Surgeon · Academic profile
Active academic engagement
30+ peer-reviewed publications, Associate Professor university faculty appointment, ISAPS World Congress awards, and international clinical fellowship training. Comprehensive academic profile.
Academic profile
Substantial international academic profile combining: 30+ peer-reviewed publications in major plastic surgery journals (PubMed-indexed), Associate Professor faculty appointment at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, ISAPS Gold and Bronze Awards (World Congress 2023), and international clinical fellowship training at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Ghent University Hospital.
Peer-reviewed publications
30+ peer-reviewed publications across major international plastic surgery journals. All publications independently verifiable at PubMed (US National Library of Medicine database):
View complete PubMed record →
| Journal | Significance |
|---|
| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) | Highest-cited global plastic surgery journal — flagship of American Society of Plastic Surgeons |
| Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) | Flagship aesthetic plastic surgery journal — American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery |
| Annals of Plastic Surgery | Major peer-reviewed plastic surgery journal |
| Facial Plastic Surgery | Specialty journal for facial aesthetic surgery |
| Other international journals | Multiple additional peer-reviewed publications |
University appointment
| Item | Detail |
|---|
| Position | Associate Professor (Doçent) |
| University | Gazi University Faculty of Medicine |
| Department | Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery |
| Verification | YÖK Akademik (Turkish national academic registry) |
Associate Professor (Doçent) is a senior academic faculty position requiring substantial publication record, peer evaluation, and academic contribution. The position is awarded competitively and represents senior academic standing in Turkish medical schools.
International training
| Institution | Country | Significance |
|---|
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | USA (New York) | One of the world's leading cancer centers — clinical fellowship |
| Ghent University Hospital | Belgium | Major European academic medical center — fellowship training |
| Turkish national plastic surgery training | Turkey | Comprehensive specialty residency |
The combination of US, European, and Turkish training provides exposure to multiple international surgical traditions and standards. Multi-country training is increasingly valued in modern plastic surgery — different traditions emphasize different techniques, approaches, and patient priorities.
ISAPS recognition
ISAPS — International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery — is the leading global academic society for aesthetic plastic surgery, with members from 100+ countries. The biennial World Congress is the premier international plastic surgery scientific meeting.
| Award | Year | Significance |
|---|
| ISAPS Gold Award | 2023 World Congress | Recognition for outstanding scientific contribution |
| ISAPS Bronze Award | 2023 World Congress | Recognition for scientific contribution |
Receiving both Gold and Bronze in the same World Congress reflects multiple recognised scientific contributions — meaningful peer recognition by the international plastic surgery community.
Professional society memberships
- American College of Surgeons (FACS) — fellowship inducted 2025
- European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (FEBOPRAS / EBOPRAS) — examination-based fellowship
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) — active member
- Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (TPRECD) — member
- Turkish Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Society — member
Active academic engagement
Beyond static credentials, Dr. Erdal engages with ongoing academic activities:
- Conference presentations at international plastic surgery meetings.
- Peer review for plastic surgery journals.
- Teaching residents at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine.
- Surgical instruction and demonstration in international workshops.
- Continuous engagement with evolving evidence (e.g., BIA-ALCL surveillance, modern shell technology, BII evidence).
Why this matters for patients. Academic engagement is not necessary for excellent surgical outcomes — many excellent surgeons in private practice publish minimally. However, it is a strong indicator of intellectual engagement with the specialty's evolving evidence base. Surgeons who actively engage with peer review, international conferences, and ongoing education are systematically better positioned to incorporate new safety concerns, refined techniques, and updated standards into their practice.
Frequently asked questions
Why does academic activity matter for a surgeon?
Academic engagement indicates active connection to the evolving evidence base of plastic surgery. Surgeons who publish, present at conferences, and engage with international peers stay current with new techniques, identified safety concerns (e.g., BIA-ALCL emergence), and refined approaches. Academic activity also requires submitting one's work to independent peer review — an objective quality check. While excellent surgeons exist who don't publish heavily, an active academic profile is a strong indicator of intellectual engagement with the specialty.
How can I verify the publications independently?
PubMed (US National Library of Medicine) is the standard global database for peer-reviewed medical publications. Search 'Erdal AI' at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov to view Dr. Erdal's publication record directly from the source. PubMed is free, public, and not curated by individual surgeons — what's there is what was actually published in peer-reviewed journals. This same verification approach works for any surgeon you might consider.
What is the ISAPS World Congress?
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery World Congress — the premier biennial global plastic surgery academic conference, attracting plastic surgeons from 100+ countries. ISAPS is the leading international plastic surgery academic organization. The World Congress features peer-reviewed scientific presentations, surgical videos, panel discussions, and awards for outstanding contributions. Dr. Erdal received both Gold and Bronze ISAPS Awards at the 2023 World Congress — meaningful peer recognition.
What journals does Dr. Erdal publish in?
Major international plastic surgery journals: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons — the most cited plastic surgery journal globally), Aesthetic Surgery Journal (the journal of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), Annals of Plastic Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery, and others. These are all peer-reviewed journals indexed in PubMed and other major medical databases. Publication in these journals indicates work that has passed peer review by international plastic surgery experts.
Has Dr. Erdal trained internationally?
Yes — Dr. Erdal completed clinical training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (USA) and Ghent University Hospital (Belgium). Both are internationally renowned medical centers with substantial training programs. International training exposure is meaningful for: technical skill development across different surgical traditions, exposure to international standards, multi-language capability, and integration with global plastic surgery networks. Combined with Turkish national training, this represents a comprehensive international training profile.
How does Dr. Erdal's academic profile compare to typical plastic surgeons?
Substantially above typical. Most plastic surgeons in private practice have minimal publications and limited academic engagement. The combination of: 30+ peer-reviewed publications, Associate Professor university faculty appointment (Gazi University), ISAPS Gold and Bronze awards, international training (MSK + Ghent), and active conference presentations places Dr. Erdal in the top academic tier of plastic surgeons globally. The academic engagement is not necessary for excellent surgical outcomes but indicates active intellectual engagement with the specialty.
Related references