Assoc. Prof. Tonguç Utku Yılmaz, MD

Assoc. Prof. Tonguç Utku Yılmaz, MD is a general surgeon at the Kidney Transplant Center of Acibadem Atakent Hospital in İstanbul, where he works in the Organ Transplantation unit. His clinical work centers on kidney and liver transplantation and on surgery for diseases of the pancreas, liver and biliary tract. He has more than 23 years of experience in medicine and sees both local and international patients.

Dr. Yılmaz graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 2003 and completed his specialty training in General Surgery at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine in 2009. He has been part of Acıbadem Healthcare Services since 2016. In addition to transplantation, his subspecialty interests are robotic surgery, endocrine surgery, and the treatment of hemorrhoids and anorectal diseases.

Clinical focus

A central part of Dr. Yılmaz’s practice is organ transplantation. He evaluates and treats patients who may be candidates for kidney transplantation, and he is also involved in liver transplantation for patients with liver failure. Transplant candidacy and timing are discussed within the Organ Transplantation unit on the basis of each patient’s individual clinical picture. Related to this, he manages a range of liver and biliary tract diseases, including fatty liver disease, gallbladder inflammation and conditions of the bile ducts. In oncological surgery, his areas of expertise include liver cancer as well as cancers of the gallbladder and bile ducts, and he also treats pancreatic diseases.

Where appropriate, Dr. Yılmaz uses robotic surgery techniques. His endocrine surgery practice covers thyroid conditions, and he also treats hernias. In proctology, he offers evaluation and treatment of hemorrhoids and other anorectal diseases. Whether a surgical approach is suitable, and which technique is used, depends on the individual assessment of each patient, including imaging, laboratory findings, previous treatments and general health. Not every patient is a candidate for surgery, and conservative options are considered where they apply.

How Dr. Yılmaz works with international patients

Dr. Yılmaz consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the options. For international patients, a video consultation with Dr. Yılmaz can also be arranged, for example to review a case before travelling to İstanbul or to discuss follow-up after treatment.