Mini Facelift in Turkey
Mini facelift in Turkey: a short-scar lift of early jowls and the lower cheek with a smaller incision in front of the ear and a faster recovery than a full facelift; 2 hospital nights and 7 hotel nights. Who it suits, limits, recovery.
Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia or local with sedation
Operation time
2–2.5 hours
Hospital / hotel
2 nights / 7 nights
Stay in Turkey
9 nights (2 hospital + 7 hotel), sutures out before you fly
Back to work
Desk work in 10–14 days
Package price
€1,560
What Mini Facelift involves
A mini facelift — also called a short-scar or S-lift — treats the earliest signs of facial descent: softening of the jawline, the beginning of jowls, and slight sagging of the lower cheek, typically in the 40s and early 50s. It uses a shorter incision confined to the front of the ear, lifts the SMAS layer beneath the skin with sutures or a small fold, and redrapes the skin with minimal removal. Because it does not extend behind the ear, it cannot treat the neck, but for the right face it restores the jawline with a quicker recovery and a smaller scar than a full facelift.
Choosing between a mini and a full facelift is the key decision, and it is made by the tissue, not by preference. A mini lift suits mild jowling with a neck that is still reasonably tight. Once there is loose neck skin, muscle bands or heavy jowls, a mini lift under-corrects and the result is short-lived; a full face and neck lift is the honest recommendation. The surgeon assesses this from photos before you book.
What it does not do: it does not lift the neck, the mid-face or the brow, does not treat skin quality, and does not last as long as a full lift because the lift is smaller. It is a good operation for the right patient at the right stage, and a disappointing one when used to avoid a full lift that is actually needed.
Scars: A short line in front of the ear, starting in the sideburn and ending at the earlobe; no scar behind the ear
Who it suits — and who it does not
Good candidates
- ✓Early jowls and a softening jawline, typically 40–55, with good skin elasticity
- ✓A neck that is still reasonably tight, with no bands and little loose skin
- ✓A wish for a modest, natural refresh with a shorter scar and quicker recovery
- ✓Non-smokers, controlled blood pressure, stable weight
- ✓Realistic that this is a smaller lift with a shorter lifespan than a full facelift
Usually advised against
- –Loose neck skin, platysma bands or heavy jowls — a full face and neck lift is needed
- –Mid-face descent or hollowing as the main concern
- –Smokers unwilling to stop
- –Expecting the result of a full facelift from a smaller operation
- –Concern mainly with skin texture, sun damage or fine lines
Techniques and options
Short-scar incision
The incision starts in the sideburn, runs down in front of the ear inside the tragus and stops at the earlobe. There is no incision behind the ear or into the hairline behind it, which is why the neck cannot be addressed.
SMAS suspension
Through the short incision, the SMAS layer is lifted with purse-string or vertical sutures (the basis of the MACS-type lift) or by a small fold, repositioning the jowl and lower cheek upward. Lifting the deeper layer rather than pulling skin is what keeps the result natural.
Minimal skin excision
Only the small amount of skin made redundant by the lift is removed; closure is without tension so the scar heals fine and the ear is not distorted.
Adjuncts
Liposuction under the chin for a small amount of fullness, or fat grafting to the cheeks, can be added when they will improve balance. A neck lift is a separate operation and, if needed, means the full lift is the right choice.
What happens on surgery day
- 1
Assessment before travel: photos from the front, sides and three-quarter views, with the neck visible. The surgeon confirms a mini lift is appropriate — or advises a full lift.
- 2
Admission on the morning of surgery after fasting. Blood tests, ECG and anaesthetic review; blood pressure optimised.
- 3
Markings sitting up. Under general anaesthesia or sedation, local anaesthetic with adrenaline is infiltrated, the short incision made, the SMAS suspended, skin redraped and closed. Small drains are sometimes used for 24 hours.
- 4
A light head dressing and two nights in hospital for observation of bleeding and comfort.
- 5
Discharge to the hotel on day 2. Clinic visits for wound checks and suture removal at days 5–7; fit-to-fly report before you travel.
Recovery timeline
Days 1–3
Swelling and bruising along the jaw and in front of the ears; tightness and numbness. Head elevated, cold compresses, soft food.
Days 5–7
Sutures removed. Bruising fading. Gentle hair washing from day 3. Fit-to-fly check.
Weeks 2–3
Presentable with make-up; desk work resumes. Numbness in front of the ears is normal.
Weeks 4–6
Swelling largely gone; light exercise resumes. Scars pink.
Months 3–12
Final result by 3 months; scars fade to pale over 12 months.
Results — and their limits
A cleaner jawline and lifted lower cheek — a rested, natural refresh rather than a dramatic change.
The result typically lasts 5–8 years, less than a full facelift, because the lift is smaller. Ageing continues from a better starting point.
The neck is unchanged. If neck laxity develops later, a neck lift or full lift can be done.
The short scar in front of the ear fades to a fine line that is difficult to find after a year.
When it is final: Swelling settles over 6–8 weeks; scars mature over 12 months; result lasts 5–8 years
Risks and how they are managed
Every operation carries risk. These are the ones that matter for this procedure, and what is done to reduce, spot or treat each.
Haematoma
Blood-pressure control, stopping blood thinners, two nights of observation, drains where used; drained promptly if it forms.
Under-correction or early relapse
Mostly a matter of choosing the mini lift for a face that needed a full lift; prevented by honest assessment.
Nerve injury
Rare; the short-scar approach stays superficial to the main facial nerve branches. Temporary weakness recovers.
Visible scar or earlobe distortion
Incision inside the tragus, tension-free closure, scar care.
Skin loss
Rare with the short flap; non-smoking is still required.
Asymmetry
Faces are asymmetric; minor adjustments possible after 6 months.
Infection
Uncommon; antibiotic cover.
Package and cost
€1,560
One fixed price for the operation and a 9-night stay: 2 hospital nights and 7 hotel nights. No deposit surprises, no add-ons for anaesthesia or medication.
Included
- ✓Consultation with the operating plastic surgeon and honest assessment of mini versus full lift
- ✓Pre-operative blood tests, ECG and anaesthetic assessment
- ✓Mini (short-scar) facelift in a hospital operating theatre
- ✓2 nights in hospital with nursing care and medication
- ✓7 nights in a 4- or 5-star hotel in Kuşadası
- ✓Private transfers between airport, hospital, clinic and hotel
- ✓Dressings, suture removal, wound checks and fit-to-fly report
- ✓12 months of remote photo follow-up
Not included
- –Flights and travel insurance that covers elective surgery abroad
- –Neck lift, blepharoplasty or fat grafting if added — quoted as a package
- –Skin resurfacing or skincare
How to compare this with a quote at home
Ask any clinic for the same list: surgeon and anaesthetist fees, hospital nights, tests, medication, garments or splints, follow-up visits. A cheaper headline price usually excludes several of these. Then add your flights and insurance to our price for a like-for-like comparison.
How to prepare
- 1.Send photos from the front, sides and three-quarter views with the neck visible; the neck decides whether a mini lift is right.
- 2.Stop smoking and nicotine 4 weeks before and after. Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E and herbal supplements 14 days before.
- 3.Ensure blood pressure is controlled; take your medication on the morning of surgery unless told otherwise.
- 4.Colour your hair before you travel; no colouring for 6 weeks after.
- 5.Bring front-opening tops, a scarf and sunglasses; arrange 9 nights in Turkey and 10–14 days off work.
Aftercare at home
- •Sleep with the head raised for 2 weeks; avoid turning the neck sharply.
- •Cold compresses to the cheeks for 48 hours; soft food for a week.
- •Gentle hair washing from day 3; no colouring for 6 weeks.
- •No strenuous exercise, sauna or sunbathing for 4 weeks; SPF on the scars for 12 months.
- •Report sudden one-sided swelling, increasing pain or fever immediately. Photos at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
Mini or full facelift?
How long does a mini facelift last?
Where is the scar?
Can it be done under local anaesthesia?
Will it treat my neck?
How quickly can I be seen in public?
When can I fly home?
What is included in the price?
Often considered alongside
Free assessment
Send your details; a coordinator replies with a surgeon’s opinion and a written plan.