I travelled to Istanbul alone as a woman and felt completely at ease during the 4 days! – Report from Friday, April 22, 2016
Through conversations with friends about dental treatments abroad, I decided to make initial inquiries via email with Swisslasik. On the one hand, I was very impressed by their website, as it presents itself as highly competent, friendly, and extremely welcoming to customers. Next, since I also had no prior experience with treatments abroad, it was important to me to have secure and reliable communication, and I wanted a truly dependable partner in Swisslasik. The communication was absolutely exemplary. After just one hour, I received a call to discuss my needs in more detail – very efficient. Further steps, such as appointment confirmation, were completed that same morning, and by the afternoon I had already received all travel documents, contact information in Istanbul, and confirmation of my appointment as agreed. Their top-notch service deserves a perfect 5 stars!
In Istanbul, I experienced truly exceptional treatment! Like most new patients, I was still a little unsure whether everything would go smoothly, and I understand any concerns you might have. Rest assured, you can put those concerns to rest. I was given a driver from the airport to my rented apartment, who then picked me up again for my dentist appointment as agreed (the traffic in this city of 11 million inhabitants can cause minor delays of 5-10 minutes). I was also chauffeured back and then to the airport for my follow-up appointment. It couldn’t have been better.
The Acibadem Clinic is one of the most renowned in Turkey and enjoys an excellent reputation. Many well-mannered locals told me about the significant investments made in training at their own academy, and that only the best doctors are employed at the Acibadem Clinic. And it’s true! Dr. Öztürk speaks fluent English, and if you only understand German, a very kind and courteous interpreter will accompany you throughout your stay at the clinic. There’s also a concierge on-site who attends to all your needs with great courtesy (organizing drivers, giving tours of the clinic, and informing the radiology department). Based on the X-ray taken at the clinic, Dr. Öztürk conducted a complete analysis of each individual tooth. In my 43 years of dental experience, I’ve never received such competent advice, with ample time, precise explanations, and detailed long-term perspectives. This allowed me to create my own personalized treatment plan. I decided to proceed in stages, as I have several issues to address. The first phase involved two fillings and a night guard because I grind my teeth severely, causing damage (tooth loss). In addition, one tooth had to be completely replaced. I was able to watch and learn firsthand how the 3D printer created my perfectly fitted porcelain tooth. The practice is equipped with the latest technology and has a feel more like a hotel. Bright, open, modern, and exclusive, with a Starbucks in the entrance and even a pianist playing Bach and Mozart. As a result, a complete X-ray, analysis, fillings, porcelain tooth, and night guard were all done in one appointment within four hours. I was scheduled for a follow-up appointment the next day, which was timed so I could be driven straight to the airport afterward. Clever, right? 🙂
Price-wise, it really is a saving of up to 70%. During my consultation with Dr. Öztürk, all costs were clearly explained to me in a detailed estimate, and I was able to decide on all procedures and appointments myself. Transparent. Clear. Easy to navigate. Here, the customer is truly king. There are no waiting times; patients aren’t simply left sitting in the chair like in Switzerland. The dentist provides expert advice and works in close cooperation with the client/patient. I’ve now been back in Switzerland for a few days. The night guard fits perfectly, my teeth are sparkling, freshly polished, and the results of the fillings and the new porcelain crown are simply brilliant. They use the best materials from Switzerland and Austria; unfortunately, I’ve forgotten the manufacturers’ names. However, they show you the packaging, and you can read in brochures about the quality seals that guarantee the quality of all the materials and their manufacturers.
Next month, as agreed, I’m flying to Istanbul again for the next stage of my treatment at the Acibadem Clinic. One thing is crystal clear to me: I will never see a dentist in Switzerland again. I was always annoyed by missing business appointments or having to ask the neighbor to pick up the children because the dentist always kept me waiting (30-60 minutes, even though I call before every appointment to reschedule in case of significant delays). No dentist has ever conducted a comprehensive analysis of my dental health over the next 10 years. Now I’m aware of the risks and can prepare for them in the long term without being hit with unexpectedly high costs.
It doesn’t get any better, more pleasant, more competent, or more charming than this!
Furthermore, I had plenty of time to enjoy the enchantingly beautiful city of Istanbul in all its facets! I traveled alone as a woman and felt completely at ease during those four days.
Esthi Bichler, Zurich