Facelift surgery can also be referred to as Rhytidectomy. This surgery is meant to combat aging signs on the face and the neck. People tend to develop wrinkles and have facial sagging as they age. Facelift surgery is designed to address these aging signs by tightening and lifting the patient’s face, giving it a youthful appearance. 

In most cases, facelift surgery is performed for cosmetic purposes, as the patient aims to reinstate a refreshed appearance to his or her face. Although they may be performed concurrently, it’s important to note that Rhytidectomy is different from eyelid surgery. 

There are two types of facelift surgery. Mini-facelift and Standard Facelift. The latter is a minor surgery as compared to the Standard or traditional facelift. Although they are all meant to give an attractive youthful appearance, they are performed using different techniques.

• People who are in good health condition.
• People with saggy facial skin. 
• People with loose skin around the neck. 
• People with wrinkles around the mouth and nose.
• People with saggy tissues in the area around the jawline.

Preparing for Rhytidectomy is the same as preparing for any medical operation. The surgeon will have to make some tests and body examinations before the surgery commences. The patient’s current medication may be altered, and he or she may be asked to take a break from smoking. Just like in any other plastic surgery, the patient is also expected to abstain from aspirins and anti-inflammatory drugs. Any patient is required to carefully follow these instructions as they determine the outcome of the surgery.

The facelift surgery duration is normally between 2 to 5 hours. Whether the patient is having a Mini-facelift or a Standard Facelift, both procedures still require local anesthetics and general anesthesia or even sedation for the patient’s comfortability.

Mini-facelift: Patients with sagging skin are suitable candidates for this type of procedure. Shorter incisions are made near the ear along the hairline, and it is through these incisions, deep facial tissues are tightened. This technique is normally used for those patients whose unwanted aging signs are just in their early stages. This helps to postpone the traditional facelift surgery for many years. 

Standard Facelift: This procedure focuses on rejuvenating both the face and the neck. It aims to address the more developed aging signs, which have become very much visible and difficult to hide even under makeup. This surgery is extensive in nature and goes beyond the Mini-facelift one, and as such, it requires much more healing time. Incisions are made around the ear and behind the hairline. Through these incisions, tissues under the skin are repositioned by removing excess skin and eradicating unwanted saggy skins under the chin. The desired youthful appearance is achieved through this process. 

After incisions are closed, bandages and dressings are then used to cover the operated areas.

Since the facial skin is delicate, the recovery process is swift. Swelling and bruising are common immediately after the Facelift surgery, but they tend to fade after 48 hours. After 10 to 14 days, patients are expected to return, but they are recommended to avoid any strenuous activities or make some facial expressions. It’s vital for patients to avoid their faces being exposed to the sun. This also promotes the fast healing of the scars. 

Sutures and bandages are removed 7 to 10 days after surgery. The patient is given specific instructions by the surgeon on how to bathe since bandages and incisions have to be kept clean and dry all the time. 

Alcohol intake must be limited, and one should avoid smoking two weeks after the surgery. In 3 to 4 weeks, the results of the surgery will begin to manifest.

In general, Facelift Surgery is expensive and reserved for the affluent in Western Europe and the U.S. But in Turkey, specifically at Luna Clinic, people who travel to Turkey for a facelift surgery can save 60% to 70% of the amount they would have spent in their home countries. For International patients, the facelift surgery cost covers:

• Surgeon’s fee
• Hospital or surgical facility costs
• Anesthesia fees
• Prescriptions for medication
• Post-surgery garments
• Medical tests and x-rays

Facelift surgery in Turkey has been performed for over two decades. Turkish surgeons have performed thousands and thousands of Facelift surgeries over the years. No wonder they are regarded amongst the top surgeons in the World. Most of the Facelift surgery patients are foreigners from the US, Western Europe, and Northern Africa. 

Over the years, Facelift Surgery has become one of the most popular plastic surgeries in Istanbul, with state-of-the-art facilities like Luna Clinic being at the forefront of giving the best treatment and cosmetic services.