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Neurosurgeon in Istanbul, Turkey
Neurosurgery in Istanbul for patients from the US, the UK and worldwide
Prof. Dr. Serdar Baki Albayrak is a neurosurgeon in Istanbul, Turkey. He is also a Full Professor of Neurosurgery. His career in neurosurgery spans more than 27 years and over 5,000 operations.
His clinic is in Teşvikiye, in the Şişli district of Istanbul. Patients from 64 countries have seen him there. First, every patient meets him in person; then he plans the treatment.
His main fields are brain tumors and cerebrovascular surgery, such as aneurysms, AVMs and cavernomas. He also performs epilepsy surgery and functional neurosurgery, for example deep brain stimulation. Consultations take place in English or Turkish.
Prof. Albayrak on his areas of expertise, in English (37 seconds).
What brings you here?
Conditions Prof. Albayrak treats
Choose your diagnosis first. Each guide then explains the treatment, the operation and the recovery. Prof. Albayrak also reviews every guide himself.
Most requested
Brain tumors
These include gliomas such as glioblastoma, meningiomas, metastases and tumors deep in the brain. Surgery aims to remove as much of the tumor as is safe. Throughout the operation, the team also protects speech, movement and vision.
- Brain tumors: overview
- Brain tumour symptoms
- Brain cancer and glioblastoma
- Frontal lobe tumors
- Insular glioma
- Meningioma
- Metastatic brain tumors
- Craniopharyngioma
Skull base and cranial nerves
Trigeminal neuralgia and skull base tumors
A blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve often causes electric-shock face pain. Microvascular decompression (MVD) therefore treats the cause itself. Skull base surgery also reaches tumors deep at the base of the skull.
Cerebrovascular surgery
Aneurysms and vascular malformations
These weak or tangled vessels in the brain can bleed. Therefore, size, location and bleeding risk decide between surgery, other procedures and monitoring.
Epilepsy and functional neurosurgery
Surgery helps when seizures continue despite medicines. Implanted stimulators also treat Parkinson's disease, tremor and chronic pain.
Spine, spinal cord and nerves
This group covers tumors inside and around the spinal cord. It also covers trapped nerves in the arm and leg, and facial paralysis.
Children
Brain and spine surgery for babies and children, such as spina bifida and split cord repair.
Training and experience
Trained in Istanbul, Helsinki and Boston
First, Prof. Albayrak qualified in medicine at Marmara University in Istanbul. Next, he trained in neurosurgery at Istanbul University. He then completed clinical fellowships in Finland and the United States.
| Years | Institution | Training |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 to 1998 | Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul | Medical degree |
| 1998 to 2004 | Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine | Neurosurgery residency and specialist title |
| 2006 to 2007 | University of Helsinki, Finland | Clinical fellowship in neurosurgery |
| 2007 to 2008 | Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston | Clinical fellowship in neurosurgery |
| Today | Neurosurgery clinic, Teşvikiye, Şişli, Istanbul | Full Professor of Neurosurgery |
His certifications include ECFMG, from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates in the United States. He also holds EANS certification from the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies.
In addition, he has 33 publications from 2004 to 2019, including a book chapter. They cover topics such as brain tumors, aneurysms, trigeminal neuralgia and spinal surgery. Read the full biography and publication list
For international patients
What international patients can expect
- 01You meet your surgeon
First, you see Prof. Albayrak himself, the surgeon who will perform your operation.
- 02Experience across neurosurgery
He has more than 27 years of experience and over 5,000 operations. These include brain tumors and aneurysms, but also deep brain stimulation and spinal surgery.
- 03Training in the US and Europe
He also completed clinical fellowships at Harvard Medical School and the University of Helsinki.
- 04A record you can check
For example, the About page links each of his 33 publications to PubMed or the publisher.
- 05Every option explained
He explains every option, its risks and the recovery time. Sometimes, however, treatment without surgery is the better choice, and he says so.
- 06English or Turkish
So far, patients from 64 countries have come to Istanbul for treatment. Consultations take place in English or Turkish.
International patients
How treatment in Istanbul works
Most patients who travel to Istanbul already have a diagnosis from home. So the same four steps apply to patients from the US, the UK and elsewhere.
STEP 01
Request an appointment
First, send a request by form, WhatsApp or phone. Then tell the team your diagnosis, your country and the dates that suit you. You can write in English or Turkish.
STEP 02
Consultation in Istanbul
Next, Prof. Albayrak examines you at his clinic in Teşvikiye, Şişli. Bring your MRI and CT scans on a disc or USB drive.
Also bring the reports and a list of your medicines. He then goes through them with you and explains the treatment plan.
STEP 03
Surgery and hospital stay
If an operation is the right choice, he first explains it in detail. For example, you learn the risks, the likely hospital stay and the recovery time. Finally, you decide, and the operation takes place in a hospital in Istanbul.
STEP 04
Recovery and flying home
How long you stay in Istanbul depends on the operation. Your surgeon decides when you can fly after the post-operative check.
So ask about this before you book a return flight. You also leave with a discharge summary for your doctor at home.
Before you travel
Planning your trip to Istanbul
Clinic location
The clinic is in Terrace Fulya Center, Hakkı Yeten Cad. No: 11, D:13, Teşvikiye, Şişli. Şişli is a central district on the European side of Istanbul.
The city also has two international airports, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). Get directions
Visa, stay and language
Visa rules depend on your passport. So check the official visa information of the Republic of Türkiye before you book. Many patients also travel with a family member.
What affects the cost
The cost depends first on the diagnosis and the operation. The hospital stay, any intensive care and implanted devices such as stimulators also affect it. Tests before surgery add to it, too.
Ask for the cost of your treatment plan at the consultation, before you decide. Planning to claim from an insurer? Then ask them before you travel which documents they need.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions international patients ask most before they travel.
Who is Prof. Dr. Serdar Baki Albayrak?
Prof. Dr. Serdar Baki Albayrak is a neurosurgeon and Full Professor of Neurosurgery in Istanbul, Turkey. He has more than 27 years of experience and over 5,000 operations. So far, patients from 64 countries have come to him for surgery.
Is Prof. Albayrak Harvard-trained?
Yes. First, he completed a clinical fellowship at the University of Helsinki (2006 to 2007). Then he trained at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston (2007 to 2008).
Where does Prof. Albayrak see patients in Istanbul?
He sees patients at his clinic in Terrace Fulya Center, Teşvikiye, Şişli, Istanbul. The operations then take place in a hospital in Istanbul. Prof. Albayrak tells you which hospital at the consultation.
How do I book an appointment as an international patient?
Use the form on this page, WhatsApp or call +90 532 308 97 72. Then share your diagnosis, your country and the dates that suit you. The team will contact you to plan the visit.
Is it safe to have brain surgery in Turkey?
Safety depends on the surgeon, the hospital and the aftercare, not on the country. So ask any surgeon about their training, their experience with your operation and its risks. Prof. Albayrak answers these questions at the consultation.
How long will I need to stay in Istanbul?
It depends on the operation and on your recovery. Plan for the consultation, the hospital stay and a check after discharge. Then confirm the timing with the team before you book flights.
When can I fly home after brain surgery?
Your surgeon decides this after the post-operative check. It depends on the operation and your recovery, so book a flexible return ticket.
How much does neurosurgery cost in Turkey?
The cost depends on the diagnosis and the operation. The hospital stay, intensive care and implanted devices also affect it. So ask for the cost of your treatment plan at the consultation.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Bring your MRI and CT scans on a disc or USB drive. Also bring the written reports, notes from previous operations and a list of your medicines.
Which languages are spoken at the clinic?
Consultations take place in English or Turkish. The team also replies to messages in both languages.
The information on this website is general and does not replace a consultation. Your surgeon makes diagnosis and treatment decisions only after an examination.
Last updated: 30 September 2026. Website editor: Prof. Dr. Serdar Baki Albayrak's clinic, [email protected].