Facelift surgery or rhytidectomy is a cosmetic surgery for reducing wrinkles, sagging skin, or excess fat in the area of the face and neck.
You will find a rich selection of clinics offering facelifts in Turkey, particularly in the country’s cultural capital, Istanbul.
Facelifting Procedure
Facelift surgery can take from two to six hours and is performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation.
Incisions are made at the temples or around the ear, depending on the method. The fat, tissue, and muscle are repositioned according to the desired outcome, and excess skin is removed.
Another incision might be done under the chin for further corrections in the neck area.
Patient Profile
Facelifts are usually sought by patients seeking to restore a youthful appearance of the face and neck area. For this reason, eyelid surgery, brow lifts, and specific skin treatments might often be done in combination with facelift surgery. Patients with aging skin that still retains some elasticity, usually the case with people in their 40s to their 70s, are particularly suitable for the procedure.
You should be healthy and ideally a nonsmoker in order to have a facelift.
Facelift Costs
Costs of facelift surgery can vary widely according to the surgeon’s experience and the exact type of procedure. Costs of facelifts in Turkey and many other cosmetic procedures are much lower compared to Europe and the US.
In most cases, facelift surgery is considered cosmetic surgery and, therefore, not covered by health insurance.
Always inquire about the full price, which considers the price of surgery and additional costs such as anesthesia fees, operating room facilities and hospital costs, examinations, second procedure cost if necessary, etc.
Consultation
During facelift surgery consultations, the following is discussed: surgical goals; medical history; substances used currently, including medications, supplements, alcohol, drugs, and tobacco; current health status; the expected outcome; postoperative care and potential complications.
The area of the face and neck is measured and examined. Photographs are taken, and options for the facelift are discussed, after which the surgeon recommends an appropriate course of treatment.
It is advised to make full use of the consultation appointment in order to make as informed of a decision as possible. It is essential for the facelift’s success to honestly answer all of the surgeon’s inquiries and openly ask about anything requiring clarification.
Before The Surgery
The following might be requested from you before having your facelift surgery:
- Getting tests for medical evaluation
- Abstaining from nicotine
- Abstaining from aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements
- Taking specific medications or adjusting current medication
- Applying specific products to the skin
Postoperative Care Recovery
After facelift surgery, bandages are placed around the face over the incisions as they heal. Thin tubes might be placed under the skin for draining any build-up of excess blood or fluids. The bandages are removed a few days after the surgery. You are instructed on what medication to use for healing and how to take care of the treated area during your recovery. A follow-up appointment is arranged.
About two weeks are needed in most cases to return to normal activities. You should expect to be able to see the final results of your facelift only after external and internal healing is complete and the swelling and bruising go down entirely, which might take two to three months.
Scars remaining after the facelift stay hidden as they heal in the hairline area and the natural contours of the ear or the face.
It is advised to make inquires with your surgeon concerning the period immediately after the surgery and during recovery. You may have questions about where you will be placed after the surgery, what medications you will be given, and when to arrange an appointment for follow-up care.
Disclaimer
Facelift surgery does not prevent the skin from continuing to age; therefore, facelift surgery results can be altered with time. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and using daily sun protection are recommended in order to preserve the results of your facelift.
In some cases, multiple surgeries are needed for the best results.
