What is meant by an endoscopic facelift?
In an endoscopic facelift the deeper tissues of the upper and middle face are raised through a small number of short cuts concealed within the hair. A slim camera, the endoscope, goes in through these openings. It lets the surgeon free and reposition the tissues while watching them directly, so the long incisions around the ear used in a traditional facelift are not needed.
According to the plan, the operation may lift the brows and temples, the cheeks (midface) and – with more recent techniques – the jawline. The pull is mostly upwards, in a vertical direction, and very little skin, if any, is cut away.
In what ways is it different from a traditional facelift?
This comparison is worth understanding well before you decide. A traditional facelift, normally a SMAS facelift or deep-plane facelift, uses an incision that starts at the temple, curves in front of the ear and continues behind it. The deeper SMAS layer is tightened and loose skin of the lower face and neck is trimmed. The NHS describes this as an operation that reduces sagging skin, chiefly at the jowls and neck.
| Endoscopic facelift | Traditional (SMAS / deep-plane) facelift | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the cuts are | Short and inside the hair, occasionally behind the ear or in the mouth | Around the ear and into the hairline |
| Areas mainly lifted | Brows, temples and midface; the jawline with some techniques | Jowls, jaw line and neck; the midface with deep-plane methods |
| Skin taken away | Minimal or none | Surplus skin is trimmed |
| Typical patient | Early to moderate drooping with elastic skin | Moderate to marked drooping, loose skin on the neck |
| Research behind it | Largely case series from individual surgeons | A broader literature that includes systematic reviews |
In a 2025 meta-analysis that compared traditional SMAS and deep-plane facelifts, patients were highly satisfied with both. The literature on endoscopic methods is more recent and thinner: it consists mostly of large series by single surgeons, and no randomised trial has yet compared them head-to-head with traditional facelifts.
Who tends to be suited to an endoscopic facelift?
| Points in favour | When a traditional facelift or neck lift may fit better |
|---|---|
| Brows, temples and cheeks that have started to drop, mildly or moderately | Heavy jowls with plenty of loose skin along the jaw |
| Skin that still has good elasticity | Lax neck skin or visible neck bands |
| A wish to avoid scars around the ears | A lot of surplus skin after major weight loss |
| A tired, heavy look around the eyes and cheeks | Concerns that are confined to the neck |
| Good general health and no smoking | Poorly controlled health problems or heavy smoking |
For many people a combined plan works best – for instance an endoscopic lift of the upper and middle face that includes a brow lift or midface lift element, with a separate neck procedure added if it is needed.
What happens during the operation?
- Assessment and planning. Dr. Yazır examines your whole face and neck, agrees with you which areas will be lifted and takes photographs.
- Anaesthesia. Surgery is done under general anaesthesia in a hospital operating theatre.
- Entry points. Short cuts are made in the hair at the temples, plus elsewhere if required, and the endoscope is inserted.
- Freeing and raising. Watching on the screen, the surgeon releases the ligaments that tether the tissues, then lifts the brow, temple and cheek tissue, largely upwards.
- Securing and closure. Stitches hold the tissue at its new, higher level, the incisions are closed and a light dressing goes on. One night in hospital is usual.
How does the healing period go?
| Stage | Typical experience |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Swelling and bruising, especially around the eyes and cheeks; you keep your head raised |
| Days 7–10 | Stitches or clips are taken out and the bruises are fading |
| Weeks 2–3 | Office work and most social plans are possible again |
| Weeks 4–6 | Sport and heavy exercise can be restarted |
| Month 6 | Most of the swelling has cleared and the outcome is evaluated |
In the first weeks the face can feel tight or look a little too lifted, most often at the outer brows and the cheeks. This tends to soften as healing progresses.
How should I organise my visit to Izmir?
Patients travelling from abroad usually set aside around 10 days. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) is roughly 25–30 minutes by car from Konak, where the clinic is located in the Egeperla building.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | You land in Izmir; consultation, examination and pre-operative tests |
| Day 2 | Operation, followed by a night in hospital |
| Day 3 | Discharge and rest at your hotel |
| Days 4–8 | Resting, short walks and check-ups as scheduled |
| Days 9–10 | Stitches out, a last review and your flight home once Dr. Yazır agrees |
Before you travel, photos sent by WhatsApp allow an initial opinion. The plan is only confirmed after Dr. Yazır has seen you in person.
Which risks come with an endoscopic facelift?
A systematic review of limited-incision facelifts – a wide category that also covers short-scar methods – found complications to be infrequent overall, haematoma being the one seen most. Two large endoscopic series from individual surgeons, with 393 and 600 patients, recorded no permanent nerve damage, although in both a number of patients went on to have a secondary touch-up. Across facelift surgery generally, a 2025 meta-analysis put the combined nerve injury rate under 1%, with lasting injury far less common.
Complications that can occur:
- Swelling, bruises and a temporary loss of feeling in the scalp and face
- Short-term weakness of forehead or other facial muscles
- Uneven sides, or a partial relapse that needs a touch-up
- Hair thinning near the incisions, which is usually temporary
- Haematoma, infection or slow wound healing
- In people with more advanced sagging, a less pronounced change than a traditional facelift would give
- Uncommon problems linked to anaesthesia
Dr. Yazır explains the risks that apply to you during the examination and the informed consent discussion.
Is the result long-lasting?
Although the tissues are lifted and anchored higher up, ageing carries on. Endoscopic series in the literature have tracked patients for a year or more and found the results stable, but long-term evidence on how they hold up compared with traditional facelifts is still sparse. Dr. Yazır discusses this openly at the consultation so you can balance concealed scars against the larger body of evidence behind traditional methods.
What does ENT and head & neck training add here?
Endoscopic surgery is a central part of ENT training, and the facial nerve with its branches passes through the very areas that are lifted in this operation. Dr. Yazır's experience in otorhinolaryngology and head & neck surgery, combined with his focus on facial aesthetic surgery, shapes both how the operation is carried out and his frank view of whether an endoscopic or a traditional approach suits your face.