Before you fly
Everything starts with your photos and a written plan from New City Clinic. Once you have accepted it and paid a deposit to secure the date, you book your flight to match the surgery date. Flights are the only part of the trip that is not included.
Stop smoking several weeks before surgery and check with the clinic which medications or supplements to pause. Your coordinator sends a short checklist.
Check that your passport is valid and whether you need an e-visa for Türkiye on your nationality. Travel insurance that covers your trip is your responsibility, so read the terms carefully and keep a copy of your New City Clinic quote with your documents.
If you are travelling with a companion, share the timetable with them early. Knowing which day is the consultation, which is surgery day and which days are for rest makes the trip calmer for both of you.
Arrival and the hotel
A driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. Your coordinator contacts you the same day and explains the timetable. If you arrive after a long flight, a rest day before the consultation is a good idea.
Hotel nights are included in the package, and a companion can usually share your room.
Istanbul is a large city and traffic can be heavy, so the transfers are timed by your coordinator with enough margin. You do not have to work out routes or deal with local transport at any stage.
Consultation, tests and surgery day
You meet Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç for a face-to-face examination. Blood tests and an anaesthesia assessment follow, and the plan is confirmed. On surgery day, you are driven to the partner hospital, where an interpreter is available.
A facelift takes three to five hours under general anaesthesia. You stay one night in hospital and return to the hotel the next morning.
The night before surgery, you are asked not to eat or drink after a certain time; your coordinator confirms the exact instructions. Leave jewellery and valuables at the hotel and bring only what you need for one night.
Recovery days in Istanbul
Swelling and bruising peak around day three. Keep your head raised, use cool compresses as advised and take short, gentle walks. Your coordinator stays in daily contact and arranges transfers for check-ups.
Stitches are removed between days seven and ten. After a final check, the surgeon clears you to fly.
Meals at the hotel are easy to manage during recovery. Soft food is often more comfortable in the first days, and plenty of water helps. Avoid alcohol and follow the medication schedule you are given.
Your companion, if you have one, can explore a little of the city while you rest, and join you for short walks once you feel ready. Keep the evenings quiet, and do not plan anything that involves bending, lifting or long periods in the sun.
- Facelift: 8–10 days
- Face and neck lift: about 10 days
- Eyelid surgery or mini facelift: 6–7 days
What to pack
Pack for comfort rather than sightseeing. Big museum days and long walks across the city are better left for another trip, or for the days before surgery.
If you take regular medication, bring enough for the whole stay plus a few extra days, in its original packaging, together with a list of the doses.
- Tops and shirts that open at the front
- A scarf and sunglasses for the journey home
- A travel pillow to keep your head raised
- Your list of medications and recent test results
Going home
Keep your discharge summary in your hand luggage. Back home, follow-up continues by photo and video call with New City Clinic, and we recommend telling your own doctor about the surgery. More practical information is on newcityclinic.com.
Many patients like to keep a short diary of their recovery with a photo each day. It is reassuring to look back on, and it makes the photo follow-ups with the surgeon easier once you are home.
This portal belongs to New City Clinic: Complete facelift guide on newcityclinic.com
