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PLASTIC SURGERY · TRANSPLANTATION · AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY

Prof. Dr. Ömer Özkan

Professor of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery; Director of the Organ Transplantation Institute, Akdeniz University · Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya
One of the world’s leading specialists in composite tissue transplantation. In 2011 at Akdeniz University he led the team that performed the world’s first uterus transplant from a deceased donor — only the second ever reported in the medical literature, and the first anywhere to succeed surgically; nine years later that same patient gave birth to a healthy son. He also led the world’s first triple limb transplant and Türkiye’s first full face transplant, both on 21 January 2012. Recipient of the TÜSEB Aziz Sancar Prize (2023) and honorary member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences TÜBA (2024). Director of the Institute of Organ Transplantation at Akdeniz University.
25+
years of experience
130
Web of Science papers
24
h-index
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
Prof. Dr. Ömer Özkan
ANTALYA · 08/2026
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
  • ★
    2024
    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
    In 2011 at the Akdeniz hospital, patient Derya Sert (Rokitansky syndrome) received a uterus from a deceased donor — the second uterus transplant ever reported in the medical literature, and the first anywhere to succeed surgically.
    world first
  • 02
    A healthy child born from that transplanted uterus (2020)
    On 4 June 2020 Derya Sert gave birth to a healthy boy — the first birth from a transplanted uterus in Türkiye, nine years after the operation, after five pregnancy losses and a vascular revision.
    first in Türkiye
  • 03
    Triple limb transplant (2012)
    On 21 January 2012 patient Atilla Kavdır received both hands and one leg simultaneously, in parallel with a face transplant on another patient. The leg had to be removed the next day, and the recipient died of a fungal infection three months later.
    world first
  • 04
    Full face transplant (2012)
    21 January 2012, 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
GUIDES AND ARTICLES

Further reading

Our guides and articles on this doctor's work and specialities. They describe the treatments, not who performs them — the doctor for your case is confirmed by your coordinator.

Uterus transplantation Uterus transplantation explained plainly: who it is for, why the graft is temporary, the IVF that… Born without a uterus: what MRKH means and what the options really are MRKH syndrome explained without euphemism: what the diagnosis means, what it does not mean, and an… CAR T-Cell Therapy: A Complete Patient Guide (2026) A clear, sourced 2026 guide to CAR T-cell therapy: how it works, which cancers it treats,… Türkiye’s First University-Based CAR T-Cell Therapy Centre Licensed at Akdeniz University Akdeniz University’s CAR-T centre in Antalya, Türkiye’s first university-based one, is licensed and preparing its first… Abdominoplasty A factual guide to abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): full vs mini, muscle repair, recovery, risks, indicative costs,… Allogeneic bone marrow transplant A plain-language guide to allogeneic bone marrow (stem cell) transplant: who it helps, how it works,…
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
Appointed professor in 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. Only the second uterus transplant ever reported, and the first to succeed surgically.
2012
Face transplant + triple limb transplant in a single operation
Akdeniz, 21 January.
2020
A child born from the 2011 transplanted uterus — first in Türkiye
Akdeniz, 4 June. Nine years on, after five pregnancy losses and a vascular revision.
2023
TÜSEB Aziz Sancar Bilim Ödülü
Health Institutes of Türkiye prize.
2024
Honorary member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA)
Elected December 2024.
PUBLICATIONS

Scientific work

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

  • 2024
    JAMA Surgery
    «An Update on the Survival of the First 50 Face Transplants Worldwide»
    · co-author
  • 2023
    Journal of Clinical Medicine
    «The Ozkan Technique in Current Use in Uterus Transplantation: From the First Ever Successful Attempt to Clinical Reality»
    · first author
  • 2024
    American Journal of Transplantation
    «International consensus recommendations on face transplantation: A 2-step Delphi study»
    · co-author
  • 2010
    Seminars in Plastic Surgery
    «Midface reconstruction»
    · co-author
CLINIC

Where they practise

Direct contract with BergemHealth at every listed clinic.

Akdeniz University Hospital
PRIMARY CLINIC
Akdeniz University Hospital
The world’s first deceased-donor uterus transplant and Türkiye’s first face transplant were performed here. The largest university hospital in Türkiye’s Mediterranean region: 218,348 m² of floor area, 33 specialised departments,…
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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