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PLASTIC SURGERY · TRANSPLANTATION · AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY

Prof. Dr. Ömer Özkan

Head of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery · Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya
One of the world’s leading specialists in composite tissue transplantation. Performed the world’s first successful uterus transplant from a deceased donor (2011), the world’s first triple limb transplant (2012), and Türkiye’s first full face transplant (2011). Recipient of the TÜSEB Aziz Sancar Prize (2023) and honorary member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences TÜBA (2025). Has led the Department of Plastic Surgery at Akdeniz University since 2006.
30+
years of experience
12,000+
operations
340+
publications
5
face transplants
WSRM · World Society for Reconstructive MicrosurgeryEURAPS · European Association of Plastic SurgeonsICOPLAST · International Confederation for Plastic SurgeryThe Transplantation Society
A BergemHealth coordinator arranges contact with the professor within 24–48 hours on business days.
Direct contract with BergemHealth
CONSULTATION LANGUAGES
RU Russian · via BergemHealth coordinator
TR Turkish · native
EN English · professionally
ANTALYA · 05/2026
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
  • ★
    2025
    Honorary member of TÜBA
    Turkish Academy of Sciences
    The first Akdeniz University academic to receive honorary membership in the Turkish Academy of Sciences.
  • ★
    2023
    TÜSEB Aziz Sancar Prize (Sağlık Bilimleri Ödülü)
    Health Institutes of Türkiye (TÜSEB)
    Türkiye’s leading state award in health sciences. Sağlık Bilimleri category.
  • 2023
    TÜBİTAK 100. Yıl Hizmet Ödülü
    Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)
  • 2012
    Turk of the Year in Science
    TRT (Turkish state broadcaster)
  • 2011
    Golden Scalpel Award
    Turkish Society of Plastic Surgery
  • 2010
    Achievement in Medicine Award
    Antalya Promotion Foundation
PROCEDURE SPECTRUM

What Prof. Dr. Ömer Özkan does

Pioneering operations, several of which are world or Turkish firsts.

  • 01
    Uterus transplant from a deceased donor (2011)
    On 9 August 2011 at the Akdeniz hospital, patient Derya Sert (Rokitansky syndrome) received a uterus from a deceased donor — the world’s first such operation.
    world first
  • 02
    Birth of a healthy child after this transplant (2020)
    On 4 June 2020 Derya Sert gave birth to a healthy boy named Ömer Özkan after the surgeon. The world’s first live birth from a uterus transplanted from a deceased donor.
    world first
  • 03
    Triple limb transplant (2012)
    On 21 January 2012 patient Atilla Kavdır received both hands and one leg simultaneously — performed in parallel with a face transplant on another patient.
    world first
  • 04
    Full face transplant (2011)
    On 9 August 2011, on patient Uğur Acar.
    first in Türkiye
  • 05
    Face transplant — Turan Çolak (2012)
    16 May 2012.
    second in Türkiye
  • 06
    Third face transplant (2013)
    On 18 July 2013 using a donor from Poland.
    —
  • 07
    Bilateral hand transplant (below the elbow)
    Patient Cihan Topal.
    first in Türkiye
  • 08
    Microsurgical free flaps
    Perforator and supermicrosurgery — areas in which the professor specialised under Prof. Isao Koshima (Tokyo).
    routine practice
DATA UPDATED: MAY 2026
EDUCATION & CAREER

Timeline

From Hacettepe to Akdeniz and to leadership in international professional societies.

1995
Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine (MD). Ankara.
1995–2001
Hacettepe University — residency
Residency in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
2004
Associate Professor, Hacettepe University
Awarded the academic rank of associate professor.
2004–2005
Reconstructive microsurgery — Taiwan
I-Shou University / E-Da Hospital. Mentor: Prof. Hung-Chi Chen.
2006
EURAPS Fellowship — Bogenhausen Clinic, Munich
Fellowship in plastic surgery.
2006
Professor, Akdeniz University
Took over the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
2010
Bilateral hand transplant — first in Türkiye
Akdeniz University Hospital.
2011
Uterus transplant from a deceased donor — world first
Akdeniz, 9 August.
2012
Face transplant + triple limb transplant in a single operation
Akdeniz, 21 January.
2020
Birth of a child following a uterus transplant from a deceased donor — world first
Akdeniz, 4 June.
2023
TÜSEB Aziz Sancar Bilim Ödülü
Health Institutes of Türkiye prize.
2025
Honorary member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA)
The first Akdeniz academic to receive this honour.
PUBLICATIONS

Scientific work

Selected publications in indexed journals. Full list available in Scopus (Author ID 7005403340) and AVESIS Akdeniz.

  • 2022
    Annals of Surgery
    «Birth of a healthy baby 9 years after a surgically successful deceased donor uterus transplant»
    · co-author
  • 2018
    Microsurgery
    «Face allotransplantation for various types of facial disfigurements: a series of five cases»
    · first author
  • 2017
    Microsurgery
    «Consideration of difficulties and exit strategies in a case of face allotransplantation resulting in failure»
    · first author
  • 2013
    Fertility and Sterility
    «Preliminary results of the first human uterus transplantation from a multiorgan donor»
    · first author
CLINIC

Where they practise

Direct contract with BergemHealth at every listed clinic.

PRIMARY CLINIC
Akdeniz University Hospital
The largest university hospital in Türkiye’s Mediterranean region. 218,348 m² of floor area, 33 specialised departments, 1,267 beds, 8 buildings. A global leader in transplantation — the world’s first uterus…
Open clinic profile
SECONDARY LOCATION
Tuncer Karpuzoğlu Organ Transplant Institute — on the campus of Akdeniz University Hospital
Appointments are arranged through your BergemHealth coordinator.
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