The honest answer
A facelift is real surgery and every operation carries risk, wherever it is done. The question is whether the conditions around your surgery reduce that risk as much as possible: a specialist surgeon, a licensed hospital, proper tests, enough time to recover and follow-up after you leave.
New City Clinic is built around those conditions, and you can check each one before you book.
It is also worth separating the question of safety from the question of price. A low price is not in itself a risk, and a high price is not in itself a guarantee. What matters is who operates, where, and what happens before and after the operation.
Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, receives a large number of international patients for facial surgery every year, and the private hospitals used for that work are modern and well equipped. That does not make every offer equal, which is why the checks below matter.
The surgeon and the hospital
Your operation is performed by a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç, whom you meet in person before surgery. It takes place in a private partner hospital licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health, such as Medicana, Acıbadem, Medipol, Medical Park, Biruni or Rumeli.
New City Clinic is an authorised health tourism organisation (Health Türkiye) and holds TÜRSAB licence no. 17659. Details are on newcityclinic.com.
Meeting the surgeon before the operation is not a courtesy; it is part of safe care. It allows the plan made from your photos to be checked against a real examination, and gives you the chance to ask every question face to face.
The risks you should know
Your surgeon explains the risks that apply to you during the examination. In general terms, they include:
Most of these are temporary and settle with time. Knowing about them in advance helps you recognise what is normal during recovery and what should be reported to the team.
- Temporary swelling, bruising, tightness and numbness
- Bleeding (haematoma), infection or delayed healing
- Rarely, temporary weakness of a facial nerve branch
- Visible or widened scars in some people
How the risks are reduced
Blood tests and an anaesthesia assessment are done before every operation. You spend one night in hospital under observation, and drains, if used, are removed before you go back to the hotel.
Smoking, some medications and high blood pressure increase risk, so be completely open about your health history. The surgeon may adjust or postpone the plan if something needs attention first.
The surgeon also reviews your photos in advance, so that the plan is realistic before you travel. Some requests are better served by a different treatment or a smaller operation, and part of safe planning is being told so honestly.
Choosing the right technique is part of safety too. A longer, more complex operation is only recommended when your face needs it; when a smaller procedure gives a convincing result, the surgeon will say so. The written plan from New City Clinic explains which technique is proposed and why, so you can ask about it before you travel.
Flying home safely
You stay in Istanbul until stitches are out and the surgeon is satisfied with your healing: eight to ten days for a facelift. For long-haul flights, a slightly longer stay is often sensible. Walk regularly during the flight and keep hydrated.
Complication insurance is included in every New City Clinic surgical package, which matters if anything unexpected needs treatment.
Avoid booking a flight that leaves on the same day as your final check. Leaving a small margin means the surgeon can see you once more if needed without anyone feeling rushed.
Follow-up once you are home
Follow-up continues by photo and video call with the New City Clinic team and the surgeon. We also recommend telling your own doctor about the operation and keeping your discharge summary, so that local care, if needed, has the full picture.
If you notice anything that worries you after returning home, such as increasing swelling on one side, a fever or a wound that does not look right, contact the New City Clinic team straight away and, if needed, seek local medical care. Your discharge summary helps any doctor understand what was done.
This portal belongs to New City Clinic: Complete facelift guide on newcityclinic.com
