Facelift Surgery

A facelift — rhytidectomy — repositions the soft tissues of the lower face and neck that have descended with age, and removes the resulting excess skin. It is the single most effective operation for restoring a refreshed, ten-years-younger appearance that looks natural rather than "done".

Modern facelift surgery is about repositioning the deep structural layer of the face (the SMAS) rather than just pulling skin. Pulling skin alone is what produced the tight, wind-tunnel faces of earlier decades. Moving the deep layer restores volume and youthful proportion without tension on the surface.

Who is a good candidate?

Good candidates typically present with jowling, a heavy jawline, loose neck skin, and mid-face descent. Most patients seeking a facelift are between their late forties and late sixties, in good health, non-smoking, and realistic about what surgery can and cannot change.

• Jowling and loss of jawline definition.
• Loose skin and bands in the neck.
• Mid-face flattening and nasolabial fold deepening.
• Realistic expectation of looking refreshed and rested — not transformed into someone else.

A facelift does not correct skin surface problems (tone, texture, sun damage) — those need laser or chemical resurfacing. It does not change fundamental bone structure. It restores position and proportion.

Types of facelift

Deep plane facelift

Our preferred technique for most cases. The deep plane (below the SMAS) is released and repositioned as a unit, restoring mid-face volume and jawline definition with natural-looking, long-lasting results. Scarring runs around the ear and is well-hidden.

SMAS facelift

A more conservative dissection that still addresses the structural layer. Appropriate for patients with moderate laxity and for lighter, shorter-recovery cases.

Mini facelift / short-scar lift

Shorter incisions, less dissection, faster recovery — but addressing only the jawline and lower face. A good choice for patients in their forties with early laxity. Not a substitute for a full lift when the neck is involved.

Neck lift

A dedicated operation on the neck that can be done as part of a facelift or as a standalone. Addresses platysmal bands, submental fat, and neck skin laxity.

The procedure, step by step

Performed under general anaesthesia, typically three to five hours depending on the extent of work. One night in hospital.

Incisions are placed within the hairline, around the ear, and behind the ear — well-hidden when healed. The deep structural layer is released, repositioned, and secured with permanent sutures. Excess skin is trimmed without tension. Drains are usually placed for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

Recovery timeline

First 2 weeks

Significant swelling and bruising peak at day three to four, then steadily improve. A pressure garment is worn most of the day for the first week. Sleep with your head elevated.

Weeks 2–3

Most patients feel presentable in public by week two with makeup over residual bruising. Sutures around the ear are removed around day seven to ten.

Weeks 3–6

Swelling continues to resolve. Sensation gradually normalises. Scar lines are still pink and evolving.

Months 3–12

Scars mature from pink to white thin lines. Final result reached around six months and continues to refine over the year.

Risks and realistic expectations

Honest risks: haematoma (the most common early complication, requiring prompt management), temporary nerve weakness affecting expression, altered sensation in the ear and cheek, and — rarely — asymmetry or hairline changes. Results last typically ten to fifteen years; the face continues to age naturally after surgery.

A facelift cannot stop ageing. It resets the clock. What it buys you is a decade-plus of looking better than you otherwise would.

Why Istanbul

Deep-plane facelift experience is a specialist skill, and our senior plastic surgeons have the volume and discipline required to do it well. Combined with the surrounding ecosystem — JCI hospitals, experienced anaesthesiology, quality recovery facilities — Istanbul offers top-tier facelift surgery at roughly a third of London or New York pricing.