Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Professor, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine
Twenty-two years of specialist experience and academic expertise, applied to a diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to each patient.
Skin cancers · Skin tightening and body contouring · Botulinum toxin and fillers · Breast surgery · Complex reconstruction
Prof. Dr. Savaş Serel graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1998 and qualified as a specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the same institution in 2004. He has been a professor at the faculty since 2016.
Over twenty-two years as a specialist at a university hospital, he has treated a broad range of patients, from skin cancers and microsurgical breast reconstruction, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty and gynaecomastia to facial aesthetics and the reconstruction of major tissue loss, and has supervised the training and theses of surgical residents. He trained at centres in New York, Munich, Ghent, Zurich and Barcelona and obtained European Board certification (EBOPRAS) in 2009.
When clinical practice, research and teaching go hand in hand, every decision is tested against current scientific evidence. In his practice this experience serves a single purpose: instead of a ready-made protocol, an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan built around each person’s anatomy, expectations and health.
Medical history, expectations and a thorough examination of the problem, with imaging and laboratory tests when needed.
For skin lesions, a diagnosis confirmed by pathology; where needed, decisions are made jointly with dermatology, pathology and oncology.
A plan based on facial and body anatomy, in which the method, the number of sessions or the surgical technique is chosen for the individual; possible risks and alternatives are discussed openly.
Carrying out the plan and monitoring the results with regular check-ups. Assessment, planning and follow-up are carried out by Prof. Dr. Serel himself.
Prof. Dr. Savaş Serel provides consultation and treatment in the following areas of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, at his practice in Çukurambar, Ankara, and at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine.
Surgical treatment of skin tumours, in particular basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma: removal of the tumour with safe margins, pathological assessment and reconstruction with local flaps and grafts that preserve function and appearance, especially on the face.
Non-surgical treatments for skin laxity and localised fat in areas such as the lower face, double chin, neck, inner arms, abdomen and knees, using radiofrequency microneedling. Suitability and the expected effect are assessed individually at consultation.
Botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid filler treatments for expression lines and facial volume loss, planned on the basis of facial anatomy.
Breast reduction, breast lift and correction of asymmetry; breast reconstruction after breast cancer treatment and prophylactic mastectomy, using implants or the patient’s own tissue (microsurgery, DIEP flap).
Reconstruction of head and neck, scalp and lower limb defects after tumours, trauma and burns using free tissue transfer and perforator flaps; surgical treatment of upper limb lymphoedema.
The practice is located on the 9th floor of Block B1 at CUBES Ankara in Çukurambar. Consultations and non-surgical treatments take place here, by appointment.
Consultations are scheduled so that there is enough time for each patient’s questions and expectations, without rushing. Treatments that require surgery are carried out in a hospital setting.
EURAPSEuropean Association of Plastic Surgeons, active member
ASPSAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons, international memberThesis monitoring committee: Effects of microporation and topical palmitate on burn injury in a rat model. Servet Elçin Alpat, 2014.
Since 2000 he has attended 41 international congresses, courses and symposia, and he regularly takes part in national congresses as a speaker and instructor. The main international meetings are summarised below.
| Year | Meeting | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12th Congress of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (WSRM) · speaker | Singapore |
| 2015–2023 | EURAPS Annual Meetings and Research Council Meetings | Edinburgh, Brussels, Pisa, Madrid, Helsinki, Naples, Stockholm |
| 2017, 2019 | Congress of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (WSRM) | Seoul, Bologna |
| 2020 | PRS Korea 2020 · speaker (online) | Seoul |
| 2016, 2018 | Congress of the European Federation of Societies for Microsurgery (EFSM) · faculty and speaker | Antalya, Belgrade |
| 2018 | 4th Congress of the Asian-Pacific Federation of Societies for Reconstructive Microsurgery (APFSRM) | Antalya |
| 2016–2017 | Barcelona Breast Meeting and 6th World Symposium on Lymphedema Surgery | Barcelona |
| 2013, 2017 | International Course on Perforator Flaps | New York, Ghent |
| 2011–2015 | NYU School of Medicine courses: Breast Reconstruction, Reconstructive Microsurgery; The Cutting Edge Aesthetic Surgery Symposium | New York |
| 2012 | 17th IPRAS Congress and Master Class Certificate in Facial Rejuvenation | Santiago, Chile |
| 2002 | 6th ISAPS Congress | Istanbul |
34 articles in international and 36 in national peer-reviewed journals. References are given in the original language of publication.
100 presentations at national scientific meetings between 2000 and 2018, most of them at the National Congresses of the Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, the National Congresses of Reconstructive Microsurgery and the National Surgical Oncology Congresses. Topics include breast reconstruction and reduction, perforator and free flaps, skin tumours, flap physiology research and reconstructive case reports. Titles were presented in Turkish.
He has served as an instructor at courses of the Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and the Turkish Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery since 2010.
Information notes on frequently asked topics, based on Prof. Dr. Savaş Serel’s clinical and academic experience. These notes are for general information only. Because every patient’s anatomy, expectations and health differ, the right method, the risks and the recovery can only be assessed together at a consultation.
Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma are the most common skin cancers. Early diagnosis and the right surgery are decisive both for treating the disease and for preserving appearance. The priority is always complete removal of the tumour; aesthetic reconstruction is planned on top of this safety principle.
To be assessed together at consultation
The type, size and location of the lesion; whether a biopsy is needed before surgery; the appropriate reconstruction method; anaesthesia options and possible risks. A consultation is recommended for any skin lesion that changes colour, shape or size, bleeds or does not heal.
Scars are a natural part of healing, but some become thick, wide or discoloured, or restrict joint movement. The aim of scar revision is not to erase a scar but to make it blend better with the surrounding skin and draw less attention.
Depending on the type of scar, options include topical treatments such as silicone gel and tape, injections, chemical peels, dermabrasion, or surgical excision of the scar with layered closure. Contractures may require local flaps. Often several methods are combined or used in sequence.
To be assessed together at consultation
The type and age of the scar, its location, your skin type, previous treatments and realistic expectations. Treatment planning requires particular care in people prone to keloids.
With age, weight changes and pregnancy the skin loses elasticity, and localised fat and laxity become more visible. Radiofrequency treatments deliver controlled heat to targeted layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, stimulating tissue contraction and new collagen formation. The aim is a firmer, more defined contour without surgery or with minimal intervention.
In the following situations treatment may be postponed, modified or not recommended, which is why a detailed medical history is taken at consultation:
To be assessed together at consultation
The degree of laxity and fat, your skin type, which method and depths are appropriate, the number of sessions, recovery, your medical history and the medications you take.
Botulinum toxin A temporarily blocks the signal between nerve and muscle, reducing the strength of muscle contraction. As a result, dynamic wrinkles formed by facial expressions soften temporarily.
To be assessed together at consultation
Whether the wrinkle is muscle-related or due to volume loss, injection points and dose, any combined planning with fillers, the medications you take, and pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Breast reconstruction aims to restore the shape, volume and symmetry of the breast after mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. It can be performed in the same operation as the mastectomy (immediate) or after cancer treatment is complete (delayed), and is often completed in several stages.
A reconstructed breast can come very close to a natural breast, but its sensation and feel are not the same, and there are permanent scars on the breast and at the donor site. Implants are not lifetime devices and may require further procedures over the years. For patients with problems after a previous reconstruction, corrective (revision) surgery can also be planned.
To be assessed together at consultation
Your oncological treatment plan and timing, the appropriate method, the number of stages, hospital stay and recovery, and possible risks. Ideally this assessment is made before the mastectomy, together with the breast surgeon and the oncology team.
Large breasts can cause neck, back and shoulder pain, bra-strap grooves, and rashes and irritation under the breasts, and can limit physical activity and choice of clothing. Breast reduction removes excess breast tissue, fat and skin to create a lighter, firmer breast in proportion to the body.
To be assessed together at consultation
The desired breast size, incision and pedicle technique, pregnancy plans, breast imaging results, family history and possible risks.
With pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss and age, breast skin loses elasticity; the breast sags and may lose volume. A breast lift removes excess skin and reshapes the underlying tissue, moving the breast and nipple to a more youthful, fuller position.
Depending on the degree of sagging, an incision around the areola only, around the areola with a vertical incision, or an inverted-T incision is used. If there is also volume loss, the lift can be combined with an implant; depending on the tissue, this is done in the same operation or in stages. Future pregnancy and major weight changes can affect the result.
To be assessed together at consultation
The degree of sagging, whether an implant is needed, the incision type, scar expectations, pregnancy plans and the need for breast imaging.
Breast augmentation uses implants to increase the volume and fullness of the breasts, or to restore volume lost after pregnancy or weight loss. On its own it does not correct marked sagging; in that case it is planned together with a lift.
To be assessed together at consultation
Chest measurements and tissue thickness, the implant type and volume suitable for you, the incision and placement plan, recovery, long-term follow-up and possible risks.
Patients who have had all or some of the underarm lymph nodes removed during breast cancer treatment are at risk of developing lymphoedema in the arm. Radiotherapy, weight gain and smoking increase this risk markedly.
The first step of treatment is physiotherapy. If lymphoedema progresses despite this, surgical options should be considered; left untreated, lymphoedema is a progressive condition. The appropriate method is chosen on the basis of examination and test results, and some patients need a combination of methods.
In patients who have had a mastectomy and have arm lymphoedema, lymph node transfer can be performed in the same operation as breast reconstruction with abdominal tissue. Lymphoedema physiotherapy needs to continue for some time after all of these operations. Results usually begin to appear from the third month and can continue to develop for up to two years. As with any surgery, the desired result may not be achieved in every patient.
To be assessed together at consultation
The stage of lymphoedema, lymphatic imaging results, response to physiotherapy, the need for breast reconstruction and, based on this information, the methods to be used alone or in combination.
Prof. Dr. Savaş Serel is a plastic surgeon and a faculty member of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. He graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1998, became a specialist in 2004 and a professor in 2016. He holds European Board certification (FEBOPRAS) and is an active member of EURAPS and an international member of ASPS. He has published 34 articles in international peer-reviewed journals.
The practice is at CUBES Ankara, Block B1, 1424. Cadde No: 6/1, 9th floor, No: 178, 06510 Çukurambar, Çankaya / Ankara, Türkiye.
Consultations are by appointment between 12:00 and 18:00. To book, call +90 312 963 03 03 or email savasserel@gmail.com.
The main areas are surgical treatment of skin cancers, radiofrequency skin tightening and body contouring, botulinum toxin and filler treatments, aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery (reconstruction, reduction, lift, augmentation) and complex reconstructive surgery.
Any skin lesion that changes colour, shape or size, develops irregular borders, bleeds, itches or does not heal within a few weeks should be examined. A definitive diagnosis is made by removing the lesion and examining it under the microscope.
Fractional radiofrequency microneedling is a non-surgical treatment performed in the practice. For more pronounced laxity, minimally invasive subdermal radiofrequency applied through a small entry point may be preferred. For marked excess skin these methods are not a substitute for surgery; the appropriate method is decided at consultation.
In suitable patients, breast reconstruction can begin in the same operation as the mastectomy; in some cases it is better done after cancer treatment is complete. This decision should ideally be made before the mastectomy, together with the breast surgeon and the oncology team.
Consultations and non-surgical treatments take place at the practice in Çukurambar. Treatments that require surgery are carried out in a hospital setting.
Practice
Academic hospital
For speaking invitations and academic collaboration, please use the contact details above.