Facelift surgery in Turkey

Facelift is a cosmetic surgery that allows giving a face a more youthful appearance. During a facelift, excessive skin is removed, and then a doctor forms a “youthful” contour of the face or neck. As a result, the skin becomes smooth, young, and without wrinkles.

Facelift can be performed both in a surgical and a non-surgical way.

Facelift surgery is recommended for people aged 40-60. Rarely, but it can be also performed for patients aged over 70. Indications for a facelift procedure may be the following:

• double chin
• droopy eyelids
• deep facial wrinkles
• drooping eyes corners
• vertical wrinkles on the cheeks
• facial soft tissue ptosis
• excessive fat and loose skin on the neck.

If you are not satisfied with your appearance and want to do facelift surgery, consult with a doctor to decide whether you are a good candidate for the procedure. 

Modern facelift techniques are safe and do not have many contraindications. However, in the case when a surgical facelift is performed, a procedure is not recommended for people with:

• neoplasms (especially, malignant ones)
• bleeding disorder
• severe diseases of the internal organs
• some disorders of the nervous system
• severe hypertonia
• epilepsy.

To the relative contraindications may be included the following conditions:

• pregnancy
• lactation
• infections
• inflammatory processes
• skin diseases.

If you have any of these conditions or other health disorders, inform your doctor to discuss the possibility of facelift surgery in your case.

Preoperative preparation for facelift surgery in Turkey can differ depending on the type of procedure. Fora  surgical operation, it consists of the following steps:

1. A doctor surveys a patient; the future result is discussed.
2. Analysis (blood and urine tests, ECG, examinations for blood clotting, etc.). 
3. A patient needs to give up smoking, drinking alcohol, taking some pills for 2 weeks before surgery.
4. 8 hours before a procedure, a patient does not eat and drink.

The facelift process depends on the type of the procedure. This an outpatient operation, so admission is not required. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia or sedation. The process takes 2-5 hours.

First of all, an anesthesiologist applies a chosen type of anesthesia. Then, a plastic surgeon makes an incision in front of the ear, extending it to the hairline. If the reduction of the chin is planned, a doctor also makes an incision under it.

When all incisions have been made, a plastic surgeon separates the skin from other tissues. Then, skin is lifted with special instruments, and its excess is removed.

When all manipulations are done, a surgeon fixates and lifts tissues and muscles, all punctures are stitched up with absorbable sutures. Then, special bandages are applied.

An intensive recovery period takes 1 month.

After surgery, small hematomas and swelling occur. However, they disappear soon. A patient can feel a discomfort in the places of stitching. If necessary, a doctor prescribes painkillers.

In 2 days, the bandage is removed. 

A patient can return to a normal lifestyle in about a month. 

The final result is observed in half of the year. 

Despite the fact that facelift is considered a quite safe procedure, side effects may also take place. Among them are:

• hematomas. They usually occur in 24 hours after surgery. Luckily, they disappear soon.
• Scarring. In most cases, scars are hardly visible or hidden under the hairline.
• Nerve injury. The doctor’s manipulations may damage nerves, so a patient can lose the sensitivity of some skin areas. Normally, it recovers after some time.
• Bleeding (rare).
• Infections (rare).
• Hair loss. Temporary or permanent hair loss is possible around the places of incisions.

You can do facelift as many times as you need. Note that the result of facelift lasts about 7-12 years.

Facelift cannot slow down or stop facial aging. It allows you improving your face making it younger at the moment. The result completely depends on your age, bone and skin structure, hereditary, lifestyle. Also, you need to be realistic about the result: it is impossible to look 20 years old when you are 60 in fact.

After facelift surgery, scars remain. However, they are almost invisible. The deal is that a doctor makes incisions in the hairy area to hide the traces. Also, the professionalism of a plastic surgeon plays a crucial role: experienced doctors in Turkey manipulate very accurately, so scars are tiny and almost inconspicuous. 

Healthcare is the key development sector of the Turkish government. The Turkish authorities are convinced that care for the citizens' health should be an absolute priority of state policy and spend about 77 billion liras for healthcare annually.

As a result, 28,000 medical facilities provide excellent medical care in the country. About 50 centers have certificate of JCI (Joint Commission International), the international improver of healthcare quality and safety across the globe. The index of certificates obtained is the largest. To compare, Israel has 20 JCI-accredited facilities, and Germany — only 10 clinics of this type.

Turkey is also a well-known country globally due to high-skilled doctors that undergo internships in American and European institutions. Patients from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan, and Lebanon prefer treatment in Turkey to other places.

Highly developed medical centers and first-rate therapeutic services at affordable prices attract people from all over the world. Over 1 mln international patients travel to Turkey annually. So Turkey is among Top 10 countries with the most developed medical tourism sector.

Turkey is a top destination for medical tourists because of low-costs. You may save up to 50% on services compared to European countries or the USA due to the average local citizens' income and general price policy within the country.

In Turkey, hotels of different price ranges and service levels are presented. The level of Turkish hotels is comparable to hotels in Tunisia, Morocco or Egypt. Most tourists choose 4 and 5 star hotels with all-inclusive meals. Such hotels have everything for a comfortable stay: varied food, a large well-groomed territory, animation for children and adults. Some hotels have their own water park, which guests can use for free. Budget travelers can afford to book an economical 3-star hotel with half board or no meals at all.

The main advantage of Turkish resorts is the long beach season. On the Mediterranean coast, it starts in April and lasts until November. In the resorts of the Aegean Sea — from May to October. The most comfortable time for swimming is from mid-June to the end of October. A large influx of tourists is in July-August, when the air temperature is +38°C, and the water warms up to +27°C.

In 2020, the Republic of Turkey has visa-free agreements with 89 states. Some foreigners are exempted from obtaining entry visas, others are required to receive an electronic visa (e-Visa), and still others must apply for a visa at Turkish missions abroad.

What states need a visa for treatment in Turkey and what countries can cross the border free and easy read here.

Visas for travel to Turkey require a number of documents. The necessary papers can be submitted 90 days before the planned departure. Lists of documents includes:

• ID card
• confirmation of online registration and filling out the questionnaire
• certificate of income and availability of funds ($50 per day per person)
• insurance policy for a stay in Turkey (original and copy)
• 2 photos (5x6)
• visa receipt
• booking of flight and hotel
• medical opinion about the need for treatment.