Facelift: restore a firm, natural facial contour
A facelift corrects the sagging skin and the loss of definition along the jawline that come with age. By repositioning the deeper tissues, it refreshes the face naturally, without freezing your expression.
Facelift at a glance
A facelift: bringing freshness back to your features
When the jawline softens, jowls begin to show and the neck loses its firmness, these signs of time are perfectly natural, but they often start to weigh on how you feel about yourself. The good news is that nothing is set in stone. A facelift puts the tissues back where time has let them drift, for a natural result that keeps your expressions your own.
It’s one of the most refined operations in cosmetic surgery: it redraws the contour of the face, softens deep wrinkles and gives your features a rested look. Here we walk you through the techniques, how the procedure unfolds, the results and the support our teams offer, with nothing hidden. For a wider view, take a look at our guide to face and neck lifts.
Your facelift journey, step by step
Online or at the clinic, the surgeon studies your face, listens to what you’re hoping for and draws up a plan just for you. It’s also the moment to talk through the technique that suits you best and the results to expect.
You have a full pre-operative work-up: blood tests and a meeting with the anaesthetist. Stopping smoking and aspirin a few weeks beforehand helps the healing along.
The procedure takes three to six hours, under local anaesthetic with sedation, or general anaesthetic. The surgeon repositions the deeper tissues and redrapes the skin with care, for a natural result.
Straight after surgery, you get your first wound care and clear instructions for your rest period. Mild swelling and bruising are normal in the early days.
The surgeon removes the stitches between day 7 and day 10. Back home, you’re not on your own: our teams keep a close eye on your recovery.
You’ll be ready to face the world again after about two to three weeks. The results refine over the weeks, for a rested, balanced face whose final look settles between three and six months.
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Our prices and packages
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The different facelift techniques
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Full face and neck liftA complete approach that treats the face and the neck together. It combines a face lift and a neck lift to redraw the whole jawline and bring back a firm, balanced contour.
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Mid-face liftTargets the middle third of the face. The surgeon lifts the cheekbones and softens the folds running from nose to mouth, for a lift focused on the centre of the face.
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Mini faceliftA less invasive, shorter operation, ideal for early sagging. The scars are smaller and recovery is quicker.
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Brow liftFreshens the upper face: forehead and brows. It opens up the eyes and smooths forehead lines for a more rested look.
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Neck liftTargets the neck and sagging under the chin specifically. It works on the platysmal bands and the neck-to-chin angle to redefine the jawline.
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Temporal lift
Targets the sides of the face and the eyes. It lifts the tail of the brows and raises the temples, for a more open outer eye and a fresher gaze.
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Common questions about facelifts
At what age should you consider a facelift?
There’s no ideal age. Most patients take the step from their forties or fifties, when the sagging becomes noticeable. But every face ages at its own pace: it’s really your own feelings that matter most. A consultation lets us assess your skin quality and choose the right technique.
oes a facelift leave visible scars?
The scars are tucked carefully into the hairline, in front of and behind the ears. With good healing, they fade and sit discreetly in those creases. Sun protection and following your aftercare instructions help keep the result discreet.
How long do facelift results last?
A facelift gives lasting rejuvenation of around 7 to 10 years. How long it holds depends on the technique used, your skin quality and your lifestyle.
Is a facelift painful?
Pain is usually moderate and well controlled with ordinary painkillers. In the first few days you’ll mainly feel a sense of tightness, along with swelling and bruising that ease off within a week or two.
How long is recovery?
Allow around two to three weeks of social downtime before getting back to your usual activities. The stitches come out around day 7 to 10. Sun exposure is best avoided for at least 3 months to protect the scars.
Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?
Yes, and it’s actually common for overall balance. A facelift pairs readily with a blepharoplasty, an otoplasty in Turkey or a rhinoplasty. Your surgeon draws up a tailored plan at the consultation.
Are there non-surgical alternatives?
For mild to moderate sagging, thread lifts or injectables may be enough. A facelift remains the go-to solution for pronounced sagging. If the issue is more localised, a genioplasty or a buccal fat removal can also come into the surgical plan.
Why have your facelift in Turkey?
Turkey brings together experienced surgeons, modern clinics and up to 70% savings compared with the UK. At Body Expert, you get full English-speaking support and personalised follow-up, from the first conversation right through to your return home.
Let’s discuss your project
Understanding facelifts: techniques, results and care
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is the go-to operation for correcting skin laxity and redrawing a facial contour that time has let sag. Far from freezing the features, a well-performed facelift repositions the deeper tissues for a natural, balanced rejuvenation. Facial surgery is booming worldwide: according to the ISAPS, procedures on the head and face are among the fastest growing, with blepharoplasty even becoming the most common surgical cosmetic procedure in the world in 2024.
Why does the face age?
Over the years, several things happen at once and explain why the signs of age appear:
- the skin’s loss of elasticity, as natural collagen production falls;
- the loss of volume in the fat pads, which hollows the features;
- the pull of gravity, which drags the cheeks down, deepens the jowls and marks the nasolabial folds (the lines running from nose to mouth);
- the slackening of the neck and the appearance of platysmal bands.
The face is the part of the body that ages fastest and most visibly, which explains the growing demand for lasting solutions.
How does a facelift work?
The key to a natural result lies under the skin, in a thin layer called the SMAS (the superficial musculo-aponeurotic system, a sheet of muscle and connective tissue). Rather than simply pulling the skin tight, which used to give that stretched look, modern techniques re-tension this deeper layer. The main ones are:
- the SMAS lift, the most widespread technique, which folds or repositions this fibromuscular layer;
- the deep plane lift, which releases and lifts the tissues at a deeper level, with a stronger effect across the midface;
- the endoscopic lift, minimally invasive, which treats the upper face while leaving only tiny scars.
The evidence backs up how reliable these approaches are. A systematic review of 6086 patients reports a satisfaction rate above 85%, with temporary facial nerve involvement in 0.85% of cases. A more recent meta-analysis puts satisfaction at 94.4% for the deep plane and 87.8% for the SMAS.
Which facelift for which part of the face?
Every face ages differently, so the surgeon matches the technique to your needs. The main options are:
- the full face and neck lift, which treats the whole face and the neck;
- the mid-face lift, which targets the cheekbones and the nasolabial folds;
- the mini facelift, less invasive, ideal for early sagging;
- the temporal lift, which lifts the tail of the brows and reopens the outer eye (more on the temporal lift);
- the neck lift, which redefines the neck-to-chin angle (the neck lift guide);
- the lip lift, which shortens the space between the nose and the upper lip and restores a better-defined lip shape (see the lip lift).
Are you a good candidate?
A facelift is mainly for people with pronounced sagging, most often from their forties onwards, but it’s above all your own feelings that guide the decision. Good skin quality, sound general health and stopping smoking several weeks before surgery all help towards the best possible healing. For milder sagging, minimally invasive alternatives exist, such as thread lifts (more on thread lifts).
How does the operation work?
The procedure takes 3 to 6 hours on average, under local anaesthetic with sedation, or general anaesthetic depending on the technique chosen. The surgeon hides the scars in the hairline, in front of and behind the ears, where they fade and sit discreetly over time. Swelling and bruising are normal in the first few days. Social recovery lasts about two to three weeks, and sun exposure should be avoided for at least 3 months to protect the scars.
What results can you expect, and for how long?
The face looks rested within the first few weeks, but the final results settle between 3 and 6 months, once the tissues have stabilised. A facelift gives lasting rejuvenation of around 7 to 10 years, with how long it holds depending on your skin quality and lifestyle. For overall balance, a facelift is often combined with other procedures:
- a blepharoplasty to refresh the eyes (eyelid surgery in Turkey);
- a rhinoplasty to rebalance the profile (see rhinoplasty in Turkey);
- an otoplasty to correct protruding ears (more on otoplasty);
- a buccal fat removal to slim the lower face (buccal fat removal explained);
- a mentoplasty to redefine the chin (see mentoplasty);
- a double chin liposuction to refine the jawline (double chin liposuction);
- a canthopexy for a fox eyes effect on the gaze (all about fox eyes canthopexy).
Safety and recovery
Like any surgery, a facelift carries risks, though these are now well controlled thanks to surgeons’ experience and modern protocols. The most common complication is a haematoma (a collection of blood under the skin), which needs prompt treatment if it appears. Lingering swelling and temporary changes in sensation are also frequent. A 2025 meta-analysis reports overall complication rates of around 10% for the SMAS and 17% for the deep plane. Careful post-operative follow-up, sticking closely to the instructions and choosing a qualified surgeon bring these risks down further. This is exactly why choosing the medical team matters so much to the success of your project and the quality of your healing.
Getting ready for your facelift
Good preparation shapes the result. At the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon studies your face, listens to what you want and plans the operation. A pre-operative work-up (blood tests, a meeting with the anaesthetist) is carried out, and certain medicines such as aspirin are paused. Stopping smoking is strongly advised to help healing.
Facelift in Turkey: what budget?
Choosing Turkey means a real cut in the cost of your operation, with up to 70% savings compared with the UK. For the figures, see our packages set out above on this page. Our all-inclusive packages cover:
- the operation at our partner clinic;
- your stay in a comfortable hotel;
- transfers between the airport, the hotel and the clinic;
- thorough medical follow-up, before and after the operation.
You get the expertise of experienced surgeons and personalised English-speaking support, from your very first conversation right through to your return home.
In summary
A facelift is still the go-to solution for correcting pronounced sagging and redrawing a facial contour that time has let slip. By repositioning the SMAS, that deeper layer beneath the skin, the surgeon achieves a natural rejuvenation that respects your expressions, a world away from the pulled look of the past. Depending on the area to treat, several approaches exist: full face and neck lift, mid-face lift, mini facelift, temporal lift or neck lift. The choice is always made with your surgeon, based on your face and what you’re hoping for.
As for recovery, allow around a fortnight of social downtime, scars tucked into the hair and behind the ears, and final results that settle between the third and sixth month. The rejuvenation you gain holds for around ten years, a lasting benefit that explains why this surgery stays so popular.
Having your facelift in Istanbul means bringing together experienced surgeons, partner clinics selected for their facilities and up to 70% savings compared with the UK. From your first conversation to your return home, English-speaking support is with you at every step. Want a clearer picture of your situation? Ask for your free, personalised quote within 24 hours: our advisers look at your project and answer all your questions.
Sources and references
- Mortada, H., Alkilani, N., Halawani, I. R., Al Zaid, W., Alkahtani, R. S., Saqr, H., & Fouda Neel, O. (2024). Evolution of Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System Facelift Techniques: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Complications and Outcomes. JPRAS Open, 39, 166-180. Lien : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpra.2023.06.003
- Khoury, S., Almubarak, Z., Khan, H., et al. (2025). The Deep Plane versus SMAS Facelift: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 49, 5895-5903. Lien : https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-025-05118-x
- Meretsky, C. R., Hausner, P., Flynn, B. P., & Schiuma, A. T. (2024). A Systematic Review and Comparative Analysis of Reconstructive Rhytidectomy: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Patient Outcomes. Cureus, 16(10), e71006. Lien : https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.71006
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). (2025). ISAPS International Survey on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Procedures Performed in 2024.