Istinye University Liv Hospital Bahcesehir
Associate Professor Nuri Alper Sahbaz is one of only five surgeons in Turkey to hold the European Board of Surgery Qualification in endocrine surgery. He has completed over 2,000 successful operations at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental.
Professor Suleyman Hilmi Ipekci is a highly decorated endocrinologist who has secured multiple first-place awards from the National Diabetes Congress for his medical research.
Professor Fatma Ela Keskin is a senior endocrinologist at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital who has managed over 1,100 patient treatments.
Dr Hakan Duger is a specialist endocrinologist at Medical Park Antalya who focuses on managing complex thyroid and metabolic disorders.
Total thyroidectomy requires lifelong hormone replacement medication. Surgeons remove the entire thyroid gland, so the body can no longer produce metabolic hormones naturally. Patients must take a daily synthetic hormone pill to maintain energy levels and stable bodily functions indefinitely. This is typically levothyroxine.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While patients always need daily tablets, Bookimed data shows Turkish specialists increasingly offer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) alongside standard levothyroxine. Experts like Dr Ayse Kubat Uzum at Biruni University Hospital specialise in these metabolic protocols. This can help patients who struggle with standard synthetic options after surgery.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that daily tablets are manageable, though finding the right dose takes time. Most agree that stability after surgery feels better than the unpredictable symptoms of toxic goitre in Turkey.
Primary treatments for diffuse toxic goitre in Turkey include antithyroid medication, radioiodine therapy, and thyroidectomy. Leading Istanbul and Ankara hospitals follow international protocols. Specialists like Dr Nuri Alper Sahbaz at Hisar Hospital provide definitive surgical options. These centres offer comprehensive thyroid function testing and ultrasonography.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish endocrinology hubs offer a distinct advantage for complex cases through multidisciplinary tumour boards. While many clinics provide standard thyroid care, centres like Hisar Hospital Intercontinental stand out because their surgeons, such as Dr Nuri Alper Sahbaz, hold rare European Board of Endocrine Surgery certifications. This specific expertise is crucial for patients with compressive symptoms who require thyroidectomy. It provides surgical precision that minimises risks to the parathyroid glands.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey find that starting with anti-thyroid medication often stabilises their levels. They note that choosing definitive options like surgery or radioiodine requires planning. Lifelong hormone replacement will be needed once home.
Turkish specialists recommend thyroidectomy for toxic goitre to provide definitive control over hormone levels. Surgery is preferred when medications fail or goitres cause breathing and swallowing difficulties. JCI-accredited centres in Istanbul use total thyroidectomy to eliminate recurrence risks and provide long-term stability.
Bookimed Expert Insight: A trend in Turkish endocrine care is the high volume of complex cases handled by university-affiliated hospitals. For example, Hisar Hospital Intercontinental serves 250,000 patients annually. This massive scale means surgeons perform thyroidectomies daily. This helps maintain safety standards and reduces the risk of vocal cord damage.
Patient Consensus: Patients find thyroidectomy necessary when the gland is overactive on both sides or if cancer is suspected. Many note it is important to discuss lifelong hormone replacement with specialists like those at Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital.
Preparation for definitive goitre treatment in Turkey typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. Specialists use antithyroid medications and beta-blockers to reach a euthyroid state. This stable hormonal balance prevents thyroid storms during surgery or radioactive iodine therapy.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish centres like Hisar Hospital Intercontinental often involve multidisciplinary teams. These teams include endocrine surgeons and nuclear medicine specialists. Professor Suleyman Hilmi Ipekci and Associate Professor Nuri Alper Sahbaz provide integrated care. This collaboration is vital. Stable patients may still need precise laparoscopic techniques for faster recovery.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that beta-blockers relieve palpitations quickly. However, normalising blood levels in Turkey takes months. Many emphasise that repeat testing and dose adjustments are necessary before undergoing radioactive iodine or surgery.
International patients choose Turkey for diffuse toxic goitre treatment due to high-volume surgical expertise and immediate access to definitive therapies. Leading centres provide radioiodine therapy and minimally invasive thyroidectomy. These facilities hold JCI accreditation. Their clinical safety standards match those in Australia.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish endocrine surgery stands out because surgeons like Dr Nuri Alper Sahbaz hold European Board certification. Only five surgeons in Turkey have this specific qualification in endocrine surgery. This level of credentialing is rare globally. It provides a safety benchmark for Australians seeking complex thyroid procedures.
Patient Consensus: After years of struggling with medication, patients value receiving a definitive treatment plan like radioiodine. They appreciate thorough work-ups using TRAb tests. These confirm Graves' disease before surgery in Turkey.