For patients in South Africa

Facial implants in Turkey from South Africa: chin, cheek and jaw

Facial implants add shape where the bone structure of the face is naturally less prominent: at the chin, along the cheekbones or across the jawline. This page explains the three types we arrange in İzmir, which concern each one fits, and what to plan for when the flight home takes around ten hours.

Three types of facial implant

Each implant addresses a different part of the face:

• Chin implant — brings a recessed or small chin forward so the profile looks more balanced
• Cheek implants — add definition to flat cheekbones or restore volume lost in the mid-face
• Jaw (mandible) implants — widen and define a narrow or soft jawline

Full details of the techniques are on the facial implants treatment page. If your concern is the opposite, a chin that is too prominent, the relevant guide is chin reduction in Turkey from South Africa.

Who facial implants suit

• People whose chin, cheeks or jawline are naturally under-projected
• People who want clearer definition and better balance between their features
• People with facial asymmetry, or with structure lost through ageing, that they would like to improve
• People in good general health who do not smoke, or who can stop before surgery, and whose expectations are realistic

Unlike fillers, implants are a permanent change. If an implant is not the right answer for you, the surgeon may suggest another option, such as facial fat transfer.

Combining implants with other procedures

Implants are often placed together, for example chin and jaw implants, or combined with other facial surgery such as rhinoplasty, neck liposuction or a facelift, so that the face is balanced as a whole. Combining can mean one anaesthetic and one recovery, but also 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. Our facial surgery guide for South African patients covers the other facial procedures.

Your stay in İzmir

After you share photographs and goals, you receive a written plan. On arrival there are health checks, blood tests and a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon before the operation. Afterwards you recover at Mandarin Grove, our recovery retreat near İzmir, with nursing support, dressing checks and follow-up appointments. Most patients are cleared to fly after five to seven days; because the journey home is long, book a return ticket you can change.

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
• Time difference: İzmir is one hour ahead of South Africa, which makes follow-up calls easy
• Cover: South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective cosmetic surgery abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment; check with both
• On the flight: some swelling is normal; keep your head raised when you rest and drink water
• Aftercare at home: ask for a written record of your operation and implant details to take home for your own doctor

Follow-up at home

Follow-up continues by photograph, message and video call with the same team. Our treatment guarantee covers medical complications and clinically necessary revisions for one year from surgery; that treatment is done in İzmir without charge, but flights and accommodation are yours to cover. It does not cover preferring a different look when the result is within what was discussed. Keep your GP informed. 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 your photographs and health, we will not promise a particular result, and we will not operate if your health makes it unsafe. A long journey home is not a reason to add more procedures to one operation than the surgeon judges safe, or to fly before you are cleared.

Frequently asked questions

Which facial implant do I need?

It depends on where your face lacks projection: the chin, the cheekbones or the jawline. The surgeon decides from your photographs and an examination, and may suggest a different procedure if an implant is not the right answer.

Are facial implants permanent?

Yes. Facial implants are a permanent change, unlike fillers. They are designed to stay in place unless you choose to have them removed or replaced.

How long do I need to stay in Turkey?

Most patients are cleared to fly home after five to seven days. The surgeon makes that decision, so book a return flight you can change in case you are asked to stay longer.

Can I have more than one facial implant at the same time?

Often, yes. Chin and jaw implants, or implants combined with rhinoplasty or a facelift, are common. The surgeon decides what is safe to do in one operation.

Will my medical aid cover facial implants?

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

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