Page 4 - Best neurosurgeons in Istanbul: TOP 74 doctors

Dr. Umut Dogu is a neurosurgeon with strong experience in advanced spine care. He earned his medical degree from Hacettepe University. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training & Research Hospital. Dr. Dogu has worked as a specialist at Yozgat City Hospital, Emsey Hospital Advanced Spine Center, and Memorial Şişli Hospital. He currently practices at Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital.

Dr. Dogu treats degenerative spine diseases, traumatic spine injuries, spinal tumors, and infectious spine diseases. He also manages congenital and developmental spinal disorders. His expertise includes pain-focused procedures such as neuromodulation and vertebroplasty. Dr. Dogu is a member of the Turkish Medical Association and the Turkish Neurosurgical Society.

Dr. Mustafa Yavuz Samanci is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Medipol Acıbadem District Hospital in Istanbul. He has specialized training in stereotactic, functional, and pediatric neurosurgery. Dr. Samanci completed a clinical fellowship in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. He has also finished advanced programs in spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation. He received several TÜBİTAK postdoctoral research fellowships and the Prof. Dr. Hakan Caner Overseas Education Scholarship from the Turkish Neurosurgical Society.

Dr. Samanci is an active member of several national and international neurosurgical societies. These include the Turkish Neurosurgical Society, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, and the European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. He has served on editorial boards and scientific committees. His work reflects significant contributions to academic neurosurgery and research.

Dr. Ayhan Kaya is a neurosurgeon who speaks English. He graduated from the Dicle University Faculty of Medicine in 1991. He completed his neurosurgery specialization in 2003. He provides surgical care using advanced microsurgical techniques.

Expertise: spinal surgery (herniated discs, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, spinal trauma). Brain tumor surgery (microsurgical removal of benign and malignant tumors). Cerebrovascular surgery (aneurysms, AVMs, vascular malformations). Traumatic brain and spine injuries (emergency and reconstructive). Peripheral nerve surgery (entrapments and injuries). He offers patient-centered, safe, and personalized care.

Dr Nimet Ozcan is a dermatologist with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from the Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine in 2008. She completed her dermatology specialization at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital in 2014. She provides care in both medical and cosmetic dermatology.

Clinical focus: acne, eczema, psoriasis, and fungal and bacterial infections. Dermato-oncology with early detection and surgical excision of suspicious lesions. Dermal fillers, chemical peels, and mesotherapy. Laser treatment for vascular lesions, pigmentation disorders, and hair removal. Pediatric dermatology. Languages: English.

Dermatologist Dr. Osman Serdar Akkaya graduated from Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine in 1981. He completed his dermatology specialization there in 1985. He has more than 35 years of experience and is among the most senior dermatologists in the region.

His practice includes general dermatology, such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, vitiligo, and urticaria. He focuses on dermato-oncology and performs surgery for benign and malignant skin tumors. He also offers cosmetic dermatology, including fillers, mesotherapy, and chemical peels. He provides laser and light-based treatments for vascular lesions, pigment disorders, scars, and hair removal. He treats geriatric skin conditions and chronic skin diseases.

Dyt. Yaren Nur Güngör is a dietitian. She graduated from the Faculty of Nutrition and Dietetics. She provides evidence-based, personalized nutrition counseling in English. She designs tailored programs for health promotion, disease management, and weight control.

Her clinical focus includes diet plans for diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disorders, and other metabolic issues. She also guides weight loss and gain and improves body composition. She offers sports nutrition and nutrition care for children and teens. She provides preventive nutrition with lifestyle counseling. Her approach is patient-centered and motivating.

Dr. Ozlem Yogurtcu is a general surgeon with extensive experience. She graduated from Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency at Haseki Training and Research Hospital, 1st Surgical Clinic. She is fluent in English.

Her practice includes gastrointestinal surgery (gallbladder disease, hernias, appendicitis, other gastrointestinal conditions). It also includes endocrine surgery (thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal) and breast surgery (benign and malignant conditions). She treats emergency and trauma cases. She performs minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures.

She is known for precise surgery and a patient-centered approach.

Dr Erdem Gelegen is an ophthalmologist with over 20 years of experience in cataract, refractive, retinal, glaucoma, and corneal/anterior segment care. He performs phacoemulsification with premium intraocular lenses. He provides laser vision correction for myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. He treats diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, keratoconus, and anterior segment disorders, including corneal transplants.

He graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1999. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital in 2004. He is known for precise microsurgery and the use of advanced ophthalmic technologies.

Dr. Cevat Azeroglu is a radiologist. He graduated from the Tabriz University Faculty of Medicine in 1987. He completed his radiology specialization at Ondokuz Mayıs University in 2011. Born in 1959, he provides advanced imaging to support accurate, timely decisions for many specialties.

His expertise includes conventional radiology with X-rays for musculoskeletal and chest disease. He performs ultrasound of the abdomen, thyroid, vessels, and soft tissues. He interprets CT and MRI for neurological, cardiovascular, and oncologic conditions. He practices interventional radiology with image-guided, minimally invasive procedures. He also focuses on oncologic imaging for staging and follow-up. He is known for diagnostic precision, use of modern imaging tools, and strong teamwork.

Dr. Ali Osman Mucuoglu is a neurosurgeon. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Dokuz Eylül University from 2013 to 2019 after graduating from Eskişehir Osmangazi University in 2012 (2005–2012). He worked at Dokuz Eylül University and Muş State Hospital from 2019 to 2021. He has practiced at Atlas University Hospital since 2021.

He has five publications. These include a case report in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports that has been cited seven times. He also reported on 3D printer‑assisted transsphenoidal hypophysectomy and on emergency minimally invasive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) surgery. He delivered an oral presentation at the 33rd Turkish Neurosurgical Society Congress in 2019.

He is a member of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society, the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, and the Istanbul Chamber of Medicine. His advanced training includes spinal surgery courses in 2016 and 2017, the European Training Course on Head Injury and Functional Neurosurgery in 2017, and Surgical Neuroanatomy in 2017. He also holds an animal experimentation certificate from 2016.

Dr. Ibrahim Ziyal is a neurosurgeon at Memorial Göztepe Hospital in Istanbul (2025–present). He was Professor and Head of Neurosurgery at Marmara University (2012–2025). Earlier, he held faculty roles at Hacettepe University (2001–2012). He was the Founding Head of Neurosurgery at Abant İzzet Baysal University, Düzce (1999–2001). He also worked as a clinical researcher in brain tumors at George Washington University (1996–1998). He then focused on cerebrovascular diseases at the São Paulo Institute of Neurological Sciences (1998–1999).

Expertise: skull base tumors, pituitary surgery, and aneurysm/AVM/cavernoma surgery. Neurosurgery training: Şişli Etfal Hospital. MD: Trakya University. Memberships: Turkish Neurosurgical Society, Neuro-Oncology Association, AANS, CNS, WFNS, EANS.

Dr. Mustafa Sakar is a neurosurgery specialist at Memorial Göztepe Hospital in Istanbul (2025–present). He previously worked at Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital (2013–2025) and Kahramanmaraş Elbistan State Hospital (2011–2012).

He earned his MD at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in Ankara (1997–2003). He completed his neurosurgery residency there (2004–2010).

Professional memberships: Turkish Neurosurgical Society; Turkish Neurosurgical Society Pediatric Neurosurgery Education and Training Group; EANS; ISPN; Turkish Medical Association.

Training and congresses attended: Corner Tumor Surgery observership at the University of Tübingen, Germany; Fetal Spina Bifida Surgery observership at HCor, São Paulo, Brazil. He also attended scientific meetings of TNS, ESPN, ISPN, and CNS.

Dr. Eldaniz Mammadli is a Neurosurgery Specialist at Memorial Göztepe Hospital in Istanbul (2025–present). He completed a neurosurgery residency at Marmara University (2019–2025). He earned his MD from Atatürk University (2013–2019).

He is a member of EANS and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS). He completed observerships with Prof. Hugues Duffau in Montpellier (2023) and Prof. Michael Lawton at the Barrow Neurological Institute (2024).

He attended WSSFN 2022 and EANS Vascular 2024. He trained at the Yasargil Microneurosurgery Academy in 2024 and 2025. He joined the MGB Neurosurgery Spine Symposium in 2025. He also attended the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Congresses (2020–2023) and skull base and spine cadaver courses in Istanbul (2022–2023).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saydam Mehmet is a general surgeon at Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital (2025–present). His work covers oncologic, endocrine, and metabolic surgery. He performs laparoscopic surgery, including hernia repair and anti-reflux procedures. He also treats morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes. Sleeve gastrectomy is among his key procedures.

Education: He graduated from the Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine (1995–2001). He completed his general surgery residency there (2004–2009). He was a research fellow at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Ryder Trauma Center (2015–2016).

Experience: He worked as a general surgery specialist at GATA Haydarpaşa, Girne Military, and Mevki Military. He later served as Associate Professor of General Surgery at Dışkapı, Sancaktepe, and Medical Park Gebze. Earlier, he practiced as a general practitioner in military medical services.