What you need to know about Facelift in Turkey

A facelift, also referred to as rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgery that aims to restore a more youthful facial appearance. It can reduce sagging or folds of skin on the cheeks, jawline, and other areas in the face that changes shape due to aging.

As we age, our skin loses their elasticity and become looser. Fat deposits also decrease in some areas and increase in others. This leads to sagging and wrinkles. With a facelift, these problems can be addressed by lifting and tightening the sagging facial tissue. The procedure may involve removing excess skin that’s causing “jowls”, smoothing out wrinkles or folds, and tightening facial tissue. It can also have a rejuvenating effect on the areas below the eyes and the deep lines from the corners of the mouth to the sides of the nose.

It is important to bear in mind that a facelift is not a treatment for creases around the nose, superficial wrinkles, and irregularities in skin color. It also cannot stop the aging process or change your fundamental appearance.

MyMediTravel currently lists 13 facilities in Turkey offering Facelift procedures - see above for the complete list, along with estimated prices. The price of a Facelift can vary according to each individual’s case and will be determined based on photos and an in-person assessment with the specialist. For a personalized quote Click Here to submit your details

What does the Procedure Involve?

In terms of aesthetics, your surgeon will recommend the best choice for your own comfort. You may

There are three types of incision used in a facelift, which depends on the degree of change you would like to see and the technique your surgeon will use.

A traditional facelift incision starts at your temples in the hairline, continues around the ear and ends in behind your neck in the lower scalp. An incision may also be made under your chin to improve the look of the neck.
A limited incision is shorter than traditional facelift incision. It starts in your hairline just above the ear, continues around the ear but does not extend to the lower scalp.
Neck lift incisions begin in front of the earlobe, continues around your ear into the lower scalp. This type of incision addresses the sagging jowls, fat accumulation under the chin, and loose neck skin.

In general, your surgeon elevates the skin and tighten the underlying tissues and muscles after making an incision. Fat in your face and neck may be removed, sculpted, or redistributed. Then, the incision is stitched.

How Long Should I Stay in Turkey?

You should be able to leave the hospital on the same day of the surgery if local anesthetic is used. However, if the surgery is done under general anesthetic, you may need to stay in the hospital for about 1 to 2 days. You should plan to stay in Turkey for around 7 to 10 days following the surgery because you will have to attend follow-up checkups. During the checkups, your surgeon will monitor your healing and remove your stitches.

What's the Recovery Time?

Expect to experience bruising, swelling, and some discomfort for the first 3 to 5 days. You may be able to return to work and some light activities within 7 to 14 days, but avoid any vigorous activities for about 5 to 6 weeks. It may take 2 to 3 months until your face feels normal in terms of texture and sensibility.

What About Aftercare?

Your surgeon will provide detailed post-operative instruction. To avoid any complications and maximize the result, you need to follow all instructions closely. You may have to avoid any clothing that is pulled over the head, such as t-shirts and sweaters. You should also avoid using makeup and direct sun exposure for about three weeks, as well as coloring, bleaching, or perming your hair for six weeks following the surgery.

To maintain the results of your facelift, you need to avoid smoking, use sunblock, moisturize your face daily, maintain weight stability, follow a healthy diet plan, exercise regularly, and live a generally healthy lifestyle.

What's the Success Rate?

Approximately 80% to 90% of people who had a facelift is reported to achieve a positive result after their procedure. However, although great results are expected after a facelift, there can be no guarantee. In some cases, you may need more than one surgery to achieve your desired result. To make sure your surgery is successful; you need to ensure your surgeon is skilled and experienced. You also have to follow your surgeon’s instructions, from the preparation to the aftercare.

Note that the results of a facelift are not permanent because no cosmetic procedure can stop aging. Your facial skin may begin to droop again as you age. The average facelift lasts between 7 and 10 years before you have aged enough to need additional work.

As with other surgical procedures, a facelift can carry some possible risks and complications, which may include nerve injury, hematoma, scarring, skin loss, and hair loss. Some of these risks can be managed with appropriate care and medication. However, you need to be aware of the long term and permanent complications. While they are rare, they may alter your appearance significantly.

Are there Alternatives to Facelift?

If you do not want to (or cannot) undergo a facelift, you can opt for an alternative.

Mini-facelift - a less invasive procedure that also aims to lift the wrinkles and sagging skin in the lower part of the face. Because it involves a smaller, s-shaped incision around the ear, it cannot address neck sagging or excess skin.
Botox - it reduces the appearance of wrinkles and usually takes about 24 to 72 hours to take effect. A botox injection uses botulinum toxin to temporarily paralyze muscle activity.
Fillers - unlike botox, fillers fill the line, crease, or the general facial area with different kinds of substances. These fillers can be used as “volumizers”, plumping and lifting your cheeks, jawline, and temple.
Laser Skin Resurfacing - this works to give you a younger-looking facial skin by removing some skin layer by layer. Patients can get rid of scars, wrinkles, acne marks, and blotches.
Ultherapy - this uses ultrasound to heat targeted tissue under the surface of your skin. The heat will then trigger the natural production of collagen. This procedure can be repeated 6 to 12 months because collagen usually takes very long to develop.
LED - light-emitting diode therapy uses a variety of different colored lights to target various parts of your face. This is a pain-free procedure that treats acne, fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentations, acne scars, and rosacea.

Facelift in and around Turkey

About Turkey

Where East meets West – Turkey is considered to be both Asia and Europe, with 95% of its landmass being located in Asia. Rich in culture and history, a land once inhabited by some of history’s greatest empires, including most recently the Ottoman Empire and long before that, the Roman and Byzantine Empires. Of Turkey’s 1,200+ medical facilities, more than 40 of which are JCI-accredited and this includes an even mix of publicly and privately owned hospitals and clinics.

700,000 annual medical tourists are drawn to Turkey each year, traveling from all across the globe, particularly from within Europe and the Middle East, many of which travel for Facelift procedures. Dental, Cosmetic, Bariatric, and Reproductive procedures are most common, including Veneers, Hair Transplants, Gastric Bypass Surgeries, and IVF. Popular medical tourism destinations outside of the capital, Ankara, of course, include Istanbul and other regions like Antalya and Izmir.

Popular Parts of Turkey

With its population of around 80 million, Turkey has a landmass of nearly 800,000 square km. It's capital city is Ankara, located in-land, however, Istanbul is the most populous and most recognized city in Turkey with some 15 million inhabitants. Straddling both Europe and Asia, the city attracts 13 million tourists each year, making it the fifth most popular tourist destination in the world.

Other popular areas include Antalya in the south and Izmir is the west. The east of the country is generally less popular among tourists due to the on-going Kurdish-Turkish conflict, and more recently due to its close proximity to both Syria and Iraq.

Holiday resorts in the south, such as Marmaris and Bodrum are ever popular with sunseekers looking for reasonably priced all-inclusive 5-star luxury hotels to vacation in.

The discovery of the world’s oldest known megalithic site at Gobekli Tepe in the South-Eastern Anatolia Region has cast much doubt over mankind’s ancient history and consequently attracts a sizable number of ‘History Tourists’. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is believed to be over 11,000 years old, built during a time humans were understood to be simple hunter-gatherers.

Weather and Climate in Turkey

Being located on the Mediterranean Sea, the south coast of Turkey benefits from the cooling sea breeze, however, this doesn’t take away from the extreme heat experienced during the summer months of June, through August, where temperatures can reach up into the ‘40s (104°F). During Spring and Autumn, the weather is much cooler and winters are mild.

Given the sheer size of the country, Turkey does not have consistent weather throughout; the central area is mostly semi-arid steppe, whilst the Black Sea region in the north is far milder than the southern Mediterranean Sea region.

Mosquitos and sandflies can be an issue, particularly in coastal regions during the summer, so be sure to protect against them. Malaria is extremely uncommon but seeks the advice of a medical professional before traveling.

Getting around in Turkey

Istanbul’s famous Ataturk International Airport sits 24 km outside the city and is home to the ever-popular Turkish Airlines. Most other major airlines service Ataturk, which is often used as a stopover destination for travelers between Europe and Asia. All the other major cities are serviced by their own international airports, with several low-cost domestic airlines joining them together, including AtlasGlobal, IZair, Onur Air, Pegasus Airlines and SunExpress.

For those preferring to travel by land, Turkey has a few express train routes linking the major cities, most notably, Istanbul to Ankara. City buses are reliable and good value, whilst taxis are cheap, but be sure to negotiate the price before beginning any journey.

Tourist Visas in Turkey

Visa restrictions are minimal, with 90 days per visit for many nationalities being easily obtainable. However, e-visas are required in advance for a fee prior to arrival for those holding US, UK, Australian, Chinese and Spanish passports, to name a few. The likes of French, German, Russian and Singaporean passport holders can enter visa-free.

For Indian and Pakistani nationals, conditional e-visas are available on arrival at Ataturk International Airport only and expire after just 30 days. For more information on visa requirements, refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Additional Information

The Turkish Lira (TRY) is the local currency where $1 USD is worth about 5 TRY.
ATMs are in abundance across Turkey and accept all bank cards (Visa, Mastercard). Credit card and Amex payment are accepted in most restaurants and outlets, with the more local food vendors or food market stalls, only accepting cash. Tipping is expected as service is not included at restaurants, this is usually between 5-10%. Taxi rides tend not to be tipped, just rounded up.
Turkish is the local language with the eastern Kurds speaking Kurdish too. English is spoken by many locals working in tourist locations, including the major cities.
Islam (99.8%) is by far the main religion in Turkey, with a tiny Christian population (0.2%). Turkey is, however, a secular country where there is no ‘official’ state religion. Various elements of traditional culture remain, with much being modernized or ‘Westernized’.
There are many public holidays, most notably Labor Day and Commemoration of Ataturk in May, Ramazan Feast in June, Kurban Bayrami in August and Republic Day at the end of October. Precise dates may vary year to year so be sure to check in advance as crowding is common during busy areas on these days.

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Facelift in Turkey

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75% cheaper than United States

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13 clinics available in Turkey

10-12 weeks of recovery time

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