Why “best clinic” lists are not enough
Rankings and “top ten” lists are often paid placements or based on criteria that have little to do with your face. A better approach is to check a few verifiable facts about any clinic you consider, including New City Clinic.
Start with the basics: who operates, where, under which licence, and what happens if something goes wrong. A clinic that answers these clearly and in writing is worth taking seriously.
It also helps to decide in advance what matters most to you. For some people it is the surgeon’s specialty, for others the hospital, the length of stay or the way aftercare is handled once they are home. Writing your priorities down makes it easier to compare clinics on the same terms instead of being swayed by the first friendly reply.
Check the surgeon
A facelift is surgery close to the facial nerve. It should be performed by a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, named in your plan, whom you meet before the operation.
At New City Clinic, that surgeon is Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç. His reconstructive background, working precisely with the deeper layers of the face, is directly relevant to modern facelift techniques. His profile is on newcityclinic.com.
Ask whether you will be examined by the same surgeon who will operate, and whether that surgeon will see you again before you fly home. A clinic that names its surgeon in writing and arranges a face-to-face consultation is giving you something you can check.
Check the hospital and the licences
Ask for the name of the hospital and whether it is licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health. New City Clinic works with private partner hospitals such as Medicana, Acıbadem, Medipol, Medical Park, Biruni and Rumeli, and names the hospital in your quote.
For international patients, also check whether the organisation is authorised for health tourism. New City Clinic holds the Health Türkiye authorisation and TÜRSAB licence no. 17659.
Licences are not a formality. They mean the hospital meets national standards for operating theatres, anaesthesia and inpatient care, and that the organisation arranging your stay is accountable for how international patients are looked after.
How to read online reviews
Reviews can help, but read them critically. Look for detail rather than stars: did the patient meet the surgeon, was the plan explained, how was aftercare handled once they were home?
Reviews are also written at one moment in time. A patient who posts a week after surgery is still swollen; one who posts a year later sees the settled result. Neither tells you how your own face will respond, which is why a personal assessment by a surgeon matters more than any rating.
- Be wary of many short, similar reviews posted at the same time
- Look for how the clinic responds to criticism, not just praise
- Remember that photos online cannot tell you what suits your face
- Ask the clinic directly for anything a review leaves unclear
Questions to ask before you book
A good clinic expects these questions and answers them in writing, without pressure to pay quickly.
Note how quickly and how completely each clinic answers. Vague replies, answers that avoid naming the hospital or a quote without a list of inclusions are all useful information in themselves.
- Which technique do you recommend for me, and why?
- How many nights in hospital and in the hotel?
- Are tests, garments and medication included?
- Is complication insurance included?
- How is follow-up handled after I return home?
Red flags
A price far below every other quote, no named surgeon, a promise of a “perfect” result without seeing photos, or pressure to send money the same day are all reasons to pause.
New City Clinic sends a free written plan, usually within 24 hours, with the technique, the hospital and every inclusion. You decide in your own time.
If a clinic cannot explain who will treat you, where, and what happens after you leave Istanbul, keep looking. Taking a few extra days to compare carefully is always cheaper than correcting a rushed decision.
This portal belongs to New City Clinic: Complete facelift guide on newcityclinic.com
