The Perfect Facelift Experience.

I’m 53 years old and mine is a similar story to others here on RealSelf. My story may be a little long-winded, but I want to provide a full description of my experience.
I’m very petite and small-boned and always looked much younger than my chronological age. I am a former athlete and have maintained a certain level of fitness my entire life. But by age 49 my facial features started declining rapidly despite my daily face yoga exercises and lymphatic massages. My joules were sagging, my eyelids were puffy, and my neck was sagging and wrinkled. I looked tired and depressed. I sustained injuries to both knees in my youth and I now have arthritis. It’s important that I maintain my weight as any extra weight impacts my knees negatively. So, while my figure looked great, my face took a toll looking long, drawn and too thin. I seldom removed my prescription sunglasses and never went out without a scarf to hide my neck.
In my youth, I modeled for twenty years and was told I had a very serene, pleasant and peaceful appearance. That same gaze into the camera or sitting for a drawing now looked stern, stoic and sometimes outright mean. The outside did not at all reflect how I felt inside.
I started doing cosmetic surgery research in earnest at age 50. I was living in Southeast Asia and consulted with several surgeons in Thailand and India. In 2018 I decided on upper and lower eyelid surgery. The experience was nightmarish with minimal results.
Many people choose to have their cosmetic surgery in Thailand because it is inexpensive and it is known to have good doctors and hospitals. I chose Bangkok because I lived there once upon a time. The Thai doctor I settled on did not speak English and he had an interpreter explain everything. That was my first mistake. The recommendations from all the surgeons were pretty much the same and I figured that the eyelids were a good place to start -- mistake two -- in hindsight, it would have been better to have the full facelift with blepharoplasty all at once. The doctor was affiliated with a cosmetic hospital so I felt safe enough. I followed all the preop precautions and fasted from midnight onwards. The doctor’s waiting room was grand with plush furnishings and huge chandeliers. I completed an intake procedure with a nice English speaking woman who reassured me she would be with me throughout the whole procedure. Then I was taken to a small room in the building next door at what I assumed was the hospital. The actual gallery was smaller than most dentist offices and did not at all resemble a hospital much less the grand waiting room. The nice girl who told me she would be with me from start to finish handed me off to another person who was also nice and reassuring that he would be with me every step of the way. Then, with no warning or countdown, I was put under anesthesia for the procedure. Bam! And it was over and I was told to get dressed. I was weak, groggy and very nauseous. I wasn’t offered so much as a cup of tea or biscuit. By this time I had gone nearly 20 hours without food or drink. I asked for the second assistant only to be told that he had left for the day and I was turned over to a third person. I couldn’t see and it was dark out and I was told I could call a taxi. What? It was then that I learned that the transportation the surgeon provided was only one trip and there was not a driver available. By this time I was very nauseous and crying and scared. My blood sugar was very low. I’m a brave and independent woman and managed alright, but it was rough. About five days after surgery my eyes felt dry and dirty so I went to another hospital to have them looked at and cleaned. Needless to say, I wasn’t too happy with the whole experience and at my followup appointment said as much. It was then that I learned my doctor did indeed speak perfect English. He just couldn’t be bothered to speak directly to me until I was upset. His apologies were too little and too late. In parting, he gave me a tiny tube of eye ointment and presented it as if it were some sort of grand gift.
I don’t like speaking ill of people, but that horrific experience in Thailand taught me some very valuable lessons. The surgeon was affiliated with a hospital but it was not communicated that the procedure would be done in a tiny gallery that was not part of the hospital and that I would immediately be turned out on my own. The doctor wasn’t readily available or communicative and there was not any continuity of care whatsoever. Aftercare is as important as the actual procedure. Little details such as transportation are important. While a surgeon may have all of the medical qualifications for a procedure, that is only a fraction of a good cosmetic surgery experience.
The same year as my bad experience in Thailand a dear friend who is one of the smartest and most investigative people I know told me about Dr. Ercan. She had a facelift and looked absolutely beautiful and very natural. She looked like the woman I met 10 years ago and, more importantly, she didn’t have any telltale signs of cosmetic surgery. She just looked well-rested, brighter, happier and fit. I began my inquiries about Dr. Ercan immediately. Of course, I loved everything I read. When I finally got around to writing to Dr. Ercan I was amazed at how quickly he responded. He answered all my questions completely and personally and not once did I have to speak to a nurse or assistant. Dr. Ercan recommenced the following: Forehead rejuvenation, brow lifting, lower eyelid circles repair and lifting, cheek lifting, jowl lifting to give a chin V-line, neck lifting and stem-cell enriched fat grafting. Surgery would entail endoscopic and deep plane SMAS lifting to address all of the procedures. I tentatively scheduled my surgery to occur five months later.
I watched closely the healing progress of my friend and every interaction I had with her I could see she was happier and more beautiful than the time before. We have similar lifestyles in that neither of us have lived in the USA for many years, so for me traveling to Turkey was not a difficult choice. I knew I would feel safe and that the cultural experience would be rich.
I have to say that from the moment I stepped off the plane until the present moment every single detail of my cosmetic surgery was perfectly orchestrated. Meeting Dr. Ercan in person was very comfortable and familiar, probably because he was so communicatively available to me prior to our first in-person meeting.
Because I was alone in Istanbul he arranged for an English speaking nurse to assist me the first night after surgery. I’ve had many other non-cosmetic surgeries in my home country and also abroad and by far I would say this was the absolute best pre and post-operative experience I’ve ever experienced. I don’t do well recovering from anesthesia and my nurse was excellent, often anticipating what I needed before I even spoke. She was personable, gentle and professional. By the time I checked out of the hospital I felt confident in my ability to care for myself next door at the hotel.
I stayed at the Asia City Hotel and for a nominal price upgraded to a suite, which I would recommend. The suite was large and bright and allowed me to walk around inside to gain my strength. The staff at the hotel were all very kind and accommodating. The breakfast buffet was excellent and the cafe was fantastic. My diet is 90 percent plant-based and there are heaps of vegetarian options. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would enjoy the recovery process as much as I did. Many of the hotel guests were also recovering from their own surgeries so I never felt self-conscious. I even made a friend.
In most western countries a facelift is considered day surgery. I loved being in the hospital those first few days. It made me feel safe and gave me time to recoup. And the hotel being right next door to the hospital was also a great comfort. Initially, I was surprised to hear that most patients fly home after 10 days in the hotel. But, the truth is, at day number 10 I looked pretty good and the swelling and bruising were greatly reduced. I decided to rent an Airbnb flat for a few more weeks to further heal and take in the sights and tastes of Istanbul, another thing I’d recommend.
A couple of days after surgery Dr. Ercan set me up with the hairdresser at the hospital. The hairdresser wore surgical gloves and was so gentle that I went back two more times. I love that Dr. Ercan is attentive to every detail. I wasn’t just another surgery to him. He cares deeply about the happiness and wellbeing of his patients.
A week into recovery I felt my vision was blurry and sent Dr. Ercan a message. He was in surgery, but his assistant got back to me and I was immediately set up to see the ophthalmologist. I have glaucoma and though I felt that the pressure was alright Dr. Ercan leaves nothing to chance. The ophthalmologist was delightful and provided an additional eye drop presentation to what Dr. Ercan has already provided.
With each and every passing day, my recovery is exponential and I am absolutely thrilled with the results. Dr. Ercan and all the professionals he is affiliated with has made my recovery a joyful journey. I traveled to Istanbul alone but I have not once felt like I was alone. Dr. Ercan held my hand every step of the way. And, knowing he was only a phone call away only increased my confidence and expedited my healing.
I’m thrilled with what I see in the mirror now. I am not hiding behind dark sunglasses and scarves any longer. Someone said that a facelift can add 10-15 years of happiness to your life and now I am a true believer.
If you are considering a facelift, do your research and remember that while good results are important, the whole journey getting there is equally as important. The more relaxed and confident you feel with your surgeon, the quicker and more complete the healing.
I would happily recommend Dr. Ercan to anyone considering any sort of cosmetic surgery. Dr. Ercan is a remarkable surgeon and artist. More importantly, he is a personable, kind and loving human being.
Photos: Before surgery, Day 8 and Day 16 post surgery. I’ll provide more at one and three months.

I wanted to add one more photo for comparison. I love my new neck! At nearly three weeks there is still a little swelling. Every day a little more sensation returns, but still quite numb. Looking forward to see how it all looks and feels in a few months.

Every day the results of my facelift improve and look more natural. On more than a few occasions I find myself doing a double take when passing a mirror. I feel and look like I did in my late 30’s! I realize that some wrinkles and creases will return around the mouth and eyes, but this only adds to the natural look.
Do people notice the change? Yes, of course they do! It’s still early. I’m told the change is subtle because there is no visible scars, even the one under the chin is not so noticeable. Most of my family and friends say that I just look brighter, happier and more rested. Gone are the days of “plastic” looking jobs!
Dr. Ercan is the absolute BEST in his field!!