# Facelift Surgery in Istanbul, Turkey

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**Muhsin Yilmaz, MD, FEBOPRAS — Deep Plane Facelift Expert · Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon**

*Written and medically reviewed by **Muhsin Yilmaz, MD, FEBOPRAS** — Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon · Last medically reviewed: August 14, 2026*

A facelift is a surgical procedure that corrects the visible signs of facial ageing — sagging cheeks, deepening folds, jowls and loose skin along the jawline and neck — by repositioning the deeper tissues of the face and removing excess skin. Modern facelift surgery is no longer one standard operation: techniques range from limited, short-recovery procedures to comprehensive deep plane surgery, and choosing the right one for your anatomy matters more than any technique's name.

I am Dr. Muhsin Yilmaz, a double board-certified plastic surgeon (FEBOPRAS and the Turkish Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) practising in Istanbul. Facial and neck rejuvenation is the core of my surgical practice — around 150 facelift operations per year — and this page explains the main facelift techniques, who each suits, and how I decide which approach to recommend.

## How I Assess Every Facelift Candidate: Position, Volume and Skin

I assess facial ageing in three components: **position** (descent of the deep tissues), **volume** (loss of facial fat) and **skin quality**. A facelift corrects position. Volume loss is addressed with [facial fat transfer](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/facial-fat-transfer), and skin quality with resurfacing treatments such as CO₂ laser. Most faces age in more than one component — which is why my surgical plans are individual, and often combine procedures in a single operation.

## Facelift Techniques: Which Type Is Right for You?

### Deep Plane Facelift — my primary technique

The deep plane facelift releases the facial retaining ligaments and repositions the SMAS layer and skin as a single unit, working in the plane beneath the SMAS. It treats midface descent, jowls and early neck laxity at their anatomical source, with low tension on the skin.

**In my practice this is the reference technique**: I use the extended deep plane approach in a significant proportion of my facelift patients, particularly when midface descent and jowling are established. It is the technique I would choose for most patients seeking a comprehensive, natural, long-lasting result. You can review unretouched examples in my [facelift before and after results](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/results).

→ **[Deep Plane Facelift in Istanbul — full guide](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/deep-plane-facelift)**

### SMAS Facelift

The SMAS facelift tightens the superficial musculoaponeurotic system — the fibromuscular layer of the face — and manages the skin separately. It is a well-established technique that remains appropriate for selected patients with milder laxity. The practical differences between SMAS and deep plane surgery are explained in detail [in the comparison section of my deep plane guide](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/deep-plane-facelift).

See also: the full [deep plane vs SMAS comparison](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/deep-plane-vs-smas-facelift).

### Mini Facelift

A mini facelift is a shorter, less invasive operation addressing early jowling and mild lower-face laxity through shorter incisions. Recovery is quicker, and it can be a reasonable first operation for younger patients with genuinely early changes. Two honest caveats from my practice: a mini facelift cannot correct established midface descent or neck laxity, and patients with more advanced ageing who choose a "mini" operation for the shorter recovery are the group most often disappointed. In consultation I will tell you openly which category you are in.

### Midface Lift

The [midface lift](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/midface-lift) specifically repositions descended cheek tissue and improves the lower eyelid–cheek junction — useful when ageing is concentrated in the central face.

### Endoscopic Facelift

The [endoscopic facelift](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/endoscopic-facelift) uses small incisions and camera guidance, and is best suited to the upper and middle face in patients with mild descent and good skin elasticity.

### Temporal Lift and Brow Lift

Lateral brow descent and a heavy upper eye area are treated with a [temporal lift](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/temporal-lift) or a [brow lift](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/brow-lift) — frequently combined with facelift surgery, because the upper face ages in parallel.

### Neck Lift

Neck ageing — platysmal bands, submental fullness, loose neck skin — is treated with a [neck lift](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/neck-lift). In my practice, facial descent and deeper neck ageing usually coexist, so I often combine a [deep neck lift](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/neck-lift) with an extended deep plane facelift in one operation.

### Revision Facelift

If you have had a facelift before and the result has relapsed or concerns remain, [revision facelift surgery](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/revision-facelift) is a distinct procedure with its own planning considerations.

## What About Non-Surgical Alternatives?

Thread lifts, energy-based skin tightening and filler-based "liquid facelift" approaches can be reasonable options for mild, early changes — with the honest caveat that their effect is temporary and they cannot reposition descended deep tissue. When a patient's problem is genuinely surgical, I say so; when it is not, a [thread lift](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/thread-facelift) or skin-quality treatment may serve better than an operation they do not yet need.

## Who Is a Good Candidate for a Facelift?

A good candidate has visible descent (sagging cheeks, jowls, loose neck skin), is in good general health, does not smoke — or can stop nicotine for the required period — and has realistic expectations. Age by itself is not how I decide; anatomy, health and expectations are. I regularly advise against surgery for young patients without a true surgical problem, and for patients whose expectations surgery cannot meet.

How male anatomy changes the surgical plan is covered in my [male facelift guide](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/male-facelift).

## What Does Recovery Look Like?

Recovery depends on the technique. As a general guide for full facelift surgery in my practice: two nights in hospital, discharge to a recovery hotel on day 3, in-person checks through days 5–10, and fit-to-fly clearance around day 9–10 for international patients — who should plan roughly two weeks in Türkiye. Most patients feel socially presentable within two to three weeks, while the final result matures over 6–12 months. The full day-by-day protocol is in my [deep plane facelift recovery timeline](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/deep-plane-facelift).

For the complete week-by-week guide, including what is normal and what to report, see my [facelift recovery guide](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/facelift-recovery).

## How Long Does a Facelift Last — and How Much Younger Will I Look?

A facelift's anatomical repositioning is long-lasting, but no facelift stops ageing, and I do not promise a number of years or a "years younger" figure. What surgery changes is your starting point: you continue to age from a younger anatomical position. Deeper-plane techniques generally maintain their correction longer than limited or non-surgical approaches. My own long-term criterion is different anyway: the face should still look natural years later — ageing without ever looking "operated on".

## Facelift Cost in Turkey

There is no single facelift price, because there is no single facelift operation. Cost depends on the technique (mini, full, deep plane), whether neck surgery, eyelid surgery, fat transfer or laser resurfacing are combined, operating time, and hospital stay. After reviewing your photos and, where needed, a video consultation, I provide a transparent, itemised quote based on your personalised surgical plan. See my [full guide to what determines the cost](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/deep-plane-facelift-cost).

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the difference between a facelift and a deep plane facelift?**

“Facelift” is the umbrella term; the deep plane facelift is a specific technique that releases the retaining ligaments and lifts the deep tissue layer rather than tightening the surface. It is my primary technique for comprehensive facial rejuvenation — [full guide here](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/deep-plane-facelift).

**Is a mini facelift enough for me?**

It depends on your anatomy, not your preference for a shorter recovery. A mini facelift suits genuinely early, mild lower-face changes; established midface descent or neck laxity needs a more comprehensive approach. I tell every patient openly which group they are in.

**Am I too old for a facelift?**

Age alone is not a criterion. I assess anatomy, health status and expectations — healthy patients across a wide age range can safely undergo facelift surgery.

**How long do I stay in Istanbul for a facelift?**

Plan approximately two weeks: arrival at least two days before surgery, two nights in hospital, recovery-hotel care with scheduled checks, and fit-to-fly clearance around day 9–10.

**Does a facelift also treat the neck?**

Often, yes — facial and neck ageing usually coexist, and I frequently combine a deep neck lift with the facelift in one operation. Isolated neck problems are treated with a [neck lift](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/neck-lift).

**Will I look pulled or “done”?**

Avoiding that look is precisely why I prefer deep-plane techniques: the lift is carried by the deep tissues, so the skin is closed without tension. My aim is a rested, natural result — not a tight one.

**How much does a facelift cost in Turkey?**

There is no single price, because the operation is individual. After a video consultation I provide a transparent, itemised quote based on your surgical plan.

**Can I combine a facelift with eyelid surgery or fat transfer?**

Yes — combinations are the norm in my practice, because ageing affects position, volume and skin together. The most frequent additions are [blepharoplasty](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/blepharoplasty), [facial fat transfer](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/facial-fat-transfer) and CO₂ laser. See my [full combination guide](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/combination-facial-procedures).

**Is it safe to have a facelift in Turkey?**

Choosing a properly credentialled surgeon and a full-service hospital is what makes it safe — anywhere. I operate at a modern, fully equipped Acıbadem group hospital in Istanbul with a dedicated anaesthesia team, and I am registered with the Turkish Ministry of Health for international health tourism. My safety protocols are detailed [here](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/deep-plane-facelift). A full verification guide: [Is Turkey safe for plastic surgery?](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/is-turkey-safe-for-plastic-surgery)

**What happens if I need follow-up after I fly home?**

Follow-up continues remotely on a schedule: weekly photo and video reviews in the early period, routine aftercare-team follow-up, and direct assessments by me at defined milestones.

## About Dr. Muhsin Yilmaz

Dr. Muhsin Yilmaz is a **double board-certified plastic surgeon** (FEBOPRAS and the Turkish Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) practising in Istanbul, Türkiye. His practice is focused on facial and neck rejuvenation, centred on the deep plane facelift — around 150 facelift operations per year, performed at Acıbadem Kartal Hospital. He is a member of TSPRAS and ISAPS, and is registered with the Turkish Ministry of Health for international health tourism. Read his [full profile](https://muhsinyilmaz.com/en/about-us).