26.10.2026 09:11
The life of 52-year-old Yunus İlhan, who paid 248,000 lira for cosmetic surgery to look younger in Istanbul, turned into a nightmare. After four operations, İlhan became unable to fully close his eyes and said he had to sleep with his eyes taped shut at night and was at risk of losing his vision. Stating that he has been unable to work for 10 months due to health problems, İlhan filed a complaint against his doctor, while an investigation into the incident has been launched.
Yunus İlhan (52), who lives in Istanbul and works in guest relations in the tourism sector, decided to undergo cosmetic surgery to look younger and feel better about himself. He agreed with Prof. Dr. Ali G. on 248,000 Turkish liras for combined facelift, mid-face lift, temple lift, neck lift, lower and upper eyelid lift, and prominent ear surgery.
According to Hürriyet's report, İlhan was operated on on January 7, 2026, at a private hospital in Bahçelievler. However, he stated that some time later he realized that the deep-plane facelift procedure included in his agreement with the doctor had not been performed and that a thread-lift method had been applied instead. He also alleged that, without his knowledge or consent, fat tissue was taken from his body and used to fill his lower eyelids.
HE WENT FOR A CORRECTION, BUT HIS CONDITION GOT EVEN WORSE
İlhan contacted his doctor again to have his problems resolved and was given an appointment for a revision procedure at a private practice in Bakırköy. İlhan claimed that he was operated on again there under unsuitable conditions. After the procedure, when he returned home, he noticed that his face was worse than before. İlhan, who developed wounds especially around his eyes, temples, and forehead, also saw that he could not fully close his eyes. Due to the ectropion problem caused by his lower eyelid turning outward, he began to experience complaints of dryness, burning, redness, and pain in his eyes.
HE HAD SURGERY FOUR TIMES BUT DID NOT REGAIN HIS HEALTH
Between January 7 and May 7, İlhan underwent revision procedures twice more with the same doctor, with assurances that his grievance would be resolved. Thus, İlhan underwent a total of four cosmetic operations, one of them a comprehensive surgery, but nevertheless did not regain his former appearance or health. After what he went through, İlhan asked for a refund of the 248,000 liras he had paid but received a negative response from his doctor.
AT NIGHT HE SLEEPS WITH HIS EYES TAPED
İlhan, whose daily life has been seriously affected because he cannot fully close his eyelids, said that during the day he cannot go outside for long periods without sunglasses. At night, he explained, he has had to sleep using tape so that his eyes can close. Stating that he has been unable to work for 10 months due to his health problems, İlhan also said that he has been in a difficult financial situation.
FACING THE DANGER OF VISION LOSS
As his eye problems progressed, İlhan applied to Beyoğlu Eye Training and Research Hospital, where he underwent surgery again. Stating that he learned he had serious problems especially in his corneas, İlhan said he was facing the danger of vision loss. Recounting that he consulted four or five different ophthalmologists during this period, İlhan relayed that the doctors told him that the ligaments and tissues around his eyes had been damaged due to the procedures performed at frequent intervals.
HE FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST HIS DOCTOR
Yunus İlhan took his experience to the judiciary and filed a complaint against Prof. Dr. Ali G. with the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. As part of the investigation conducted by the prosecutor's office, the file was sent to an expert witness. The expert report to be prepared about İlhan, who was re-examined at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura Hospital, is expected to be submitted to the investigation file.
"I WANT MY HEALTH BACK"
Recounting what he went through, İlhan said he made the decision to have cosmetic surgery to look younger and feel good about himself, and said the following: "I got into these procedures to look a little younger and feel better about myself. I found this doctor on the internet. I am normally in tourism; I work in guest relations. I also took one month's leave from the company for this surgery. They operated on me at a private hospital in Bahçelievler. After the operations, I went to 4-5 ophthalmologists. They all said my eyes were in bad condition and that the ligaments and tissues had been damaged because of the frequent procedures. Because four wrong procedures being performed within a short period of time had extra-ruined my eyes."
Stating that he also experienced financial difficulties because he could not work, İlhan continued his words as follows: "Because of these problems, I have not been able to work for 10 months. During the day I cannot go outside for long periods. At night I go to bed with tape on so that my eye closes. Because I cannot work due to these problems, I had to apply to the İBB. They came, saw me at my home, and granted me a poverty allowance. My medication treatments are continuing. The entire process, messages, photographs, and hospital records are available in my possession as evidence. A person does not end up like this willingly; am I stupid to put myself in this situation? Financial hardship aside, I want my health back."