For patients in South Africa

Mini facelift in Turkey from South Africa: a smaller lift, honestly explained

A mini facelift lifts and tightens the lower face through smaller incisions than a full facelift. It is aimed at early jowls and a jawline that is just starting to soften, and recovery is shorter. It is not a lighter version of the same result: where sagging is marked or the neck has aged, a full facelift usually does more. Our facelift guide for South Africans covers the other techniques.

Mini or full facelift?

The choice depends on how much laxity there is and where, not on which operation sounds smaller:

• Mini facelift — early jowls, mild loosening of the facial skin and little sagging of the neck
• SMAS facelift — more marked sagging of the cheeks, jawline and neck (SMAS facelift guide)
• Deep plane facelift — moderate to advanced ageing, including the mid-face (deep plane facelift guide)

If the neck is your main concern, a mini facelift alone may not be enough; neck liposuction can sometimes be added. More detail is on the mini facelift treatment page.

Who it suits

• People whose jowls are just starting to form, or whose facial skin is beginning to droop
• People with loosened facial tissue after losing a lot of weight
• People with little sagging in the neck
• People who want a subtle, natural change rather than a dramatic one

Mini facelifts are often chosen from around 30 onwards, but the amount of laxity matters more than age. Photographs are useful for a first review; the surgeon decides suitability after assessing your health, medicines, smoking and anatomy. Our surgeons are board-certified; see our clinic facts page.

Adding other procedures

A mini facelift is commonly combined with eyelid surgery, a brow lift, neck liposuction, facial fat grafting or a lip lift. Each addition lengthens the operation and may lengthen the stay, and the surgeon decides what is safe to do together. Our face surgery guide for South Africans lists the options.

How long to stay, and the flight home

Direct flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town reach Istanbul in around ten hours, then a short domestic flight takes you to İzmir. You will need an e-Visa; our e-Visa guide explains it. Most mini facelift patients are cleared to fly five to seven days after surgery, but the decision is the surgeon’s, so book a return ticket you can change.

• Expect some swelling and bruising on the flight
• Take home a written summary of the operation and your medicines for your GP
• Tell us at the start about any history of blood clots, smoking or regular medication

Recovery at home

Many patients are back at work within one to two weeks. The incisions are placed around the ears, in the natural creases and along the hairline, so the scars are discreet once healed. Ask the surgeon how to protect healing scars from the sun before you fly home.

A smaller operation still carries the risks of facial surgery, including bleeding, haematoma, infection, scarring, asymmetry, altered sensation, nerve injury and blood clots.

Follow-up continues by photograph, message and video call; İzmir is one hour ahead of South Africa. For one year our treatment guarantee covers medical complications and any clinically necessary revision, but not a preference for a different look within what was discussed. Accepted cases are treated in İzmir at no charge; flights and accommodation are your own cost. See also our complaints procedure.

What we will not do

We will not sell you a mini facelift if the surgeon thinks it will not reach your goal, we will not promise a result or how long it will last, and we will not operate if you are not a suitable candidate. A long journey is not a reason to add more procedures than the surgeon considers safe.

Frequently asked questions

Is a mini facelift enough for jowls?

For early jowls, often yes. Where the jowls are heavy, the skin is loose or the neck has aged, a SMAS or deep plane facelift usually gives a better result. The surgeon advises after assessing you.

How long does a mini facelift take?

Usually two to three hours, depending on whether other facial procedures are done in the same operation.

When can I fly home to South Africa after a mini facelift?

Most patients are cleared to fly after five to seven days, subject to the surgeon. Because the flight home takes around ten hours, book a return ticket you can change.

When can I go back to work after a mini facelift?

Many patients return to work within one to two weeks. Most swelling and bruising improve over the first few weeks.

Will my medical aid cover a mini facelift?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover cosmetic facial surgery done abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment. Ask your scheme and your insurer 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.