Plastic surgeon’s cosmetic work leaves people in disbelief

Plastic surgery has long sat at the intersection of admiration and debate. Whether it’s enhancing features for confidence or reconstructing appearances after trauma, the field covers a wide spectrum of personal and medical motivations.

Turkey is becoming the world’s hub for a myriad of cosmetic treatments due to its affordability and the skilled surgeons found there.

Keep reading to learn more.

Sometimes the results of plastic surgery are so striking, that they are almost hard to believe.

That’s exactly what happened when a set of before-and-after photos of a woman’s transformation went viral on TikTok — leaving viewers stunned by the drastic difference.

The video was posted by a cosmetic surgeon, who appears to be based in Turkey and shares their work under the name “Dr May” on TikTok. The clip shows a 68-year-old woman, Miss Dilek, who reportedly underwent multiple procedures over two years — including a rhinoplasty, facelift, and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).

In the “before” image, Miss Dilek appears with visible signs of aging typical for her age. But the “after” photo shows a woman who appears decades younger, with tighter, smoother features; so much so that viewers questioned whether it was even the same person.

“Our lovely patient Miss Dilek after two years of rhinoplasty, facelift and blepharoplasty surgeries. I await your comments,” the surgeon wrote in the caption.

The patient’s ‘before’ photo. Credit: Instagram.
And the comments poured in. “That’s the mum and daughter — no way that’s her,” one user insisted. Another wrote: “The nose changed completely. They’re different people.” It seems no one is sure whether the images are authentic.

Despite having deactivated their Instagram, Dr May has built a strong following on TikTok, with nearly 32,000 followers and Miss Dilek’s transformation video nearing 100,000 views. Still, it’s not his most viral post — one video showcasing a U.S. patient’s nose job has hit over five million views.

The patient’s ‘after’ photo. Credit: Instagram.
Turkey has emerged as a global hotspot for medical tourism, especially when it comes to plastic surgery. Its location bridging Europe and Asia has made it accessible to patients worldwide — not to mention the significantly lower costs compared to many Western countries.

According to Clinic Spots, over 100,000 people travel to Turkey each year for cosmetic procedures including rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, tummy tucks, breast surgeries, chin implants, and more.

The Turkish Ministry of Tourism reports that most medical tourists come from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and France.

With transformations like Miss Dilek’s making the rounds online, it’s no wonder the country has become a go-to destination for those seeking dramatic (and sometimes unbelievable) results.