Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon
Aylin Yılmaz, MD
My Philosophy: What Reconstruction Teaches About Aesthetics
I did not arrive at aesthetic surgery from the outside. My specialty board is in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery — the same training that covers cleft repair, hand and limb injuries, and microsurgical tissue transfer.
That background changes how I plan a breast lift or a body contouring case. Reconstruction teaches you where the blood supply runs, how tissue behaves under tension, and how a scar matures over two years rather than two weeks. Those are the things that decide whether a result still looks right in year three.
So my consultations are unhurried and fairly technical. I would rather tell you honestly that a procedure will not give you the result you are picturing than promise it and manage your disappointment afterwards.
Dr. Yılmaz Areas of Expertise
Education, Certifications & Memberships
- 2008–2014: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) - Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine
- 2017–2022: Residency, Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery - University of Health Sciences, Ankara Training and Research Hospital
- 2022: Specialist Certificate, Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery - Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health (Reg. No. 157105)
- 2026: Accredited Preservé Surgeon — Leading Breast Tissue Preservation, Establishment Labs (Motiva)
- 2022: 26th National Congress, Turkish Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Society (EPCD)
- 2021: 25th National Online Congress, Turkish Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Society (EPCD)
- 2020: 37th Basic Microsurgery Course (40 Hours), Reconstructive Microsurgery Society
- 2020: Implant Mastopexy — TPRECD Istanbul European Side Regional Meeting
- 2020: Cleft Lip & Palate — TPRECD Eastern Mediterranean Regional Meeting
- 2020: 24th National Congress, Turkish Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Society (EPCD)
- 2019: Aesthetic Facial Surgery Course — TPRECD 41st National Congress
- 2019: 41st National Congress, Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons
- 2019: Facial & Ear Reconstruction — TPRECD Aegean Regional Meeting, Ege University
- 2019: International Congress on Occupational Accidents, Hand Injuries & Amputations
- 2019: 4th Basic Training Course for Plastic Surgery Residents (TPRECD)
- 2019: New Approaches in Breast Cancer — Training Meeting, Istanbul
- 2018: Basic Microsurgery Course, University of Health Sciences, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal
What Our Patients Say
Thank you for the beautiful work you did for me. ❤️
Sofia K.
Hear From Patients
Your Seamless Surgery Journey in Turkey
From your home in the US to our clinic in Istanbul, our dedicated team (Hande, Emine, and others) manages every single detail. We turn a medical trip into a premium, stress-free experience.
Free Virtual Consultation
It all begins with a one-on-one virtual meeting with the doctor. You'll discuss your goals from the comfort of your home in the US.
VIP Booking & Travel
Our team plans your entire trip. We arrange your 5-star hotel accommodations, private airport (IST) transfers, and all your clinic appointments.
Your Procedure in Istanbul
Your surgery is performed at a JCI-Accredited, top-tier Istanbul hospital, ensuring the highest global standards of safety and technology.
Recovery & Aftercare
You'll recover in comfort while our team provides 24/7 support. Before you fly home, you will have your final personal check-up with the doctor to ensure your results are perfect.
Questions About Dr. Yılmaz
Is Dr. Aylin Yılmaz board-certified, and how can I verify it myself?
Yes. Dr. Yılmaz holds the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health specialist certificate in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, issued on 7 November 2022 under specialty registration number 157105.
You do not have to take our word for it. Turkey maintains a public physician registry, and any patient can look up a surgeon by name or registration number before booking. We publish her diploma and specialist certificate on this page for the same reason — credentials that cannot be checked are not credentials.
One thing worth knowing before you search: her medical degree and most of her course certificates were issued under her maiden name, Aylin Akbulut. She practises today as Aylin Yılmaz. Both names belong to the same registration number, 157105 — so if a document reads “Akbulut”, you are looking at the right surgeon.
AKM Clinic has three surgeons. Which one would handle my breast or body procedure?
Dr. Yılmaz. She is the surgeon on our team whose specialty board is in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, and breast and body work is her focus: breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, tummy tuck, liposuction and combined mommy makeover procedures.
Our other two surgeons are specialists in different fields — Dr. Akif Mehmetoglu is a dermatosurgeon who concentrates on facial rejuvenation, and Dr. Göknil Gültekin is an ENT surgeon who concentrates on rhinoplasty. We do not rotate cases between them. The surgeon whose specialty matches your procedure is the surgeon who operates on you.
What does a reconstructive background actually change about a cosmetic result?
Mostly it changes the things you notice two or three years later, not two weeks later.
Dr. Yılmaz trained in reconstructive microsurgery (including a 40-hour course at Çukurova University and a course at Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital), cleft lip and palate surgery, and hand and limb trauma. That work is built around blood supply, tissue tension and how scars mature over time.
Applied to a breast lift or an abdominoplasty, it shows up as conservative decisions about how much tissue can safely be moved, where the incision sits, and how the scar is planned to age — rather than how the result photographs at the six-week mark.
Can breast and body procedures be combined in one operation, and is that safe for someone flying in?
Often yes — a breast lift with abdominoplasty and liposuction is one of the most requested combinations among our international patients. Whether it is appropriate for you depends on your BMI, your medical history, and the total operating time the combination requires.
Dr. Aylin Yılmaz assesses this at the virtual consultation, before you book any flights. If a combination pushes operating time into a range she is not comfortable with, she will propose staging it instead. That answer is sometimes disappointing, and we would rather give it before you travel than after.
Procedures take place in a JCI-accredited hospital, and your stay includes a 24/7 private nurse, private transfers and coordinated aftercare once you are home.
I would prefer a female surgeon for breast surgery. Is that possible at AKM Clinic?
Yes. Dr. Aylin Yılmaz is a female plastic surgeon, and for many of our breast surgery patients that matters during examination and during the conversation about what they actually want.
Consultations are conducted in English, either by video before you travel or in person in Istanbul. If you would like a female nurse present for the physical examination, tell your patient coordinator and it will be arranged as a matter of course, not as a special request.
Ready to Start Your Own Transformation Journey?
#1: Get Your Free Personalised Quote
Start with a free, no-obligation online consultation. Share your photos, and our surgical team will provide a fully personalised treatment plan and a transparent, all-inclusive price package. No hidden fees.
#2: Secure Your Date & VIP Booking
Once you're ready, our dedicated patient coordinators will help you secure your procedure date. We'll handle all your bookings, including your 5-star hotel and private VIP airport transfers.
#3: Arrive in Istanbul & Meet Your Surgeon
Arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST) and be greeted by your private driver. Settle into your hotel and prepare for your in-person consultation, where you'll meet your specialist surgeon to finalise the details for your "natural, subtle, and revitalized" new look.
