The facelift procedure in Turkey is used to enhance the youthful appearance of the skin and is beneficial to combat signs of ageing in the face and neck. It is also known as rhytidectomy.

This procedure is used to reduce the signs of ageing and can help to minimise drooping or wrinkles on the cheeks, jaws and neck.  Further modifications may be made to the shape of face that happen with age. The procedure involves tightening and lifting skin and soft tissues. The result is to achieve a tighter, smoother look and youthful appearance.

If you are considering undergoing the facelift procedure, it’s important to understand and know about the surgical procedure. It is difficult to provide an exact timeline for recovery as everyone is different and is dependent on a number of factors including age, health and the type of procedure which has been performed. However, if you know what to expect and following the postoperative care instructions from your surgeon this will make a big difference in the results of your facelift and the recovery time.

You must ensure you are following your postoperative care and ensure you are keeping incisions clean to prevent infection.

Day 1

The first day after your surgery, you may feel sleepy and unsteady, the first day is usually when you need pain medication the most to stay on top of the discomfort you are feeling.

Day 2

Your surgeon will schedule a follow-up visit, they will remove or change your surgical dressings and to evaluate your swelling and incisions. If everything is as it should be and normal, the surgeon will then re-dress the area along with reviewing the postoperative care instructions with you and you are then free to go back to the hotel.

Day 3

It is recommended you rest this day, however you should start feeling better and want to move around.  On day 3 and 4 the swelling and bruising usually reach their height, but it is likely that both bruising and swelling will be present for several weeks. If you experience discomfort continue to take pain relief.

Day 4-6

Usually by this time, the majority of people no longer need prescription pain medication and you should start to see the swelling go down and moving about should also start to feel more comfortable. If you feel well enough doing light housework is permitted.

Day 7-14

You will still likely have some swelling and bruising around the affected areas. Swelling and bruising can often cause people to experience some tingling, tightness and numbness, these are common occurrences after facelift surgery and should not be a cause for concern.

At the end of the 2^nd week post-surgery, many people are feeling like themselves and are ready to return to work and begin light activities such as walking.

Day 15-30

You may still have some residual swelling and tightness however for the most part, you will start looking and feeling much better. This is where most patients often begin to see real improvements in their facial contour. By this time you should be able to get back to exercising and enjoying activities without people noticing too much. Your incision sites will have a pinkish-red hue but this will fade with time.

What to expect after day 30

You should be back to doing normal activities and enjoying your life with a new look. It can however take up to one year for very minor swelling, bruising, tightness and numbness to reside, but these are only typically noticeable by you.