For patients in South Africa

Facial cosmetic surgery in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

This page is an overview of the facial procedures we arrange in Turkey, written for patients travelling from South Africa. It explains what each procedure is in one line, which ones can sensibly be combined, and what to plan for when the flight home takes around ten hours. Each procedure has its own detailed page, linked below.

Guides for South African patients

We have written separate South African guides for the three most-asked-about facial procedures:

• Facelift in Turkey from South Africa
• Eyelid surgery in Turkey from South Africa
• Rhinoplasty in Turkey from South Africa

Facial procedures we offer

Each link goes to the full treatment page, with candidacy, technique and recovery.

Facelift and neck

• Facelift — lifts sagging skin and deeper tissues of the lower face and jawline
• Neck lift and neck surgery — tightens loose neck skin and defines the jawline

Eyes and brows

• Eyelid surgery — removes excess skin or puffiness from the upper or lower eyelids to ease a tired look
• Brow lift — raises low or heavy brows to rejuvenate the upper face

Nose

• Rhinoplasty — reshapes the nose for appearance, breathing, or both

Facial contouring

• Fat transfer — moves your own fat to the face, lips or under the eyes to restore volume
• Facial implants — adds definition to the chin, cheeks or jawline
• Buccal fat removal — reduces fullness in the cheeks to contour the face
• Chin reduction — reduces a prominent chin for a more balanced face

Ears and lips

• Ear correction — reduces and reshapes prominent ears
• Lip lift — shortens the space under the nose so the upper lip shows more

Reconstructive

• Cleft lip and palate surgery — addresses congenital cleft conditions

Not sure which applies to you? Send photographs and describe what bothers you; the surgeon will say which procedure, if any, fits.

Combining procedures

Facial procedures are often done together: a facelift with a neck lift, eyelid surgery with a brow lift, or fat transfer alongside a facelift. Combining can mean one anaesthetic and one recovery, but it also means a longer operation and more swelling. The surgeon decides what is safe in one operation, based on your health and anatomy, not on how far you have travelled.

Planning the trip from South Africa

• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir
• Visa: South Africans apply for an e-Visa online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
• Recovery: patients recover at Mandarin Grove near İzmir between check-ups
• Swelling and bruising: expect some on the journey home; sunglasses, a scarf or a hat help, and you should keep your head raised and drink water on the flight
• Fitness to fly: the surgeon decides when you can fly, so book a return ticket you can change
• Sun: South African sun is strong, and healing scars and bruised skin should be protected; ask the surgeon about sun protection and for how long
• Time difference: Turkey is only one hour ahead of South Africa, which makes follow-up calls easy
• Cover: medical schemes generally do not cover cosmetic surgery, and travel insurance usually excludes planned surgery abroad

Follow-up at home

Follow-up continues by photograph, message and video call with the same team after you return. Complications and clinically necessary revisions within a year are covered by our treatment guarantee. Keep your GP informed, and ask us before you book how follow-up would work in your city. Facts about the clinic and surgeons are on the clinic facts page, and if something goes wrong you can use our complaints process.

What we will not do

We will not confirm a plan before a surgeon has reviewed you, we will not promise a result, and we will not operate if your health makes it unsafe. A long journey is not a reason to add more procedures to one operation than the surgeon judges safe.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have more than one facial procedure in the same operation?

Often, yes. Facelift with neck lift, or eyelid surgery with a brow lift, are common combinations. The surgeon decides what is safe to do in one operation, based on your health and the length of anaesthesia.

How long after facial surgery can I fly home to South Africa?

The surgeon decides, based on the procedure and how you are healing. Plan for some swelling and bruising during the journey, and book a return ticket you can change.

Will I have bruising when I travel home?

Probably some. Swelling and bruising are normal after facial surgery and usually take one to two weeks or longer to settle, depending on the procedure, so expect to still have some on the flight home.

Is it safe to be in the sun after facial surgery?

Healing scars and bruised skin should be protected from strong sun, which is a real point in South Africa. Ask the surgeon how long to protect the scars and what sun protection to use.

Will my medical aid cover facial cosmetic surgery?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover cosmetic surgery, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned surgery abroad. Ask both specifically before you book.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.