Facelift Candidate Checklist: Are You Ready for a Vertical Restore in Istanbul?

Facial aging doesn’t happen in a straight line—and it definitely doesn’t happen sideways. Over time, gravity pulls the deeper facial tissues downward, creating heaviness in the midface, jowling along the jawline, and a neck that looks less defined. That’s why older “pulled-back” facelift styles could sometimes look wind-blown: they treated a vertical problem with a horizontal solution.

Before diving into details you might want to see our real life facelift results from our patients. Click here to see our before after gallery.

A Vertical Restore Facelift is designed to correct aging the way it actually occurs—by repositioning descended tissues upward for a refreshed, premium, still-you result. It’s also why so many people exploring health travel wonder if they’re a facelift in Turkey candidate—especially in Istanbul, where high-volume aesthetic centers and international patient pathways have made planning easier for travelers.

Below is a practical, honest checklist to help you decide whether you’re physically and logistically ready—and how to prepare with confidence.

What Makes the Vertical Restore Different?#

Traditional facelifts often relied heavily on tightening skin. The Vertical Restore approach prioritizes what modern facelift surgery increasingly emphasizes: lifting the deeper support layers (not just stretching surface skin) and doing so in a direction that follows natural anatomy.

A simple way to understand it#

• Horizontal pull can over-tighten skin and shift features laterally (the classic “wind-blown” risk).
• Vertical Restore focuses on elevating and re-suspending deeper tissues so the skin can re-drape more naturally with less tension.

Many surgeons describe this philosophy using terms like SMAS-based or deep-tissue facelift techniques, where the goal is structural repositioning rather than skin-only tightening.

Important nuance: “Vertical Restore” can be used as a brand name by some clinics, while the underlying surgical plan may vary (SMAS plication, SMAS flap, deep-plane variations, neck lift add-ons, etc.). In your consultation, your best move is to ask what layers are being lifted and what the vector (direction) of lift is.

The “Am I a Good Candidate?” Checklist#

People often search who is a good candidate for facelift—but the real answer is a mix of anatomy, health, and readiness. Use this as a clear, practical screening tool before you book flights.

Skin elasticity and degree of sagging#

You may be a strong candidate if you have:

• Midface descent (cheeks look lower/heavier than before)
• Jowls blurring the jawline
• Neck laxity (loose skin, banding, or “turkey neck” appearance)
• A feeling that filler or skin-tightening devices no longer create meaningful improvement

You may need a more customized plan (or different expectations) if:

• Skin is extremely thin and fragile
• There’s significant sun damage affecting healing quality
• You have very advanced laxity and want a “20-years-gone” outcome (more on expectations below)

Overall health and medical history#

A Vertical Restore facelift is still surgery—so your “candidate” status depends on safe anesthesia and predictable healing. In general, you’ll want:

• Stable blood pressure and heart health
• Well-controlled diabetes (if applicable)
• A plan for any blood-thinning medications or supplements
• A clear history of prior surgeries, scarring tendencies, or wound-healing issues

Green flags: stable long-term health, consistent medications, and a surgeon who requests a thorough pre-op workup.
Yellow flags: untreated sleep apnea, recent cardiac events, uncontrolled metabolic conditions, or a history of clotting problems—these don’t always mean “no,” but they do mean special planning.

Non-smoking facelift advice (this is the deal-breaker)#

Here’s the blunt truth: nicotine and smoking can seriously compromise facelift healing. Why surgeons take this so seriously:

• Nicotine constricts blood vessels → less oxygen reaches healing tissues
• That increases risks like delayed wound healing, infection, poor scarring, and in severe cases skin compromise/necrosis (a known risk in procedures involving skin flaps)

Practical takeaway: If you smoke, vape, use nicotine gum/patches, or “socially smoke,” treat it as a true risk factor. The safest clinics will require a nicotine-free window before and after surgery—and they’re doing it to protect your outcome, not to judge you.

Realistic expectations for the outcome#

This is where premium results happen—or where disappointment begins.

Healthy expectations sound like:

• “I want to look rested, refined, and naturally younger.”
• “I want my jawline and neck back, without looking tight.”
• “I understand I’ll still look like me—just refreshed.”

High-risk expectations include:

• Bringing heavily edited photos and expecting an identical face
• Expecting a facelift to fix skin quality issues like texture and pigmentation on its own
• Wanting an extreme change with minimal recovery time

A Vertical Restore can deliver a significant refresh, but the best results are structural and elegant, not extreme.

Preparing for Your Vertical Restore in Istanbul#

The secret to an excellent experience isn’t only the surgeon—it’s preparation. If you’re serious about preparing for vertical restore facelift, use the checklist below to avoid last-minute stress and protect your recovery.

Consultation checklist plastic surgery Turkey: what to gather#

Bring (or be ready to upload) the essentials:

• A list of current medications (including blood thinners, GLP-1s, thyroid meds, etc.)
• Supplements (yes—fish oil, vitamin E, and herbal blends matter)
• Allergies (medications, latex, adhesives)
• Prior surgery history + any anesthesia issues
• Any relevant diagnoses (heart, lung, diabetes, autoimmune conditions)
• Recent labs/EKG if you have them (your clinic may request specific tests)
• Clear photos in good lighting: front, both sides, 45-degree angles, neck relaxed

And ask these surgical clarity questions:

• What layer is lifted (SMAS/deep tissue/other)?
• What is the lift direction (vector), and how does it avoid a “pulled” look?
• Is a neck lift or platysma work included if needed?
• What is the scar pattern and scar care plan?
• Who manages aftercare day-to-day (nurse team, hotel visits, clinic visits)?
• What is the emergency plan if swelling, bleeding, or infection is suspected?

Travel logistics for a 10–14 day stay#

A smooth Istanbul recovery is planned like a project. Consider:

• Timing: book flights that allow you to arrive at least 1 day before pre-op checks
• Companion: highly recommended for the first 48–72 hours post-op
• Accommodation: quiet, elevator access, close to the clinic, easy room service
• Comfort packing:
  • Button-up tops (no pulling clothes over your head)
  • Neck pillow + lightweight scarf
  • Simple skincare approved by your clinic
  • Entertainment for downtime (you’ll rest more than you think)

Typical travel pacing many international patients plan:

• Day 1: arrive, settle, hydration, light walk
• Day 2: consultation + pre-op testing
• Day 3: surgery
• Days 4–10: early recovery + scheduled follow-ups
• Days 11–14: final checks + “fit to fly” clearance (varies)

Safety note (worth being aware of)#

Medical travel can be safe and well-organized—but complications are harder when you’re far from home, especially if records are incomplete. That’s why your clinic’s documentation, accessibility, and aftercare pathway matter so much.

Full Body Transformation#

Many patients aiming for a truly “age-reversing” refresh decide to treat the face and body as one aesthetic story—especially after weight changes, pregnancy, or major life transitions.

It’s common to hear travelers ask about pairing facial surgery with body contouring like a tummy tuck turkey plan, or building a broader “mommy makeover” concept that restores both facial definition and core shape.

A responsible approach looks like this:

• Strategic combining only when it’s safe (operative time and recovery demands matter)
• A surgeon who will tell you when to stage procedures instead of stacking everything at once
• A recovery plan that matches the reality: combining procedures can mean more swelling, more fatigue, and more downtime

If you love the idea of a full transformation, bring it up early—so your surgeon can guide you toward the safest sequencing.

Conclusion: Your Ready-for-Istanbul Summary + Next Step#

If you’re seeing true tissue descent (cheeks/jowls/neck), you’re medically stable, you can follow non-smoking facelift advice, and you can commit to a well-planned 10–14 day timeline, you may be an excellent candidate for a Vertical Restore-style approach.

Your next best step:

• View the before & after page to calibrate expectations to real outcomes, or
• Book a consultation to confirm candidacy, review your health history, and map out a personalized timeline using the consultation checklist plastic surgery Turkey items above.