What is a Deep Plane Facelift?
Tighter skin, better definition of facial features, and decreased neck elasticity are all achieved with a deep plane facelift. With results that can make patients appear 12 to 15 years younger, a deep plane facelift is by far the most successful type of facelift.
To tighten the cheekbones, jawline, and neck, a deep plane facelift involves lifting the SMAS, the layer of connective tissue beneath the facial skin.
Additionally, it enhances the lower eyelid hollowness and puts the cheek area back in its proper place.
Because of its extreme technical difficulty, a real deep plane facelift is hardly performed by many surgeons. Over the years, Dr. Brennan has developed a unique method for performing deep plane facelifts. Call us at (949) 644-1641 for a deep plane facelift consultation.
Where will I see my deep plane facelift results?
Following a deep plane facelift, the areas that improve the most include the jowls, extra neck skin, and soft tissues in the midface. Patients report improvements in their lower eyelids following deep plane facelifts. Patients with deep plane facelifts typically appear 12–15 years younger.
How is a deep plane facelift performed?
The most typical way a facelift is done is under general anesthesia. Our skilled anesthetic team puts our patients “to sleep.”
Multiple layers of tissues in the neck and face are dissected throughout the process.
Making an incision in the hairline and skin crease right in front of the ear is the first stage of surgery. This incision aims to “hide” or reduce facial scarring. After that, the skin of the face and neck is separated from the deeper tissues, making the “SMAS” visible to your surgeon.
Our facial muscles and organs are often covered in a tissue layer called the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), composed of fat cells, collagen, and elastin. During a deep plane facelift, the SMAS, which runs from your neck through the forehead, is “lifted.”
Your surgeon will identify the SMAS and separate it from deeper tissues. The deep plane is the area just beneath the SMAS. The SMAS layer is meticulously raised, and the SMAS is then lifted in various areas of the neck and face with numerous stitches. We can directly target common signs of aging, like sagging cheeks, jowls, and neck sagging, by suturing the SMAS.
Your surgeon will carefully suture all the incisions closed after the procedure.
Benefits of Deep Plane Facelift Surgery
Deep plane facelift offers several benefits for individuals seeking facial rejuvenation.
Here are some of its key advantages:
- Reduced Risk of Distortion or Tightness: Since facelift repositions tissues deeper, there’s less risk of creating a tight or pulled appearance. It reduces the likelihood of distortion and helps maintain natural facial movement and expression.
- Improved Definition and Contour: The deep plane technique allows surgeons to lift and reposition the skin and underlying muscle and fat layers. It enables them to restore youthful facial contours and improve definition, resulting in a more refreshed appearance.
- Natural-Looking Results: This facelift technique targets the deeper tissue layers of the face, allowing for more comprehensive lifting and repositioning of facial structures. This approach produces more natural-looking results than traditional facelift techniques, as it addresses sagging at its root.
- Long-lasting Results: Deep plane facelift typically provides longer-lasting results than less invasive procedures like dermal fillers or superficial facelifts. Repositioning deeper tissue layers addresses the underlying causes of facial aging, leading to more sustainable outcomes.
- Comprehensive Approach: This procedure addresses multiple signs of facial aging simultaneously, including sagging skin, jowls, deep wrinkles, and loss of volume. This comprehensive approach can provide more dramatic and transformative results than less extensive procedures.
- Minimal Scarring: Although this surgery involves incisions, skilled surgeons can place them strategically within the face’s natural contours, minimizing their visibility. Over time, these incisions tend to fade, further enhancing the overall aesthetic outcome.
Deep Plane Facelift vs. SMAS Facelift
The majority of patients worry that they will “look like they had a facelift” or that they will appear pulled following surgery because so many newscasters, celebrities, and members of their community have visible signs of cosmetic surgery.
It is because, rather than a deep plane facelift, the most popular facelift procedure in the US is a superficial facelift known as a SMAS plication lift. This facelift technique raises the SMAS-Platysma complex using sutures after the skin is elevated.
The Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System
The muscle of the lower cheeks and jowls is called the SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System), and the muscle that runs over the neck and lower part of the face is called the platysma. Pulling the SMAS-Platysma layer is preferable to lifting the skin alone, although an SMAS facelift’s separation of the skin from its underlying muscles gives the skin a taut appearance.
Cheek drooping is not lifted with this procedure; it solely addresses the lower portion of the face and jawline. Consequently, a lot of surgeons will do cheek fat transplantation concurrently. Fat grafting involves liposuctioning and injecting fat from the thighs or abdomen into the face. This process frequently results in cheeks that appear overfilled since the cheeks are inflated rather than raised.
With the deep plane approach, the skin is left intact while the sagging muscles and fat of the face are repositioned beneath them, unlike with a SMAS facelift when the skin is removed from deeper muscles and soft tissue.
How long does it take to recover following a deep plane facelift?
The first several days after a facelift is typically marked by swelling and bruising around the repositioned areas. These symptoms will go away on their own over time.
There is less bruising and pain in the days following surgery since the deep plane technique is performed on the layer of your face that is naturally present. Deep plane surgery keeps more of the skin’s natural blood supply intact by leaving blood vessels within the muscle and skin, promoting quicker healing. Blood vessels are disrupted, and the skin is lifted using SMAS-type facelifts. That is why there is more bruising after non-deep plane facelifts.
A doctor could prescribe a few pain medications to make patients feel more comfortable as they heal. Additionally, patients will be advised to elevate their heads and urged to use cold compresses to help ease swelling. Getting lots of sleep is crucial during recovery.
How long will returning to work after a deep plane facelift take?
Many patients are concerned about returning to work after a deep plane facelift. The length of recovery after a facelift varies from person to person and is mostly determined by your line of work and personal healing rates.
- Consult Your Plastic Surgeon: Dr. Brennan will offer advice after thoroughly reviewing your situation. You must heed his advice to get the best results from a deep plane facelift.
- Typical Recovery Time: Most patients can typically anticipate going back to work 10 to 14 days following surgery. This period permits the first healing and the reduction of any apparent bruising or swelling.
- Taking care of yourself: The deep plane facelift recovery procedure is essential for the best results. Returning to work sooner and in more comfort can be achieved by following post-operative care recommendations and allowing yourself time to recover.
Remember that each patient recovers differently, so the precise number of days following surgery when you can return to work might change. After a facelift surgery, the best approach to guarantee a successful and secure recovery is to speak with Dr. Brennan and heed his advice.
Who Is A Good Candidate For The Procedure?
Men and women exhibiting facial aging signs, such as drooping and sagging skin, might be ideal candidates for a deep plane facelift. Patients should be in decent physical condition and have reasonable expectations regarding the procedure’s results. Dr. Brennan will be able to assess whether a deep plane facelift is an appropriate course of action for you during your appointment.
Schedule A Deep Plane Facelift Consultation Today
Ready to rejuvenate your look and embrace a more youthful appearance? Schedule your personalized Newport Beach Facelift consultation today with Dr. George Brennan, the trusted name in cosmetic surgery in Newport Beach. Discover how our expert team can tailor a treatment plan to achieve your aesthetic goals, providing natural-looking results that enhance your unique beauty.
Schedule your consultation with us by calling (949) 644-1641.