Facelift in Turkey

A facelift (rhytidectomy) in Turkey typically costs from around £4,000 — a fraction of UK or US prices — and is performed by board-certified plastic surgeons in accredited hospitals. It is a genuine surgical procedure that repositions deeper facial tissue and removes excess skin to soften jowls, deep folds and a sagging neckline. Most international patients stay 7-10 days, and Unal Cakar coordinates the whole journey as an independent facilitator so you only ever pay the clinic directly.

A facelift, known medically as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that addresses the visible signs of ageing in the lower two-thirds of the face and the neck. Rather than simply pulling the skin tight, a modern facelift lifts and repositions the deeper supportive layer of the face — the SMAS (superficial musculo-aponeurotic system) — then redrapes the skin and removes the excess. This restores definition to the jawline, softens deep nasolabial folds and marionette lines, and tightens loose tissue under the chin and neck.

It is important to understand what a facelift does and does not do. It is the most effective option for moderate to advanced sagging that creams, energy devices and injectables can no longer correct. It does not stop the ageing process, and it does little for fine surface lines, skin texture or volume loss in the upper face — these are often addressed alongside the lift with fat transfer, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), a brow lift or skin resurfacing.

Most facelifts are performed under general anaesthesia or deep sedation and take roughly three to five hours depending on the technique and whether a neck lift or eyelid surgery is combined. The surgeon makes incisions that are carefully hidden — typically starting in the hairline at the temple, running in front of and around the ear, and finishing in the lower scalp behind the ear. Through these incisions the SMAS layer is tightened and lifted, fat may be repositioned or refined, and the redundant skin is trimmed before closure with fine sutures.

Technique is chosen to match your anatomy and goals. A SMAS facelift is the established workhorse for jowls and the neck; a deep-plane facelift releases tissue at a deeper level for longer-lasting lift in suitable patients; a mini or 'short-scar' facelift suits younger patients with early sagging; and a dedicated neck lift targets banding and a heavy neckline. During your consultation the surgeon will recommend the approach — and any combined procedures — that gives a balanced, natural result rather than an over-tightened, 'operated' appearance.

• SMAS, deep-plane, mini and neck-lift techniques tailored to your anatomy
• Performed by board-certified plastic surgeons in accredited Turkish hospitals
• Best suited to moderate-to-advanced sagging of the jawline, cheeks and neck
• Typical stay of 7-10 days, including one night in hospital and suture removal
• Independent facilitation by Unal Cakar — you pay the clinic directly

1. 01

   Online consultation and photo assessment

   You share clear photos and your medical history. Unal arranges a remote consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who assesses your skin, suggests a suitable technique and gives an honest, itemised plan and quote.

2. 02

   Planning and pre-operative checks

   Once you decide to proceed, your trip, accommodation and airport transfers are organised. Blood tests, an ECG and an anaesthetic review are completed on arrival to confirm you are fit for surgery.

3. 03

   Surgery day

   The facelift is performed under general anaesthesia or sedation, usually taking three to five hours. You stay one night in hospital for monitoring, and any surgical drains are checked before discharge.

4. 04

   Early recovery in Turkey

   Over the following days you attend review appointments for dressing changes, drain removal and wound checks. Swelling and bruising peak around days two to four, then begin to settle before you fly home.

5. 05

   Suture removal and clearance to travel

   Sutures are typically removed around days 7-10. The surgeon confirms you are safe to fly, provides written aftercare instructions and a contact line for any concerns once you are home.

6. 06

   Structured aftercare and follow-up

   Unal coordinates remote follow-ups with the clinic over the months that follow, so your healing is monitored and any questions are answered as residual swelling continues to settle.

Good candidates are generally healthy adults — most often between their mid-40s and early 70s — who have noticeable sagging of the cheeks, jawline or neck, reasonably good skin elasticity, and realistic expectations about what surgery can achieve. A facelift is less suitable if your main concern is surface wrinkles, skin tone or upper-face ageing, which respond better to non-surgical treatments. You are not a good candidate if you have poorly controlled high blood pressure, diabetes or a bleeding disorder, and smoking is a significant problem because it sharply increases the risk of skin healing complications — surgeons normally require you to stop for several weeks before and after surgery. A thorough medical review during consultation determines whether a facelift, a less invasive option, or a combined plan is right for you.

• Restores a firmer jawline and smoother neck, softening jowls and deep folds
• Repositions deeper tissue (SMAS) for a natural, long-lasting result rather than a 'pulled' look
• Can be combined with eyelid surgery, fat transfer or a neck lift for balanced rejuvenation
• Performed by board-certified plastic surgeons in accredited Turkish hospitals
• Typically a fraction of UK, EU or Gulf prices, with transparent all-inclusive quotes
• Long-lasting outcome — results commonly last around ten years

Expect to take things very easy for the first two weeks. Swelling and bruising are at their worst in the first few days and then steadily improve; a supportive dressing or elastic garment is usually worn early on, and any drains are removed within a day or two. Most patients feel presentable enough for low-key social activity at around two to three weeks, once the bulk of the bruising has faded and sutures are out. Tightness, numbness around the ears and cheeks, and a feeling of firmness are normal and gradually ease.

Full settling takes longer than many people expect. Residual swelling and subtle changes continue to resolve over several months, and the final, natural result of a facelift typically reveals itself by around six months to a year. You should avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and saunas for about three to four weeks, protect the scars from sun, and follow the clinic's wound-care and scar-management advice closely. Unal keeps you connected to the surgical team throughout this period so nothing is left to guesswork once you are home.

A well-performed facelift produces a refreshed, more rested appearance with a cleaner jawline and neck — ideally so that you look like a younger version of yourself rather than someone who has obviously had surgery. The lift to the deeper tissues is what gives durability, and results commonly last in the region of ten years, though your face continues to age naturally over time. The final outcome is judged once swelling has fully settled, usually around six to twelve months. No surgeon can promise an exact result, and a great deal depends on your skin quality, bone structure and healing; reputable surgeons set honest, individualised expectations rather than guaranteeing a particular look.

Turkey combines highly experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons and internationally accredited hospitals with costs that are typically a fraction of those in the UK, wider Europe or the Gulf — a facelift from around £4,000 compared with several times that elsewhere. Unal Cakar is an independent health-tourism facilitator and patient advocate, not a clinic: he vets and partners with accredited hospitals, arranges your surgeon consultation, logistics, interpreter and aftercare, and gives you an itemised written plan up front. Because he is sponsored by the partner hospitals, you pay the clinic directly for your treatment and never pay Unal a separate fee — keeping the process transparent and your interests protected throughout.