Endoscopic facelift

What is an endoscopic facelift and how does it work?

An endoscopic facelift lifts the upper and middle face through several short incisions, usually 1 to 2 cm long and hidden in the hairline and sometimes inside the mouth, instead of the long incision around the ear used in a traditional facelift. A thin camera (endoscope) is passed under the skin, showing the surgeon the deeper layers on a screen. Through instruments placed beside the camera, the surgeon releases the tissue from the bone, lifts it to a higher position and fixes it there with small anchors, stitches or dissolvable devices. The skin itself is not cut away; it follows the tissue it covers.

Because the operation repositions deeper tissue rather than removing skin, it is best suited to people whose main concern is a drooping brow, flattened cheeks or early hollowing, not heavy jowls or a loose neck. This guide explains how the operation works, what the evidence says, what it costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, what recovery involves and how to compare it with other lifts. The full range is on our plastic surgery treatments in Turkey page.

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Which part of the face does an endoscopic lift treat?

The method works best in the upper two thirds of the face. In an endoscopic brow lift, the forehead tissue is released and raised to lift eyebrows that have dropped and soften frown lines between the brows. In a mid-face lift, the fat pad over the cheekbone is raised to restore fullness under the eyes and soften the groove that runs from the nose to the mouth (nasolabial fold). Often both are done in one operation, sometimes with eyelid surgery. The endoscopic approach does not tighten the lower face or the neck, so it will not correct jowls, a heavy chin line or neck bands; those need a different lift.

Endoscopic facelift, mini facelift or traditional facelift?

The three differ in where the incision lies and which part of the face they correct.

See our guides to the mini facelift, the facelift and the brow lift to compare the options in more detail. The surgeon should explain why one suits your face rather than another.

Does an endoscopic facelift work, and for how long?

For the right face the answer is yes: studies of endoscopic brow and mid-face lifting report lifted brow position and improved cheek contour with high patient satisfaction, with smaller scars and less numbness of the scalp than the older open forehead approach. The evidence is weaker on how long the result lasts. The lift is held by fixation that settles over time, and ageing continues, so most surgeons describe the benefit as years rather than a permanent change. Results depend on tissue quality, smoking, sun exposure and the surgeon's technique. A reliable clinic will not promise a specific number of years or years of age removed.

Who is a good candidate, and who is not?

Good candidates are typically in their late thirties to fifties, with good skin elasticity, a descending brow or flattening of the cheeks and no heavy loose skin. You may be better served by another operation if you have marked jowls, loose neck skin or deep folds, in which case a traditional facelift is more suitable. Smokers need to stop for several weeks before and after surgery, and conditions that affect healing or anaesthesia (uncontrolled diabetes, clotting disorders, heart disease) must be assessed. Men with a receding hairline should discuss where the incisions would lie, as hidden scars depend on hair.

How is the operation performed, step by step?

The surgeon marks the face while you sit upright. The operation is usually under general anaesthesia, occasionally with sedation, and lasts two to three hours depending on the areas. Small incisions are made behind the hairline, and an endoscope and fine instruments are passed under the forehead or cheek tissue. The surgeon releases the tissue, lifts it to a new position and secures it, and then closes the incisions with stitches or clips. A light bandage is applied. Most patients stay one night in hospital. Hair around the incisions is not shaved in most cases, but ask about it beforehand.

Endoscopic facelift cost in Turkey compared with other countries

The approximate ranges below are not hospital quotes. They depend on whether the brow, mid-face or both are treated, and whether eyelid surgery is added.

What changes the price: the areas treated, the length of the operation, the anaesthesia, any added procedure and the hospital stay. A package normally includes pre-operative tests, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, hospital stay, medication, follow-up and transfers. Ask for the breakdown in writing, and ask what is charged separately if you add eyelid surgery or fat transfer.

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Trip length and recovery milestones

Plan to stay about six to eight nights. Swelling and bruising around the eyes peak at days two to four, and an upright head position and cold compresses help. The first check and dressing change is usually on day one or two, the stitches or clips come out at about a week, and many patients feel presentable enough for public life after ten to fourteen days. Numbness or tingling in the forehead and scalp is common and can last for weeks; itching is part of healing. Avoid strenuous exercise and lifting for about three to four weeks, and avoid sun on scars. Final contour appears over three to six months.

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Endoscopic facelift before and after: what are realistic results?

Photographs show a higher, more open brow position and fuller cheeks with a softer under-eye hollow, usually with a refreshed look rather than a different face. They do not show the first weeks of swelling or the fact that results are subtle by design. Because skin is not removed, a lift cannot erase wrinkles or fine lines, and some people add skin treatments. Ask for photographs taken at three months or more, and check that they show patients with a face and age like yours.

Risks and complications

Every operation carries risk. Common effects are swelling, bruising and temporary numbness. Possible complications include a collection of blood (haematoma), infection, asymmetry, temporary or, rarely, lasting weakness of the forehead muscles from nerve injury, hair loss near the incision, visible scars, dry eyes and a lift that settles more than expected. Rare anaesthetic complications and blood clots can occur. The NHS and professional societies such as BAAPS and ASPS advise using a qualified surgeon in a regulated hospital. Ask who will treat a complication after you leave Turkey.

How to choose a surgeon, and questions to ask

Choose a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery with regular endoscopic experience in a licensed hospital with an anaesthetist. Red flags include promising to take off a set number of years, quotes without details, a method chosen before an examination and no aftercare plan. Read how our process works and send your photos via the free quote page for a written plan.

• Is an endoscopic lift enough for my face, or do I need a different operation?
• Where will the incisions lie, and how will the lift be fixed?
• How many such operations do you do each year?
• How long will I stay, and what does the price include?
• Who reviews my healing after I go home?

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Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey

Academic Hospital

Üsküdar, Istanbul

MoHHealth Tourism Licence+2

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Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital

Pendik, Istanbul

JCIMoH+2

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