A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that can address sagging in the lower face and neck, including jowls and loss of jawline definition. The most suitable approach depends on your facial anatomy, health, and goals.
Prof. Dr. Özgür Pilancı assesses each patient individually before recommending a treatment plan in Istanbul. During your consultation, you can discuss the available techniques, expected recovery, potential risks, and the results that may be realistic for you.
A facelift repositions facial tissues and removes excess skin to address concerns such as jowls, a less defined jawline, and loose skin in the lower face. Depending on your anatomy and goals, treatment of the neck or other facial areas may also be discussed during your consultation.
You may consider a facelift if jowls, loss of jawline definition, or loose skin in the lower face are among your main concerns. A facelift does not address every sign of aging, such as changes in skin texture. Your health, medical history, facial anatomy, and expectations all matter when deciding whether surgery is appropriate. A consultation is needed to discuss the potential benefits, limitations, and risks for your situation.
If you are considering a facelift in Turkey, your treatment plan should include more than the operation itself. During your consultation, discuss your medical suitability, the proposed surgical approach, follow-up care in Istanbul, and when it may be appropriate for you to travel home. These details should be planned around your individual needs.
Speak with our medical team and receive a customized plan tailored to your needs and goals.
Facelift techniques differ in how facial tissues are repositioned. Deep plane, SMAS, and mini facelift approaches may be discussed during your consultation. The appropriate option depends on your facial anatomy, degree of skin laxity, overall health, and treatment goals.
For patients planning a facelift in Istanbul, the surgical plan also affects recovery arrangements and cost. Your consultation is an opportunity to ask which approach is recommended, what your treatment plan includes, and what follow-up care you may need before travelling home.
Read our complete Facelift Guide for a full breakdown of techniques, recovery timelines, and what influences cost →
There is no single facelift that suits everyone. The right technique depends on your skin quality, the degree of sagging, your bone structure, and what you want to change. At your consultation in Istanbul, Prof. Dr. Özgür Pilancı explains which approach may fit your face and why.
A deep plane facelift releases and repositions the deeper facial layers, including the SMAS and the ligaments that hold the cheeks and jowls in place, together with the overlying skin. Because the tissue is lifted as one unit, the skin is not pulled tight, which helps results look natural rather than “pulled”. It is often discussed for patients with moderate to significant jowls, cheek descent, and a loss of jawline definition.
A SMAS facelift tightens or repositions the SMAS, the supportive layer beneath the skin, and then redrapes the skin. It is a well-established technique for visible jowls and mild to moderate laxity in the lower face and neck.
A mini facelift uses shorter incisions and addresses limited areas, usually early jowling and mild laxity along the jawline. Recovery is generally shorter than with a full facelift, but the changes are also more limited. It is not suitable for everyone, and it may not give the result you want if the sagging is advanced.
The choice is made after a physical examination, not from a photo alone. Your surgeon will review your goals, medical history, and facial anatomy, and will tell you plainly if a smaller procedure, a different technique, or a non-surgical option would serve you better. For a broader overview, read our complete facelift guide.
Recovery varies from person to person and depends on the technique, your age, your skin, and how closely you follow aftercare instructions. The timeline below is a general guide, not a promise. Your surgeon will give you a plan based on your own case.
First days: Swelling, bruising, and a feeling of tightness are common. You will rest with your head elevated and follow your surgeon’s instructions on dressings and medication.
First two weeks: Bruising and swelling gradually settle. Many patients feel comfortable returning to light daily activity during this period, while avoiding strenuous exercise and heavy lifting.
Weeks three to six: Most visible swelling continues to fade and the face begins to look more settled. Your surgeon will tell you when you can resume exercise and normal routines.
Several months: Fine swelling resolves slowly, and the final result becomes clearer over time.
Most international patients plan to stay in Istanbul for about one to two weeks after surgery, so that follow-up checks can be done in person before travel. The exact length depends on your technique and healing, and your surgeon will confirm when it is safe for you to fly home. Booking flexible flights is a sensible precaution.
Before your trip, you will share your medical history and recent photos so the team can discuss options with you. After you return home, you can stay in contact with the clinic for follow-up questions. If you are comparing options, you can read more about facelift recovery in our guide.
The cost of a facelift in Istanbul depends on the technique, whether the neck or other areas are treated, and your individual needs. A personal quote is given after your surgeon reviews your photos or examines you at a consultation. Contact the clinic to request a quote.
Safety depends mainly on the surgeon’s qualifications, the hospital where surgery is performed, and good preoperative and postoperative care. Every surgery carries risks, which your surgeon will explain in detail at your consultation. Ask about training, facilities, and follow-up care before you decide.
Facelift results vary from person to person, and the face continues to age after surgery. How long the improvement remains noticeable can depend on the surgical approach, skin quality, lifestyle, and individual healing. Your surgeon can discuss realistic expectations for your case during consultation.
A natural-looking result is an important goal when planning a facelift. The surgical approach is chosen with your facial features and goals in mind, but the final appearance also depends on individual healing. Your surgeon can discuss what results may be realistic for you.
The goal is a natural, rested look rather than a tight or pulled appearance. Techniques that reposition deeper tissue instead of only stretching the skin can help avoid that look. Your surgeon will discuss realistic expectations with you before surgery.
Both techniques work on the layer beneath the skin. A SMAS facelift tightens or repositions that layer, while a deep plane facelift releases it together with supporting ligaments and lifts it as one unit with the skin. Your surgeon recommends the approach that suits your anatomy and goals.
Recovery varies with the extent of surgery and individual healing. Swelling and bruising are common in the first weeks, while the time needed to return to work, exercise, or travel may differ. Your surgeon will give you a recovery and follow-up plan based on your procedure.
We generally recommend planning around 10 days in Istanbul to allow time for surgery and follow-up. The stay you need may vary with your procedure and recovery. Please confirm your travel dates with the surgical team before booking your return journey.
Most patients stay in Istanbul for follow-up checks before flying home. Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe for you to travel, based on how you are healing.
In some cases, a facelift may be combined with procedures such as eyelid surgery, a brow lift, or fat grafting. Whether combining procedures is appropriate depends on your health, treatment goals, and surgical plan, and should be discussed during consultation.
There is no single age at which everyone becomes a suitable candidate for a facelift. Candidacy depends on concerns such as facial laxity, as well as your overall health and goals. A consultation is needed to assess whether surgery is appropriate for you.
Speak with our medical team and receive a customized plan tailored to your needs and goals.
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