Özkan, a professor from the plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery department of Antalya University's faculty of medicine, was invited by Antalya deputy Menderes Türel to speak to Parliament, where he met and had lunch with Erdoğan. After dining with the prime minister, Özkan found himself in the limelight. Speaking to the parliamentary deputies, Özkan recounted his and his team's lunch conversation with Erdoğan.
During their hour-long lunch, Erdoğan asked questions about the surgeries and indicated that he would like to meet Uğur Acar, the patient who had the face transplant. “The meeting may take place in Antalya or by telephone. After the surgeries, Erdoğan called us to congratulate us. He congratulated us over lunch as well,” Özkan told Parliament.
Turkey's first face transplant and the world's first triple limb transplant mark important medical milestones. Özkan and his team used two arms, a leg and the face of a single donor for the transplants. Atilla Kavdır, the 34-year-old recipient of the triple limb transplant, lost his arms and right leg at the age of 11 when he struck a power line with an iron rod to scare away pigeons outside his home. Face recipient Acar, 19, was seriously burned as a baby during a house fire. Özkan reported that Acar is in good health.
After a critical 10-period following the surgery, the condition of the patients began to improve rapidly.
Kavdır has already started to move his new arms. His newly transplanted leg was removed as his body rejected the limb shortly after it was attached. Kavdır remains in intensive care but is expected to be released from the unit soon. As for Acar, Özkan recounted that he is already watching television and says he is very hungry and asks for foods such as chick peas and dry beans. His progress continuing to surprise the doctors, Acar is excited and impatient to see his new face.
Özkan confirmed that all medical expenses connected with face transplants in the country will be covered by the government as has been promised by the Social Security Institution (SGK).
