Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
Facelift in Turkey: SMAS surgery for the lower face and neck — honest about scars and results.
- À partir de
- 3 500 €
- Séjour habituel
- 10-14 days
Les prix sont indicatifs et confirmés après une évaluation personnalisée.
Guide complet de la spécialité
A facelift is a serious reason many patients travel to Turkey, drawn by experienced surgeons and prices below the UK or EU. It is surgery under general or deep sedation that lifts sagging tissue of the lower face and neck — not a filler or a laser. Knowing exactly what a facelift does, and what it does not, is the difference between a natural result and disappointment.
What a facelift actually does
A modern facelift works on the SMAS — the deep layer of muscle and connective tissue beneath the skin. The surgeon tightens and repositions this layer, then re-drapes the skin, which lifts jowls, deep folds and a loose neck. It addresses sagging and laxity, but it does not improve skin quality itself: sun damage, fine lines and pigmentation still need skincare, resurfacing or other treatments.
Facelift techniques compared
| Technique | What it targets | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| SMAS facelift | Sagging jowls and lower face | The established standard for lasting, natural results |
| Deep-plane facelift | Mid-face and deeper folds | More advanced; repositions deeper tissue for a fuller lift |
| Neck lift | Loose skin and banding under the chin | Often combined with a facelift for a balanced result |
| Mini / short-scar lift | Early, milder jowl sagging | Shorter scars but a smaller, shorter-lived effect |
A facelift corrects sagging; skin texture, lines and tone are treated separately.
Who is a good candidate
- Adults, typically from their late 40s onward, with genuine sagging of the jowls or neck
- People in good general health, fit for anaesthetic
- Non-smokers, or those willing to stop for several weeks — smoking greatly raises the risk of skin and healing problems
- Those who understand a facelift lifts, but does not resurface, the skin
- People with realistic expectations who accept scars around the ears
Step by step: the operation
Online consultation
You share photos and history; the surgeon assesses your sagging and advises whether a neck lift or other treatment should be added.
Arrival and assessment
In Turkey you have a face-to-face examination, skin assessment, blood tests and an anaesthetic review before the plan is confirmed.
Surgery
Usually two to four hours under general anaesthetic or deep sedation. Incisions are hidden around the ears and hairline, the SMAS is tightened and excess skin trimmed.
Recovery room and overnight
You are monitored, often staying one to two nights, with a supportive dressing around the face and head.
Reviews before flying
Dressings and any drains are checked and stitches assessed over several days before you are cleared to travel home.
Recovery, week by week
Days 1–3
Swollen and bruised
The face feels tight, swollen and numb in places. Dressings support the tissue and pain is usually mild but discomfort real.
Week 1
Stitches out
Most stitches are removed around this time. Bruising is still visible and you rest with your head elevated.
Weeks 2–3
Presentable
Major bruising fades and many feel ready to fly home and return to gentle daily life, though swelling lingers.
Weeks 4–8
Settling
Numbness and tightness ease gradually and you look progressively more natural; strenuous exercise is reintroduced slowly.
Months 3–6
Final result
Residual swelling resolves and scars mature and fade, revealing the true, settled result.
Results and longevity
A facelift can take years off the lower face and neck, and the results are long-lasting — but honesty matters. It does not stop the clock: you continue to age from the new, younger-looking baseline, and most surgeons say a good facelift 'lasts' roughly 8–12 years before you might consider a refresh. Scars around the ears are permanent though usually well hidden, and the final result takes months to appear as swelling fully settles.
Cost in Turkey and what is included
| Item | Typical range (Turkey) |
|---|---|
| SMAS facelift | €3,500 – €7,000 all-in |
| Surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital | Included in package |
| One to two nights' stay and follow-up | Usually included |
| Adding a neck lift | May raise the total, priced separately |
| Hotel and airport transfers | Often included in medical packages |
Guide prices only; adding a neck lift or other procedures changes the quote.
€3,500
Typical starting package
10–14 days
Recommended stay in Turkey
2–4 hrs
Time in the operating theatre
Choosing a clinic safely
- Confirm a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in facial surgery will operate, and review their facelift results
- Ask which technique they plan — a true SMAS or deep-plane lift, not just a skin-only tightening
- Check the operation is in an accredited hospital with a qualified anaesthetist
- Be wary of a 'thread lift' being sold to you as a surgical facelift — they are very different
- Ask what revision cover applies if healing is uneven or a result drops early
- Avoid packages that rush you home before stitches are out
A facelift lifts, it does not resurface
Beware clinics promising a facelift will erase wrinkles or fix skin tone — it corrects sagging, not texture. A skin-only lift or a thread lift dressed up as a full facelift gives short-lived results. Smoking and unaccredited theatres sharply raise the risk of skin loss, and as with any surgery, staying 10–14 days and getting clearance before flying reduces DVT (blood clot) risk.
Medical disclaimer
This page is general information, not medical advice. Only a qualified surgeon who examines you in person can confirm which facelift technique, if any, suits your face, skin and goals.
The best facelift looks like you on a good day, not like someone else — a natural result comes from lifting the deep layer, not pulling the skin tight.
— WhichClinic Medical Team
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