Facelift Sydney Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Surgeon | Dr Scott J Turner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) |
| AHPRA registration | MED0001654827 |
| Sydney clinics | Bondi Junction (39 Grosvenor Street), Manly (Suite 504, Level 5, 39 East Esplanade) |
| Surgery performed at | Bondi Junction Private Hospital, Delmar Private Hospital (Dee Why) |
| Techniques offered | 8 (deep plane, SMAS, short scar, lower, endoscopic, ponytail, Vertical Restore, revision) |
| Areas addressed | Midface, jowls, jawline, marionette lines, upper neck, platysmal banding |
| Anaesthesia | General anaesthesia in an accredited private hospital |
| Surgical time | 3 to 7 hours depending on technique |
| Hospital stay | 1 to 2 nights |
| Return to desk work | 2 to 3 weeks |
| GP referral | Required (Medical Board and AHPRA requirement) |
| Medicare and private health rebate | Not applicable for cosmetic facelift surgery |
| Indicative cost range | From $25,000 to around $45,000 all-inclusive |
How Dr Turner Selects a Facelift Technique
The face ages in layers, and each layer changes at a different rate. Skin loses elasticity. Subcutaneous fat redistributes. The SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) descends. The retaining ligaments that anchor soft tissue to the facial skeleton attenuate and lengthen. The platysma muscle in the neck separates and bands. No two patients present with the same combination of these changes.
The technique recommended at consultation reflects several factors:
- Degree of midface descent. Patients with significant downward movement of the cheek fat pad and a deepened nasolabial fold benefit from techniques that release tissue at the deep plane.
- Jowling pattern. Early lateral jowling without neck involvement may suit a shorter-scar approach. Comprehensive jowling with platysmal banding typically requires a full incision pattern with neck work.
- Skin quality. Skin elasticity determines how the redraped tissue settles after surgery.
- Neck involvement. Submental fullness, platysmal banding and cervicomental angle changes determine whether neck lift work is needed alongside the facial component.
- Overall health, body mass index and smoking history. These influence anaesthetic safety, wound healing and risk profile.
- Recovery time available. Deep plane and Vertical Restore approaches require longer recovery than shorter-scar techniques.
The selection is anatomy-driven. The same surgeon offering eight techniques is able to match the operation to the patient, rather than the patient to the operation.
Facelift Techniques Offered in Sydney
Deep Plane Facelift Sydney
The deep plane facelift works beneath the SMAS layer. The retaining ligaments anchoring the soft tissues to the facial skeleton are released, allowing the SMAS, malar fat pad and skin to be repositioned as a single composite unit. Because the dissection is sub-SMAS, the lift addresses the midface, nasolabial fold and jawline in a way that a SMAS-only technique does not reach.
The deep plane approach is typically selected for patients with moderate to significant midface descent, deepening nasolabial folds and jowling along the jawline. Surgical time is around 3.5 to 5 hours for the deep plane alone, or 4 to 6 hours when combined with a brow lift. Recovery to desk-based work is generally 2 to 3 weeks.
Vertical Restore Facelift
The Vertical Restore Facelift is Dr Turner’s comprehensive approach for patients seeking a single procedure that addresses the upper face, midface, lower face and neck in one operation. It combines deep plane facelift technique with brow lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, facial fat grafting and a formal neck lift, with the lifting vector aligned vertically against the direction of gravitational descent rather than laterally toward the ears.
The Vertical Restore is selected for patients with changes across multiple facial zones who prefer a single comprehensive operation rather than a staged approach. Surgical time is 5 to 7 hours. Recovery is longer than a shorter-scar facelift, with most patients returning to desk-based work between 3 and 4 weeks.
SMAS Facelift Sydney
The SMAS facelift works on the SMAS layer itself, either by folding it on itself (plication) or by partially releasing it and re-suspending it under tension (SMASectomy or high SMAS). The skin is then redraped over the lifted deeper structure.
A SMAS facelift suits patients with moderate jowling and lower face changes who do not have significant midface descent or extensive neck involvement. Because the dissection does not extend beneath the SMAS, the technique does not address the midface and nasolabial fold as directly as a deep plane approach.
Short Scar Facelift Sydney
A short scar facelift, also known as a mini facelift, uses a more limited incision pattern, confined to the area in front of the ear and around the earlobe, without extending into the posterior hairline. The work performed beneath the skin uses the same deep plane or high SMAS principles, releasing the retaining ligaments and repositioning the deeper soft tissue composite.
A short scar facelift suits patients in their late 30s to early 50s with early lower face changes who do not yet have the degree of skin excess or neck involvement that requires the full incision pattern. Most procedures marketed under the “mini facelift” or “weekend lift” name elsewhere in Sydney are skin-only operations and are not the same procedure as Dr Turner’s short scar facelift, which addresses the deeper structural layer.
Lower Facelift
A lower facelift is focused on the jawline and upper neck. It is suitable for patients with good upper face and midface positioning who present primarily with jowling along the jawline, loss of jawline definition and early neck laxity. The procedure addresses the SMAS and platysma to provide structural support to the lower third of the face.
A lower facelift is selected when the upper face does not require intervention and the patient’s concerns are limited to the lower face and neck.
Endoscopic Facelift
The endoscopic facelift uses small incisions hidden within the hairline, with a fibre-optic camera (endoscope) allowing dissection beneath the surface. Dr Turner offers the endoscopic facelift in three tiers: Tier 1 addresses the brow with fat grafting; Tier 2 adds midface lifting in the prezygomatic space combined with upper and lower blepharoplasty; Tier 3 adds a formal deep plane midface and jowl lift via the upper part of the helix, with a neck lift via submental and postauricular incisions.
The endoscopic approach suits patients who want hidden incisions and have early-to-moderate changes. Selection depends on anatomy and the layers requiring correction.
Ponytail Facelift
The ponytail facelift uses endoscopic assistance to lift the soft tissues through small incisions placed in the hairline, with the aim of producing a result that lifts the brow and midface without visible scarring around the ear. The name reflects the appearance of the lifted tissues when the hair is pulled back into a high ponytail.
The ponytail approach is suitable for younger patients (typically 35 to 45) with early changes confined to the brow and midface. It is not appropriate for patients with significant jowling, neck laxity or skin excess.
Revision Facelift
A revision facelift addresses unsatisfactory outcomes from a prior facelift operation performed elsewhere. Common reasons for revision include residual jowling, recurrent neck laxity, distortion of the earlobe (“pixie ear”), visible scarring, hairline displacement, and over- or under-correction.
Revision surgery is more technically complex than a primary facelift because the tissue planes are altered by scarring from the previous operation. Surgical planning includes review of any available operative notes from the first surgery, careful pre-operative photography and an honest discussion of what revision can and cannot achieve.
Choosing a Facelift Surgeon in Sydney
The Medical Board and AHPRA recommend that patients researching facelift surgery in Sydney confirm Specialist Plastic Surgeon registration through the AHPRA register before booking a consultation.
Dr Scott J Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon with AHPRA registration MED0001654827. He was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 2013, and completed Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Master of Surgery (MSurg) at the University of Sydney. He completed specific training in deep plane facelift surgery.
Dr Turner holds operating privileges at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why, both accredited Sydney private hospitals. He is a member of six surgical bodies including the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Eight facelift techniques are offered at Dr Turner’s Sydney practice. Selecting the appropriate technique for an individual patient is determined at consultation based on facial anatomy, the layers contributing to visible changes, skin quality and recovery considerations, rather than applying a single approach to every patient.
Facelift Cost in Sydney
The cost of facelift surgery in Sydney depends on the technique selected, the surgical time required, whether additional procedures are combined, and the level of post-operative care provided.
| Technique | Approximate all-inclusive fee |
|---|---|
| Short scar facelift | From $25,000 |
| Deep plane facelift with neck lift | Around $35,000 |
| Vertical Restore Facelift (face, eyes, brow, neck and fat grafting) | Around $45,000 |
Fees above are indicative only. A final fee is quoted after consultation. Medicare and private health insurance rebates do not apply for cosmetic facelift surgery. A consultation fee applies.
A complete cost breakdown including surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital, garments and post-operative care is available in the Facelift Cost Sydney 2026 guide.
Facelift Recovery Timeline
Facelift surgery recovery progresses in distinct stages.
- Days 1 to 2. Hospital stay of 1 to 2 nights. Drains are placed and removed at 24 to 48 hours. Mild to moderate discomfort is managed with prescribed analgesia. Head elevation is maintained at all times.
- Days 3 to 7. Peak swelling and bruising. The face will look puffy and discoloured. Sleeping upright remains important. Light walking is encouraged. No bending, lifting or strenuous activity.
- Day 7 to day 14. Sutures are removed in staged fashion across two visits. Swelling begins to settle. Most patients feel ready for short outings.
- Weeks 2 to 3. Most patients return to desk-based work. Bruising is fading but may still be visible. Mineral makeup can be used to camouflage residual discolouration.
- Weeks 4 to 6. Visible bruising resolves. Social activities resume. Light exercise (walking, gentle gym work) can begin around week 4 with surgeon approval.
- Month 3. Most of the swelling has settled. The result begins to look closer to the final outcome.
- Months 6 to 12. Final tissue settling, scar maturation and the long-term result become apparent.
Recovery from a deep plane or Vertical Restore Facelift takes longer than a short scar or mini facelift. Individual healing varies based on age, general health and adherence to post-operative instructions.
Facelift Risks and Complications
All surgery carries risk. Facelift-specific complications discussed at consultation include:
- Haematoma. A collection of blood beneath the skin. Most common in the first 24 hours. May require return to theatre for evacuation.
- Facial nerve injury. Temporary or, less commonly, permanent weakness of the muscles of facial expression. The risk relates to the depth of dissection and the anatomy of the individual patient.
- Wound healing complications. Particularly increased in patients who smoke or have poorly controlled medical conditions.
- Infection. Uncommon in clean facial surgery but possible.
- Scarring. Incisions heal over months and most scars fade and become difficult to see. Hypertrophic or keloid scarring is uncommon but possible.
- Asymmetry. No two sides of any face are identical pre-operatively, and minor asymmetry may persist after surgery.
- Hair loss near incisions. Usually temporary.
- Sensory changes. Numbness around the ears and cheeks is normal in the early post-operative period and typically improves over months.
Risk is reduced by smoking cessation, optimisation of general health, careful surgical technique, accredited private hospital setting and structured follow-up. Detailed risk discussion is part of every consultation.
Facelift Consultations in Bondi Junction and Manly
Facelift consultations with Dr Scott J Turner are available at two Sydney locations.
The Bondi Junction clinic is located at 39 Grosvenor Street, a short distance from Bondi Junction station and Westfield. The Manly clinic is located in Suite 504, Level 5, 39 East Esplanade, close to Manly Wharf.
A GP referral is required before booking a consultation, in line with Medical Board and AHPRA requirements introduced for cosmetic surgery in Australia. To request a consultation, contact the practice on (02) 9387 3900 or [email protected], or visit the contact us page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is facelift surgery in Sydney?
Facelift surgery in Sydney with Dr Scott J Turner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS), is a category of surgical procedures that reposition the deeper structural layers of the face to address jowling, midface descent, jawline laxity, neck skin laxity and platysmal banding. Consultations are available in Bondi Junction and Manly, with surgery performed at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why. Eight techniques are offered: deep plane, SMAS, short scar, lower, endoscopic, ponytail, Vertical Restore and revision facelift.
How do I choose a facelift surgeon in Sydney?
When choosing a facelift surgeon in Sydney, the Medical Board and AHPRA recommend confirming Specialist Plastic Surgeon registration through AHPRA, reviewing FRACS qualification (Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons), checking specific training in facial surgery, asking which techniques the surgeon performs and why, confirming the hospital where surgery is performed, and reviewing the consultation process including the mandatory GP referral and cooling-off period. Dr Scott J Turner holds AHPRA registration MED0001654827, was awarded FRACS in 2013, and trained in deep plane facelift surgery.
What does facelift surgery cost in Sydney?
Facelift surgery cost in Sydney depends on the technique selected, surgical time required and whether additional procedures are combined. A short scar facelift typically costs around $25,000, a deep plane facelift with neck lift around $35,000, and the Vertical Restore Facelift around $45,000 as an all-inclusive fee covering surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital and standard post-operative care. Medicare and private health insurance rebates do not apply for cosmetic facelift surgery. A consultation fee applies. A detailed cost breakdown is available in the Facelift Cost Sydney 2026 guide.
What is the difference between a deep plane facelift and a SMAS facelift?
A SMAS facelift works on the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System layer by either folding (plication) or partially releasing and lifting it. A deep plane facelift works beneath the SMAS, releasing the retaining ligaments that anchor the soft tissues to the facial skeleton and lifting the SMAS, fat pads and skin as a single composite unit. The deep plane technique typically provides correction of the midface, nasolabial fold and jawline that a SMAS-only approach does not reach as directly. Dr Turner selects between techniques based on the degree of midface descent, jowling pattern, neck involvement and individual anatomy assessed at consultation.
What is the recovery timeline for facelift surgery?
Facelift surgery recovery progresses in stages. Days 1 to 2 involve drain management and rest. Days 3 to 7 show the peak of swelling and bruising. Sutures are removed in stages between day 7 and day 14. Most patients return to desk-based work between weeks 2 and 3, depending on the technique used and individual healing. Visible bruising typically resolves by weeks 4 to 6 with the assistance of mineral makeup. Final tissue settling and definition continue over 6 to 12 months. Recovery from a deep plane or Vertical Restore Facelift takes longer than a short scar or mini facelift.
Am I a suitable candidate for facelift surgery?
Suitability for facelift surgery is assessed at consultation and depends on the degree of facial tissue laxity, midface descent, jawline definition, neck skin quality, skin elasticity, general health, body mass index, smoking status, realistic expectations, and the absence of medical conditions that increase surgical risk. Candidates are typically aged from their late 30s through to their 70s. The technique selected and whether facelift surgery is appropriate at all is determined during a face-to-face consultation with Dr Turner following a GP referral.
Is a GP referral required for a facelift consultation in Sydney?
Yes. A GP referral is mandatory before a consultation for facelift surgery with Dr Scott J Turner. This is consistent with Medical Board and AHPRA requirements introduced for cosmetic surgery in Australia. The referral allows the GP to discuss your reasons for seeking surgery, screen for relevant medical and psychological considerations, and document the referral pathway. Medicare and private health insurance rebates do not apply for cosmetic facelift surgery.
Where does Dr Scott J Turner perform facelift surgery in Sydney?
Dr Scott J Turner consults from two Sydney clinics, Bondi Junction (39 Grosvenor Street) and Manly (Suite 504, Level 5, 39 East Esplanade). Facelift surgery is performed at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why, both accredited private hospitals on the Northern Beaches and in the Eastern Suburbs. Dr Turner also consults from Brisbane (Herstellen Clinic, Spring Hill) and Canberra (Campbell), with surgery performed in Sydney for patients travelling from interstate.
Related Guides
Facelift techniques: Deep Plane Facelift, Vertical Restore Facelift, SMAS Facelift, Short Scar Facelift, Lower Facelift, Endoscopic Facelift, Ponytail Facelift and Revision Facelift.
Complementary face procedures: Facial Fat Transfer for volume restoration, Buccal Fat Removal for midface contour, and Lip Lift Surgery for the upper lip and perioral area.
Cost and recovery resources: Facelift Cost Sydney 2026, Deep Plane Facelift Recovery Timeline, and Is a Deep Plane Facelift Worth It.
