Prof. Dr. Arif Türkmen was born in the İslahiye district of Gaziantep and completed his primary, secondary, and high school education there. In 1981, he received the Atatürk 100th Anniversary Award. After graduating from İslahiye High School, he entered Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1982 and graduated as a Medical Doctor in 1988.
In September 1988, he began his residency as a research assistant in the Department of General Surgery at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, completing his specialization training in 1994. He fulfilled his compulsory service as a general surgeon in the Orhangazi district of Bursa.
Prof. Dr. Türkmen holds specializations in a total of four fields:
- Plastic Reconstructive Aesthetic Surgery (Major Field)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Major Field)
- Hand Surgery (Minor Field)
- General Surgery (Major Field)
Prof. Dr. Arif Türkmen is an internationally recognized expert in his academic and professional career. His areas of expertise encompass several major and sub-specialties:
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS), UK
Medical Doctor
Specialist in General Surgery
FRCS (General Surgery)
EBOPRAS (European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Diploma)
FRCSGlasg(Plast) (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow in Plastic Surgery)
European Hand Diploma
Plastic Surgery
Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Specialist in Hand Surgery
Professor (Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery)
International Experience and Academic Achievements
In 1994, Prof. Dr. Türkmen began working as a fellow in the Plastic Surgery Clinic at the University College of London, UK. During this time, he collaborated with internationally renowned figures in plastic surgery and conducted studies on wound healing. He made national and international congress presentations on the treatment of diabetic and non-healing wounds using maggots and negative pressure wound therapy.
Following this work, he was accepted into the plastic surgery training program in the UK, where he performed numerous surgeries in microsurgery, pediatric plastic surgery, breast reconstruction surgery, hand surgery, burn and wound care, head and neck surgery, oculoplastic surgery, and aesthetic surgery alongside many internationally recognized experts at institutions like Cambridge University Addenbroke's Hospital, Chester Countess Hospital, Sheffield University Northern General Hospital, Nottingham University Hospital, Manchester University Wythenshawe Hospital, Derby University Hospital, and in Belfast. He also worked as a consultant plastic surgeon in Liverpool.
His international achievements include:
In 2002, he became the first Turkish Plastic Surgeon to pass the European Board of Plastic Surgery examination (EBOPRAS).
In 2005, he received the gold medal as the best candidate in the European Federation of Hand Surgery examination, which involved candidates from 28 European countries.
In 2007, he worked as a microsurgery fellow at Chang Gung Hospital in Taiwan.
Academic Career
Prof. Dr. Türkmen received his equivalence certificate in plastic surgery from the Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2007. In 2008, he started working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery at Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine. During this time, he served as the Head of the Department and contributed significantly to the training of residents, primarily focusing on microsurgery and reconstruction.
In 2012, he was awarded the title of Associate Professor.
In 2013, he began working as an Associate Professor at the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine.
In 2018, he was appointed to the rank of Professor.
Scientific Contributions and Memberships
Prof. Dr. Türkmen's scientific output is extensive. He has 30 scientific articles published in national journals, 25 scientific publications in international journals, and over 100 presentations delivered as an invited speaker at scientific meetings. He also serves as a scientific consultant for many international journals.
His professional memberships include:
Royal College of Surgeons of England
British Medical Association
Turkish Medical Association
Turkish Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Turkish Society of Aesthetic Surgery
Turkish Society for Surgery of the Hand
Turkish Society for Microsurgery
