 THOUSAND TL IN COMPENSATION
Gonca Uzhan, through her lawyer, also filed a compensation lawsuit against Dr. A. S. at the Antalya Consumer Court. In the lawsuit petition dated August 28th, a total of 5 million 64 thousand TL was claimed, including the refund of the 60 thousand TL procedure fee, a preliminary total of 4 thousand TL for treatment expenses, loss of earnings, future mandatory treatment expenses, and other material damages, as well as 5 million TL in non-pecuniary damages. The petition alleged that Uzhan suffered tissue damage in her face and neck area, facial nerve damage and asymmetry, tissue and hair loss on the scalp, permanent scars, and the possibility of requiring additional future treatment. It was noted that a partial lawsuit was filed for material damages since the full extent of the material losses had not yet been determined, and that the claim could be increased based on the actual amount of damage after expert examination.
REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION OF THE PHYSICIAN'S AUTHORITY AND SPECIALTY
In the compensation lawsuit petition, it was also requested that Dr. A. S.'s area of expertise and authority regarding the performed procedures be investigated. The petition argued that the physician's educational or participation certificates alone do not prove the authority to independently perform chin liposuction or endolifting laser procedures; it was requested that his specialty diploma, Ministry of Health certificates related to aesthetic and cosmetic applications (if any), and their scope be inquired from official records. It was noted that these are the plaintiff's claims and that the court has not yet made any determination regarding authority.
CLINIC CONDITIONS IN THE LAWSUIT PETITION
The lawsuit petition included various claims regarding the physical conditions of the clinic where the procedure was performed. It was alleged that the door of the procedure room was open, other people were entering and leaving the room, and Dr. A. S. was making phone calls during the procedure. The plaintiff's side also requested that the clinic's license, operating permits, the physical conditions of the procedure room, sterilization records, emergency intervention equipment, and the devices used be examined by an expert.
PHOTOS ALSO IN THE FILE
Photographs taken of Uzhan after the procedure were shown as evidence in the case. The photos showed the intense bruising and swelling in Uzhan's neck and chin area, as well as the interventions made to the neck area during her treatment process at the hospital. The lawsuit petition requested that Antalya City Hospital epicrises, surgical and intensive care records, WhatsApp messages, photo and video recordings, and the physician's specialty and certificate documents be examined as evidence.
'CAME OUT OF AESTHETIC PROCEDURE, MY LIFE BECAME A STRUGGLE'
Gonca Uzhan said she went to the clinic on June 9th to improve her aesthetic appearance and that her throat swelled rapidly after the procedure. Uzhan said, "I left the clinic. Serious bleeding started. By the time I got home, I could no longer breathe. I called my husband, and he rushed me to the hospital. At the City Hospital, I was immediately taken to the red zone."
I couldn't breathe due to the hematoma in my neck. An emergency tracheostomy was performed, and that's how I clung to life," she said.
Stating that she had come back from death and had filed a complaint against Dr. A. S., Uzhan said, "This is no longer a procedure I underwent because I disliked my aesthetic appearance. This became my complete struggle for life. I filed a complaint against him and I am pressing charges. I am leaving all decisions to the Turkish courts now, and I trust the courts."
DOCTOR CLAIMS: 'THEY DEMANDED MONEY'
Dr. A. S., on the other hand, stated that following the criminal complaint against him, the prosecutor's office applied to the Provincial Health Directorate for an investigation, saying, "The Provincial Health Directorate is also investigating. First, 'Does this doctor have the authority to perform this procedure?' Second, 'Does this doctor have any fault or error in this matter?' Thank God, we have the authority, and we have no fault. This procedure is something that can happen. I mean, if you are opening an IV line, blood can come from your arm. It's something like that. But it is not bleeding as she described; it was a tiny, superficial bleeding, and it was reported as stopped in her tomography. These people demanded 4-5 million from me. They said, 'Either you will give this money, or we won't let you work. If necessary, we will resort to every means on social media and visual media.'"
'IF I HAVE A CRIME, THE LAW WILL DECIDE'
Dr. A. S. also alleged that Gonca Uzhan's husband started writing to his patients and other people, saying, "I will now take legal action against them. I am a doctor; sometimes people can die from an allergy even to a simple medication. If I have a crime, the law will decide."