I just hit the two-week mark since my deep plane facelift with Dr. Hadi Nural in Antalya, and honestly, I’m still pinching myself every time I catch my reflection. I flew over from England completely on my own—no partner, no friend tagging along—and I was honestly a bundle of nerves the whole way. But from the second I landed, his coordinator (Ecem, I think her name is—she was an absolute legend) was texting me non-stop, reassuring me, sorting the airport pickup, and just making me feel like I wasn’t alone in this big decision.
The clinic itself is incredibly clean and modern—way nicer than I expected, almost like a high-end private hospital rather than your typical surgery spot. Everything felt professional and calm. Dr. Hadi came to see me personally every single day during my stay, checking the incisions, explaining what was happening with the swelling, and answering my million questions without ever rushing. That level of hands-on care really put me at ease.
The surgery was under general anaesthesia, so I don’t remember a thing, which was a blessing. Woke up a bit groggy but with surprisingly little pain—just some tightness and pressure around my jaw and neck, which the meds handled perfectly. The first few days were the roughest: face felt puffy and heavy, some bruising around the eyes and cheeks (yellowish-purple at its worst), and I had to keep my head elevated constantly, even sleeping propped up with pillows. But by day 5 or 6, things started turning a corner. The bruising began fading to a faint green-yellow, and the major swelling dropped noticeably.
Now at two weeks, most of the obvious stuff has calmed down a lot. I still have some residual puffiness, especially in the mornings or if I’ve been bending over, but it’s going down fast—seriously, every day I notice a bit more definition coming through. My jawline is sharp again (goodbye jowls!), my neck looks smooth and tight without that horrible turkey wattle, and my midface feels lifted in this natural way. No weird pulled or windswept look at all—Dr. Hadi really nailed the deep plane technique to reposition everything deeper so it just looks like I’ve had a really good rest or something. Friends who’ve seen photos say I look “refreshed” and “glowy,” not “done.” That was my biggest fear, and he delivered exactly what we talked about in the consultation: subtle, elegant, 10-15 years younger but still 100% me.
The scars are tiny and hidden right in the hairline and around the ears—barely noticeable even without makeup yet. I’ve started using a bit of concealer on the faint bruising remnants, and I reckon in another week or two I’ll be restaurant-ready without anyone suspecting a thing.
Traveling abroad for this was daunting at first, but the whole package—transfers, lovely hotel recovery time, all meds and follow-ups included—made it so straightforward. The price was a fraction of what UK surgeons quoted me, and the quality feels superior. This was hands-down the best decision I’ve ever made for myself. I only wish I hadn’t waited until my mid-50s to do it—I could’ve been enjoying this confidence boost years ago!
If you’re from the UK, on the fence about going to Turkey, or worried about going solo—seriously, go for Dr. Hadi. He and his team made what could’ve been a scary experience feel safe, supportive, and genuinely life-changing. Can’t recommend him enough. 😊