Cosmetic procedure sent Antalya woman to intensive care: ‘Doctor, I can’t breathe’

Gonca Uzhan says she went to a private clinic in Antalya to improve her appearance and left fighting for her life. After undergoing chin liposuction and endolifting laser treatment on June 9, she said her throat quickly began to swell and serious bleeding followed.

“After I left the clinic, serious bleeding began. When I arrived home, I could no longer breathe. I called my husband, and he rushed me to the hospital. At the City Hospital, I was taken straight to the red zone. I could not breathe because of the hematoma in my neck. An emergency tracheostomy was opened, and that is how I held on to life,” Uzhan said.

Uzhan, 40, has also complained about Dr. A.S. through her lawyer and filed a compensation case at Antalya’s on-duty Consumer Court. The lawsuit seeks the return of the 60,000 lira procedure fee, an initial 4,000 lira for treatment costs, lost income, future mandatory treatment expenses and other material losses, plus 5 million lira in moral damages. The total claim is 5.064 million lira.

The lawsuit alleges damage to tissue in Uzhan’s face and neck, facial nerve damage, asymmetry, tissue and hair loss on her scalp, permanent scarring and the possibility of further treatment. Because the full material damage has not yet been established, the material compensation claim was filed partially and could be increased after an expert review.

The petition also asks authorities to examine Dr. A.S.’s specialty and legal authority to perform the procedures. It argues that training or participation certificates alone would not prove authorization to independently perform chin liposuction or endolifting laser treatment, and requests official checks of the doctor’s specialty certificate and any Health Ministry certification for aesthetic and cosmetic procedures. These remain the claimant’s allegations, and the court has made no finding on the doctor’s authorization.

Uzhan’s side further asks experts to examine the clinic’s license, operating permits, treatment room, sterilization records, emergency equipment and devices. The petition alleges that the room door remained open, other people entered and left, and the doctor took phone calls during the procedure. Medical records, intensive care documents, WhatsApp messages, photographs and videos were submitted as potential evidence.

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After I left the clinic, serious bleeding began. When I arrived home, I could no longer breathe. I called my husband, and he rushed me to the hospital. At the City Hospital, I was taken straight to the red zone. I could not breathe because of the hematoma in my neck. An emergency tracheostomy was opened, and that is how I held on to life.