Facelift (rhytidectomy) in Istanbul

Results commonly last 7–10 years, according to Cleveland Clinic. The operation repositions the tissues, but ageing carries on, and some people have a refresher operation years later. Not smoking, daily sun protection and a stable weight all help the result hold.

Bruising and swelling usually last 2–3 weeks, and most people feel ready to be seen in public after 10–14 days. Tightness and numbness last longer: feeling normal typically takes 2–3 months, and the final result is usually judged at 6–9 months.

Most people return to work after 2–3 weeks; NHS guidance gives 2–4 weeks. After a mini facelift, 5–7 days is typical. If your work is physical, allow longer, because heavy lifting is avoided for several weeks. Many people also prefer to wait until bruising has faded.

The scars sit mostly in the hairline and the natural creases around the ear, and they fade over 12–18 months. They are not invisible, and they can be harder to hide in men because of the beard line and short hair. Sun protection in the first year helps them settle.

Pain is usually controlled with painkillers. Many people find that tightness and numbness in the cheeks and around the ears bother them more than pain in the first days. Both ease gradually over the following weeks and months. Feeling low for a few days is also common and usually passes.

A mini facelift uses shorter incisions and suits early sagging; recovery is quicker, often 5–7 days before returning to work, but the effect is smaller. A full facelift treats more advanced sagging of the face and neck, with a longer recovery. Your examination shows which fits you.

Not necessarily. A deep plane facelift lifts the skin and the deeper layer together and is often chosen for heavy tissue or a deep fold between nose and mouth. A small randomised trial comparing deep plane, high SMAS and plication facelifts found no difference in outcome. Your anatomy decides.

Nobody can honestly promise a number. Studies that measured how old people looked after surgery found large differences between individuals, depending partly on which procedures were combined. A facelift aims for a rested, natural-looking version of your own face, not a particular age.

It can, but it is uncommon. Nerve injury is reported in about 0.7–2.5% of facelifts, and most cases recover over time; permanent facial nerve damage is very rare. Numbness around the ear is more common and usually improves over months.

Only if you stop. Smoking sharply raises the risk of skin loss: one series found it in 7.5% of smokers compared with 2.7% of non-smokers. You need to stop all nicotine, including vapes and patches, at least 6 weeks before surgery and stay off it while you heal.

Plan on at least 8–10 days after surgery, so your stitches can come out at around a week and you can be checked before you fly. If the facelift is combined with a neck lift or lasts more than 3 hours, plan at least 10–14 days; BAAPS suggests 2–4 weeks.

ASPS advises waiting 7–10 days after facial surgery before flying, because long flights soon after an operation raise the risk of blood clots. On a long flight, choose an aisle seat, drink plenty of water, walk around regularly and ask whether you should wear compression stockings.