How Many Days Should You Stay in Turkey for a Facelift or Eyelid Surgery?

For a facelift, plan about 10–12 days in Istanbul; for eyelid surgery on its own, plan about 5–7 days. These are the planning figures on Op. Dr. Göktuğ Esmer's procedure pages, and your surgeon confirms the exact length individually, because it depends on the technique, on whether other procedures are combined and on how you heal.

Both operations are planned around the same few milestones: the pre-operative examination, the surgery itself, the first dressing checks, stitch removal and a final review before you are cleared to fly. This guide explains how those milestones fit into the stay for a facelift and for eyelid surgery, how long swelling and bruising typically last, when flying home becomes realistic and what to pack. It is general information, not a substitute for your own surgeon's instructions.

How many days do you need? The short answer

These figures cover the whole trip, including the pre-operative examination, not only the days after surgery. Your coordinator turns them into exact arrival and departure dates once your surgery date is set, and it is sensible to keep your return flight flexible until your surgeon has confirmed the date of your final check.

Facelift: why 10–12 days?

A facelift is performed under general anaesthesia. A face and neck lift alone usually takes around 3–4 hours; with a brow lift, eyelid surgery or fat transfer added, it can take 5–6 hours. Most patients spend one night in hospital, and the NHS likewise says most people need to stay overnight. The next morning the dressing is changed, any drains that were placed are removed and you move to your hotel.

From there the stay is built around the early healing window. Swelling typically increases for the first three days and then begins to settle, and bruising usually fades over about two weeks. While you are in Istanbul your dressings are changed and checked daily, so a problem such as a collection of blood under the skin (haematoma), one of the recognised risks of a facelift, can be seen and treated in person rather than judged from a photograph.

Stitches then come out in stages. The NHS says that stitches are removed after about 7 to 14 days unless they are dissolvable. On our facelift page, the stitches in front of the ear are typically removed around day 5–7 and those in the scalp around day 10–14. Because the exact dates depend on the technique and on how you are healing, ask at your consultation which check-ups will happen in Istanbul before you fly and how any remaining follow-up is arranged.

A typical facelift timeline

Treat the table as a typical pattern rather than a promise: some patients are ready sooner, and some need an extra day or two.

Eyelid surgery: why 5–7 days?

Eyelid surgery is usually a day-case operation. The NHS says most people can go home the same day, and on our eyelid page upper lids alone are done under local anaesthetic with light sedation, while lower lids and combined operations use sedation or general anaesthesia. Operating time is typically 1–2 hours depending on scope; the NHS gives a wider range of 45 minutes to 2.5 hours.

Swelling and bruising are most intense over the first 2–3 days and have largely settled by about 7–10 days. Upper-lid stitches are typically removed around day 5–7, while lower-lid surgery through the inside of the lid uses dissolving stitches, so nothing needs removing from the outside. That sequence is why 5–7 days is the planning figure: the pre-operative examination, the surgery, the first checks and stitch removal all fit inside it.

• Day 1: cold compresses, rest with the head raised and artificial tears or ointment as directed; you are discharged the same day after a few hours of observation, or the next day if a facelift is combined.
• Days 2–3: peak swelling and bruising, short walks are fine, and it helps to keep screen time brief because eyes tire easily.
• Days 5–7: upper-lid stitches removed, swelling clearly reduced and sunglasses make going out comfortable.
• After you fly home: contact lenses wait about two weeks, and vigorous exercise and swimming wait about 3–4 weeks.

What if you combine procedures?

A facelift is often planned together with eyelid surgery, a brow lift, a neck lift or fat transfer, because rejuvenating one part of the face can leave it out of step with the rest. When procedures are combined you have one anaesthetic and one recovery period, and the longer timeline governs: our eyelid page says that adding a brow lift or facelift extends the stay to about 10–12 days. Whether combining is right for you, and how long the operation would take, is decided at your consultation, which can be face-to-face or online, as part of a tailored surgical plan.

Social downtime: when will you look presentable?

This is often the question behind the question. Nobody can give a single date, but the sources agree on the broad pattern.

• After a facelift: the NHS says bruising is visible for at least 2 weeks and that it takes about 2 to 4 weeks to fully recover, with time off work. Our facelift page describes the first two weeks as the period of social downtime, with many patients returning to social life with make-up around day 10–14 and to desk-based work after about 2–3 weeks. Mild puffiness and numbness can last a few months, and the NHS notes it can take up to 6 to 9 months to see the full effect.
• After eyelid surgery: the NHS says most people take about 2 weeks off work, that bruises and redness can take several weeks to fade, and that irritated or watery eyes may last a few weeks. Scars can feel tight for a few months.

In practice, plan your Istanbul days as rest and short, gentle walks rather than sightseeing. For about the first two weeks after a facelift the NHS advises avoiding strenuous activity, saunas and massages, so ask your surgeon before visiting a hamam or spa, and protect the scars and eyelids from direct sun with sunglasses and sunscreen as advised.

When can you fly home?

There is no universal date, and flying earlier than your surgeon advises is not worth the risk. The CDC notes that flying after surgery can increase the risk of blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis, and advises delaying air travel for 10–14 days after major surgeries. A facelift plan of about 10–12 days sits close to that general range, while eyelid surgery is a smaller operation with a shorter timeline; in both cases your surgeon gives the final clearance at your last check.

On the plane, drink plenty of water, walk the aisle regularly and follow the instructions you were given. After a facelift keep your head upright and avoid pressing the face into a travel pillow; after eyelid surgery bring artificial tears and sunglasses. Cabin air is very dry, a point we explain in our guide to flying after rhinoplasty, and it applies to any recent facial operation.

Preparing and packing

• Stop nicotine in advance. Our procedure pages ask for at least 4 weeks before a facelift and 3 weeks before eyelid surgery, because nicotine impairs circulation to the skin. Aspirin, ibuprofen and supplements such as vitamin E, omega-3, ginkgo and garlic are usually stopped 10–14 days before; read our guide to smoking, alcohol and blood thinners before plastic surgery, and never stop a prescribed medicine without asking.
• Bring a front-opening top so you never have to pull clothing over your head, plus your passport, a list of your medicines and, if you wear them, your glasses.
• For eyelid surgery, pack sunglasses and glasses instead of contact lenses, and expect to go without lenses for at least a week or two.
• Choose a hotel bed where you can sleep on your back with your head raised; our facelift page recommends 30–45 degrees for the first two weeks.
• Before you leave, ask for copies of your medical records from the facility; the CDC advises travellers to bring them home.

After you return home

Your care does not end at the airport. After you return home, follow-up continues by WhatsApp and video call, and your coordinator is reachable 24/7. Knowing in advance what is normal, what needs a call and who to contact is part of the plan; our guide to planning for complications after returning home sets out that approach for another operation, and the principles are the same. The international patients page explains how accommodation, transfers and follow-up are arranged.

Risks and choosing your surgeon

No facial operation is without risk. For a facelift, the recognised risks include bleeding and haematoma, infection, delayed wound healing, visible scarring, temporary or, rarely, lasting nerve injury and asymmetry; the NHS lists nerve injury, asymmetry, hair loss, thick scars and healing problems among the common complications. For eyelid surgery, the NHS lists blurred or double vision, uneven eyes, noticeable scarring, injury to eye muscles, a drooping lower lid (ectropion), bleeding and visual impairment, and irritated or watery eyes are common for a few weeks. Your surgeon should discuss these openly before you decide, and our guide to choosing a plastic surgeon in Turkey lists the questions worth asking, including how many days you need to stay in the city.

Different operations call for different stays; for comparison, see our stay guide for breast augmentation. Surgery is carried out in a fully equipped hospital with anaesthesia and intensive care backup, which is part of why the first days after a facelift are spent close to your surgical team.

If you would like to know how many days you personally would need, send your photos and medical history to our team on WhatsApp for an assessment, or use our contact page to reach us.