American and Canadian individuals are flocking to Este Hospital in Istanbul for cosmetic surgeries that claim to offer life-changing results. However, the legitimacy of the clinic’s transformations is being questioned amidst concerns of digital manipulation, as highlighted by plastic surgeons and AI experts.
American and Canadian individuals are traveling to Este Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, for cosmetic surgery procedures that promise transformative results. The clinic has garnered attention on social media due to striking before-and-after photos of clients, which have raised questions about the legitimacy of these transformations.
Este Hospital’s lead surgeon, Dr. Eli May, asserts that the 2,000 radical images shared online are genuine and not enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI). Patients like Michael, from Canada, reportedly underwent multiple procedures including a facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty, buccal fat removal, rhinoplasty, and hair transplant to achieve dramatic physical changes. Dr. May noted that significant weight loss following gastric sleeve surgery also contributed to Michael’s transformation.
However, skepticism persists among plastic surgeons and AI experts. Dr. Eli Levine, a New York City surgeon, and Professor Siwei Lyu, a computer scientist at the University of Buffalo and AI expert, have pointed out inconsistencies such as the absence of scars and changes in ear shapes. These factors led them to suspect potential digital manipulation.
Despite these doubts, some professionals like Dr. David Hill, a plastic surgeon from Chicago, believe the results are achievable with surgery, though conceding that photo enhancements might still be involved. He noted similarities in the iris of Michael’s before and after images, suggesting they are the same individual.
Patients are instructed by the clinic to take ‘after’ photos at least one year post-surgery to account for full recovery. Procedures at Este Hospital reportedly cost $4,000 for a rhinoplasty and around $6,000 for a facelift. The debate continues about whether these viral before-and-after images truly reflect the surgical outcomes or are digitally altered to allure potential clients.
