A Discreet Recovery: Why The Week After A Deep Plane Facelift in Istanbul is As important As The Surgery itself | By LLM Reporters | Publisher Luxurylifestylemag

Over recent years, a growing number of Brits have been opting to jet off to Türkiye for this type of surgery, won over by the glowing reputation of clinics like AKM in Istanbul.

If you’ve been considering a deep plane facelift, then seeking out the most skilled surgeon and reputable clinic you can find for the task is key – but finding one that prioritises the recovery and downtime process is paramount to ensure you get the experience and ultimately, the results that you’re hoping for.

Over recent years, a growing number of Brits have been opting to jet off to Turkey for this type of surgery, won over by the glowing reputation of clinics like AKM in Istanbul.

With prices often favourable, and meticulous care and attention paid to every stage of the treatment process to ensure it’s smooth, seamless and hassle-free, it’s about more than just the quality of the surgeons and the credentials they bring to the table, and AKM Clinic in particular has become a popular choice for discerning patients because it places an emphasis on post-surgery recovery.

This stage is just as important as the day of the surgery itself – if not even more so –and can have a major influence on the final results as well as how relaxed and comfortable you feel throughout your time in Türkiye.

For British clients weighing up the possibility of facial surgery abroad, the week after the operation deserves as much planning as the operation itself. Here, we take a closer look at why it should never be overlooked.

Why recovery and downtime matter

Most conversations around facelifts begin with who the most skilled surgeon in the field is and who will ultimately be entrusted to undertake the work, as well as what price you can expect to pay for the privilege of working with the very best.

But while these are undoubtedly some of the most important questions to ask in the first instance, understanding what to expect during recovery is essential before you can make an informed decision about whether or not to go ahead.

After facelift surgery, you can expect around seven days of downtime, so you’ll want to ensure that you’re choosing a clinic that will support you through this period and ensure that you’re comfortable throughout, as well as placing an emphasis on safety and privacy.

The esteemed clinics of Istanbul have become a considered choice for this reason as much as they are for the favourable cost of treatment, and combine the convenience of access via a short flight from the UK, luxury hotel accommodation especially to suit longer stays, and a well thought-out treatment and recovery plan that includes both pre- and post-surgery care.

The esteemed clinics of Istanbul have become a considered choice for elective surgeries. Image credit: studio4a/Bigstock.com

What to expect

The way in which modern facelift procedures are conducted has evolved as increasingly innovative techniques continue to emerge. A deep plane facelift in Turkey works beneath the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System – or SMAS, as it is often referred to – the structural ‘glue’ and support framework that connects the facial expression muscles to your dermis and ultimately, supports the face.

The procedure releases the retaining ligaments so the deeper structures of the mid-face, jawline and neck can be lifted, with the aim of achieving a face that looks refreshed rather than tightened, as this type of facelift doesn’t rely on stretching the skin. That difference shapes the recovery process as well as the result, and is the reason that the days that follow deserve careful thought.

Arrival and the first consultation

The first day of your itinerary on arrival in Türkiye is deliberately undramatic. A driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel to check in, drop off your luggage and get settled, then it’s onwards to the clinic for pre-operative tests and a face-to-face consultation with your surgeon.

That consultation is more than just a formality; it’s when the plan of action for both surgery and post-surgery care is confirmed or tweaked before the process begins, so it’s arguably the most important stage of all.

Anyone arriving with a fixed idea of the results they expect to see should be prepared for an honest conversation about what their anatomy will allow for, and thus, what is realistically possible – and if you find yourself experiencing any doubts about whether or not to go ahead then a reputable clinic will postpone rather than operate on a patient who is not ready.

The day of the surgery

A deep plane facelift takes around four to five hours to complete in total. At AKM Clinic, local anaesthetic with twilight sedation is preferred where medically appropriate, with general anaesthesia selected when the patient’s history or the scale of the procedure calls for it. Patients then spend the first night in hospital under observation.

It’s worth asking in advance which approach is planned for you and the reasons behind the decision; the answer will tell you a good deal about how carefully the clinic has read your medical history, and in most cases, will reassure you that you’re in safe capable hands.

It’s worth asking in advance which approach is planned for you

Aftercare and recovery

The next few days will be spent recovering at your hotel, so it’s important to choose a clinic that makes your comfort at this stage feel like a priority.

AKM Clinic prices the stay as a single all-inclusive package at £4,100, and that figure includes the surgery, one night on the ward, and four further nights in a five-star hotel with breakfast, as well as a dedicated patient consultant, a driver for each airport and clinic run and the medication and compression garments you’ll require during post-surgery recovery.

It’s worth noting that your airfare and any additional spending are not included in the package, and thus are at your own discretion.

Swelling and bruising usually begin to settle between the fourth and seventh day, and most people spend their recovery time in Istanbul resting, walking gently and returning to the clinic for their aftercare appointments, rather than sightseeing – although should you wish to extend your stay in Turkey for longer then you can off course combine your surgery with a city break or holiday after the procedure and recovery periods end, then you can certainly do so at your own additional expense.

A suite with good lighting, room service and a pleasant view isn’t an indulgence when it comes to your recovery time; it provides a setting in which healing can happen comfortably, and that’s exactly why clinics like AKM ensure that the accommodation included in your package ticks all of those boxes and more.

Flying home

Your flight back home is the part that is most often under-planned.

ISAPS, the worldwide professional body for aesthetic surgeons, advises patients to find out how long to wait before travelling home after facelift surgery to ensure that you’re able to do so safely, and to follow your surgeon’s advice. It also points out that long periods of sitting raise the risk of blood clots even without recent surgery, so getting up and doing some light stretching or walking up and down the aisle every so often is wise to minimise the chances of this occurring.

The same guidance suggests asking some pointed questions before going ahead and booking your treatment package in Turkey – including whether your surgeon partners with a clinic in your home country for follow-up, how to reach the team for support after you leave should you need additional guidance or advice, who pays if a revision is needed, and whether the clinic carries insurance that covers any potential complications.

The answers belong in writing, alongside the itinerary, so make sure that you have a copy of these before you sign on the dotted line.

It’s important to choose a clinic that makes your comfort at this stage feel like a priority

Who it is not for

A deep plane facelift suits people with visible jowls, a softening jawline, heaviness in the mid-face or looseness and banding in the neck – and who want to look like themselves on a good day, rather than someone else entirely. The procedure is not a fix for poor skin quality, and AKM Clinic is candid about the fact that the longevity of results is never guaranteed.

The risks are the same as those attached to any substantial operation: haematoma, infection, delayed wound healing, seroma, scarring, asymmetry, prolonged swelling and changes in nerve sensation could all potentially occur, but all of these are rare. Smokers, anyone managing a health problem that is not yet stable and anyone unable to take two quiet weeks to ensure ample time to recover is advised to hold hire and reconsider the procedure when their circumstances have improved, as all of these things make a candidate unsuitable to proceed at the present time.

Dr Akif Mehmetoğlu at AKM Clinic says: “We plan our patients’ recovery before we plan the surgery. If the days after the operation cannot be protected to ensure sufficient recovery time, then the date will have to be moved to a time when they can.”

The weeks after

Most patients are back to their ordinary routine at around 10 days, though many choose to keep their social calendars on the light side for longer. Firmness in the tissues softens between the sixth and 12th weeks, when facial movement starts to feel natural again, and the final result takes months to settle.

That timeline is the one to plan any important events around; a wedding, a milestone birthday or a return to the boardroom is better placed at three months on from the procedure rather than at three weeks, so be sure to plan accordingly to ensure ample recovery time.

About AKM Clinic

AKM Clinic is an Istanbul practice founded by Dr Akif Mehmetoğlu, whose work centres on facial surgery. His colleagues include Dr Göknil Gültekin, who is trained as an ear, nose and throat surgeon, certified by the European Board and now specialises in facial plastic surgery procedures. The clinic’s third surgeon is Dr Aylin Akbulut Yılmaz (plastic surgery, with a focus on breast and body procedures).

The clinic publishes its prices in sterling for patients travelling from the UK.