For patients in South Africa
Neck surgery in Turkey from South Africa: lift, liposuction or both
“Neck surgery” covers several different operations. A neck lift deals with loose skin and the neck muscles; neck liposuction removes fat under the chin; some patients need a combination, often alongside a facelift. This page explains the options in plain terms for patients travelling from South Africa, so you know what to ask before you send your photographs.
In short: The main neck operations we arrange in İzmir are a neck lift, which tightens loose skin and the underlying muscle, and neck liposuction, which removes excess fat where the skin is still firm. Which one you need depends on whether your problem is skin, fat or muscle, and a surgeon decides this from an assessment, not from a menu. South Africans travel with an e-Visa via Istanbul, and the surgeon decides when you are fit to fly home.
Last updated: October 2026
Skin, fat or muscle: which is your problem?
The neck can change in three ways, and each needs a different fix:
- Loose or sagging skin along the jaw and neck, often with age or after weight loss
- Visible vertical bands, caused by the platysma muscle at the front of the neck
- A fat pad under the chin (a double chin) that does not shift with diet or exercise
Many people have a mix. Surgery can improve these, but it cannot stop ageing or later weight change, or guarantee a particular jawline.
Neck surgery options
Neck lift
A neck lift removes excess skin and tightens the neck muscles, with fat removed where needed. It suits loose skin, neck bands and loss of jawline definition. Read the neck lift guide for South African patients.
Neck liposuction
Neck liposuction removes fat beneath the chin and around the neck through small incisions. It works best when the skin still has good elasticity, because it does not remove loose skin. Read the neck liposuction guide for South African patients.
Neck surgery with a facelift
When the jowls and lower face have dropped as well, a neck lift is often done together with a facelift, so that the face and neck match. Combinations are explained on our combined facial surgery page, and every facial procedure is listed in our facial surgery guide for South African patients.
Full details of each technique are on the neck surgery treatment page.
Who neck surgery suits
- People bothered by loose skin, fat or lost definition around the neck and jawline
- People in good general health with realistic expectations
- Non-smokers, or people able to stop before surgery
Photographs give an early opinion but do not confirm suitability. The surgeon assesses your health, medication, skin and goals in person, and will discuss alternatives or no treatment where that is the honest answer.
What happens in Turkey
On arrival you have health checks, blood tests and a face-to-face meeting with the surgeon. Afterwards there are dressing changes, nursing support and check-ups, and patients recover at Mandarin Grove between appointments. Operation length and when you can fly depend on the procedure.
Risks include bleeding, haematoma, infection, fluid collection, scarring, asymmetry, contour irregularity, altered sensation, nerve injury, anaesthetic complications and blood clots. The surgeon should explain your own risks and the warning signs to watch for at home.
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: apply for an e-Visa online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
- Fitness to fly: the surgeon decides, so book a return ticket you can change
- On the flight: expect some swelling; keep your head raised, move regularly and drink water
- Cover: medical schemes generally do not cover elective cosmetic treatment abroad, and travel insurance usually excludes planned surgery
Our treatment guarantee covers surgical treatment for one year: medical complications and any revision the treating team judges clinically necessary are treated in İzmir at no charge, though flights and accommodation are your own cost.
Follow-up continues by photograph, message and video call with the same team; Turkey is one hour ahead of South Africa. Keep your GP informed and take your operation notes home. See our clinic facts and complaints process.
What we will not do
We will not confirm a plan before a surgeon has reviewed you, we will not promise a particular jawline or how long a result will last, and we will not recommend a neck lift where liposuction alone, or no surgery, would serve you better.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a neck lift and neck liposuction?
A neck lift removes loose skin and tightens the neck muscles. Neck liposuction removes fat but not skin, so it suits people whose skin is still firm. Some patients need both.
Can neck surgery be done with a facelift?
Yes. When the jowls and lower face have dropped as well as the neck, a neck lift is often combined with a facelift. The surgeon decides whether a combination is safe for you.
How soon can I fly home to South Africa after neck surgery?
It depends on the procedure and how you heal. The surgeon decides when you are fit to fly, so book a return ticket you can change.
Can I find out from photographs which operation I need?
Photographs give the surgeon enough for an early opinion, but suitability is only confirmed after an in-person assessment of your health, skin and anatomy in Turkey.
Will my medical aid cover neck surgery?
South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective cosmetic surgery abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned surgery. 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.