Hisar Hospital Intercontinental
Prof. Dr. M. Emre Üstündağ is a Professor of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Anadolu Medical Center in Gebze. He has been a professor at Kocaeli University since 2006. He completed his MD and ENT residency at Istanbul University between 1983 and 1995. He has worked at Istanbul and Kocaeli universities and at Acıbadem hospitals. He has also maintained a private practice since 2006.
Clinical focus: head and neck oncology and surgery; rhinology and rhinoplasty; laryngology; septoplasty; sleep apnea surgery.
He completed international training in Ireland (Ardkeen). In Germany, he trained in Tübingen; Freiburg (otology, 4 months); and Regensburg (rhinology, 4 months). In the USA, he trained at Stanford in laryngology and sleep apnea (4 months). He has 47 international articles and 788 citations (Google Scholar, Jan 2026). He is a member of the Turkish ORL-HNS, the Istanbul University ENT Association, and the German ORL-HNS.
Dr. Dogukan Aydenizoz specializes in ENT care with a focus on vocal cord paralysis at Medical Park Antalya Hospital Complex.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Damar is an ENT specialist at Private Optimed International Çorlu Hospital, ENT Clinic. He graduated from Uludağ University in 1997. He completed ENT residency training at Istanbul University from 2004 to 2009.
He has authored 18 international and 2 national peer-reviewed articles. He has also presented 9 international and 16 national congress papers. His research focuses on chronic otitis media, septal deviation, salivary gland tumors, sleep apnea biomarkers, and myringoplasty materials. He completed advanced courses in live head and neck tumor surgery, applied thyroid ultrasound, and several endoscopic sinus surgery cadaver masterclasses. He speaks English.
Dr. Yasar Cokkeser is an ENT specialist. He graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine (1983–1989). He completed his ENT residency at Ankara Numune Hospital (1989–1994). He held a Clinical Research Fellowship in Otology and Skull Base Surgery at Gruppo Otologico, Italy (1993–1994). He also completed observerships at GWU Neurosurgery, House Ear Institute, USC, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Pennsylvania.
He served at Inönü University as Assistant Professor (1994–1999) and Associate Professor (1999–2005). He was Chief of Clinic at Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital (2005–2007). His recent practice includes Medicana Ataköy (2024–2025).
He has more than 75 publications indexed in Index Medicus. His articles appear in Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, Am J Otol, J Laryngol Otol, and Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. His work covers revision stapes surgery, skull base approaches, vestibular schwannoma, and DCR outcomes in 115 patients (130 eyes).
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.