Smaller, but still surgery
A mini facelift works over a smaller area than a full facelift, with a shorter incision in front of the ear. The deeper supporting layer is still tightened, which is why it gives a more lasting result than a skin-only lift. It is genuine surgery, and it deserves the same standards of preparation.
At New City Clinic it is carried out by a plastic surgeon in a private hospital licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health. The organisation is Health Türkiye authorised and registered with TÜRSAB under licence no. 17659.
Sedation or general anaesthesia?
A mini facelift can often be done under sedation with local anaesthesia, which many patients find reassuring. In other cases general anaesthesia is safer or more comfortable, particularly if another procedure is added. The decision is made by the surgeon and the anaesthetist after your tests in Istanbul, not chosen from a menu.
Whichever is used, you are monitored throughout, and you either go back to the hotel the same day or stay one night in hospital. Tell the team about every medication and supplement you take, as some increase bleeding.
Possible risks
The risks are similar in kind to a full facelift, though generally on a smaller scale:
- Swelling and bruising, which usually settle within 7–10 days
- Bleeding or infection, as with any surgery
- Temporary numbness in front of the ear
- A more limited or shorter-lasting effect if sagging is more advanced than expected
Choosing it for the right reasons
In practice, most mini facelift patients deal only with swelling, bruising and a little numbness, and many feel ready for a short walk on the second or third day. Bleeding is uncommon but is the reason you are watched closely in the first hours. The last point on the list is not a medical complication, but it is a real risk to your satisfaction, and New City Clinic takes it as seriously as the others.
The most common problem with mini facelifts is not a complication but a mismatch: choosing a smaller operation for sagging that really needs a full lift. Honest assessment from your photos is part of safety, because it protects you from an operation that cannot deliver what you hope for.
After surgery, stitches are removed around day 7, and follow-up continues by photo and video call once you are home. The official website, newcityclinic.com, describes the partner hospitals and the surgeon, so you can see in advance where you will be treated.
If you take hormone replacement therapy or the contraceptive pill, mention it, as the anaesthetist may give specific advice for the days around surgery.
This portal belongs to New City Clinic: Mini facelift on the official New City Clinic website
