Facelift
Repositions sagging cheeks and a blurred jawline without changing your expression.
Save up to 70% vs the UK & Germany
- Stay in Istanbul
- 10-12 days
- Time in theatre
- 4-5 hours
- In hospital
- 1 night
- Anaesthesia
- General anaesthetic
- Back to work
- 14 days
- Full result
- 6 months
Overview
A facelift does more than remove loose skin: it repositions the SMAS, the muscle and fascia layer beneath, lifting the cheek, the nasolabial area and the jawline upwards and back. At Clinic Mery it takes 4–5 hours under general anaesthetic and you stay one night in hospital. A facelift does not stop ageing; it moves tissue to a younger position and ageing continues from there.
Benefits
- The SMAS layer is repositioned rather than the skin simply pulled, which keeps the contour natural
- Cheek descent, nasolabial depth and a blurred jawline are addressed together
- Incisions are hidden in the temporal hairline and the natural creases around the ear
- In suitable cases it is combined with a neck lift or eyelid surgery under one anaesthetic
- Carried out in a full hospital with intensive care, with one night of observation
Who is this treatment for?
Usually suitable
- People with cheek and jawline descent whose skin still retains some elasticity
- Adults at a stable weight with any chronic conditions under control
- Those able to stop smoking at least four weeks before the operation
Needs assessment first
- Anyone who continues to smoke, since impaired skin circulation markedly raises the risk of wound healing problems and tissue loss
- People with uncontrolled blood pressure or taking blood thinners, whose medication must be reviewed first because of haematoma risk
- Those whose real concern is pigmentation, fine lines or skin texture, which respond to skin treatments rather than surgery
Final suitability is decided by your consultant after examination and imaging in Istanbul.
Your treatment, step by step
- 01
Free online consultation
Send relaxed front and profile photographs; within 24 hours we prepare your technique, timings and length of stay at no cost.
- 02
Examination and a realistic goal
The surgeon assesses skin thickness, tissue elasticity and underlying bone support. What the operation will not change is written into the plan alongside what it will.
- 03
Surgery and one night in hospital
The operation takes 4–5 hours under general anaesthetic. The first 24 hours carry the highest risk of haematoma, which is why that night is spent in hospital.
- 04
Suture removal and flight clearance
Drains and sutures are removed at your check-ups and bruising fades noticeably by day 10–14. Your surgeon gives flight clearance after examination on day 10–12.
Aftercare & long-term tips
For the first three weeks sleep with your head raised, avoid lifting and skip anything that pushes your blood pressure up. You may wash your hair with lukewarm water from the day your surgeon allows it, and should continue silicone scar care and high-factor sun protection for at least six months. Follow-up is carried out remotely with photographs.
First 24 hours
Stick to soft, lukewarm foods and drinks; avoid very hot or hard items while any numbness or sensitivity settles.
First few days
Ease back into normal eating as sensitivity fades — usually within a few days.
Long term
Eat normally and protect your result with the simple habits below.
Do
- Brush twice a day and floss daily
- Attend your regular check-ups and cleanings
- Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
- Keep the area clean and rinse as advised
Avoid
- Biting very hard objects — ice, pen lids, shells
- Opening bottle or soda caps with your teeth
- Too many hard nuts or sticky, chewy sweets
- Smoking and staining drinks in the first days
What's included
- Free consultation & treatment plan
- Treatment by specialist dentists
- 5-star hotel accommodation
- Private VIP airport transfers
- Personal translator & 24/7 support
- Aftercare & treatment guarantee
Risks and an honest expectation
The commonest early complication of a facelift is a haematoma, usually appearing within the first 24 hours and sometimes needing to be drained; that is why you stay in hospital overnight. Weakness in branches of the facial nerve, most often temporary and rarely permanent, loss of sensation around the ear, hair thinning along the incision, wound healing problems and asymmetry can all occur, and smoking increases every one of them. Blood pressure control, pre-operative blood tests and drains where indicated are standard for that reason.
They flew in. They flew home changed.
Frequently asked questions
Other treatments in this department
Ready for a new start?
Send a few photos. Within 24 hours you get a free treatment plan and a transparent, all-inclusive price.
- We reply in about an hour
- Save up to 70% versus the UK, Germany and Spain
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