The Deep Plane Facelift is a facelift technique that repositions and rejuvenates the face by releasing the sub-SMAS plane and utilizes the SMAS layer to mobilize the face. The Deep Plane facelift has been a gold-standard facelift technique for over 30 years and has had many refinements throughout its time. The advantage of utilizing the SMAS layer is a more natural and more durable result since it unloads the tension of the facial skin on the SMAS layer and brings with it its healthy viable subcutaneous tissue. The technique involves a thorough subSMAS dissection and release of facial ligaments to allow for the mobilization of the cheek, jawline and neck all in one unit and then repositioning in multiple vectors to deliver a very natural face lift result.
Through the release and repositioning on the SMAS a more durable and secure lift is provided that delivers long-lasting, natural-looking rejuvenation. Unlike conventional facelift methods, it addresses not just skin laxity but also deeper tissues correcting for drooping in the cheeks, jawline, and neck.
What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?
This advanced surgical facelift technique that has limited skin undermining and focuses on the releases the attachments beneath the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) to easily reposition the superficial facial soft tissue and tighten the skin, lifting everything together as a composite lift— not just pulling the skin.
A deep plane facelift typically does include correction of the neck and the platysma muscle and fascia are continuous with the SMAS in the mid cheek region. A more formal central neck contouring procedure can be included in a deep plane facelift if significant skin and muscle laxity is seen and or central fat deposition is appreciated. Tightening the central platysma can help contour the neck and a myotomy in the central platysma reduces the central neck bands.
A deep plane facelift utilizes incisions around the ear both in front and behind to access the SMAS layer and to help reposition soft tissue and the excess skin
In a deep plane facelift the SMAS is elevated off of the deep fascial layer on the parotid gland and cheek with extension through the ligaments of the cheek into the mid face. This gains access to the cheek soft tissue superficially and if need the buccal fat pad deep to the area of dissection. The soft tissue can easily be repositioned because of its detachment and release from the deeper structures. A deep nasolabial fold and significant cheek descent can be addressed with further release into these areas all in a subSMAS plane. After mobilization of the neck and the face the SMAS is then repositioned vertically and secured to the temporal facia and then the neck is corrected with movement along the jawline with the SMAS secured to the fascia behind the ear.
Key benefits include:
- Improved healing: limited skin undermining and maintenance of vascularity to the skin with a composite flap as well as unloading tension on the skin all improve the skins ability to heal as well as improving the scar
- Decreased tension on the skin
- Repositioning rather than stretching gives more a youthful appearance post operative
- Authentic, non-operated look harmonious balanced
- More lift with less tension ligamentous release with repositioning
- Longer-lasting results (often 10+ years) secondary to SMAS fixation rather than skin stretch
- Improved midface volume and definition with release of the cheek attachments and vertical repositioning in of the midface
Who is a candidate?
- Patients with facial aging include premature aging which can be noticeable in the cheek area including a deepening nasolabial fold
- Commonly seen premature aging in the neck and midface with weight loss
- Premature aging in the neck can be genetic
- Patients who don’t see an improvement with non-invasive procedures
It’s especially effective for women and men noticing:
- Sagging jowls
- Marionette lines
- Neck laxity or double chin
- General loss of youthful definition the A frame face
Are You a Good Candidate?
A Deep Plane Facelift is ideal for:
- Adults aged 40–70+ seeking an effective and efficient facial rejuvenation
that lasts - Patients who want to forego excessive and temporary corrections like injectables and skin tightening devices
- Patients who have had a mini facelift or skin lift that would like a more effective and long lasting facial correction
- A deep plane correction could be difficult on pateitns who have had a previous SMASextomy type facelift as the SMAS layer has been divided leaving it unreliable for the a facelift.
- Previous deep plane facelifts can be revised and secondarily lifted if a revision is needed
- Those looking for natural results without obvious signs of surgery
- Individuals who may have had previous facelifts or want a more advanced solution who isn’t a good candidate
What to look for in a deep plane facelift
- Targets for correction include a sagging central neck including excess skin, fat and muscle banding
- Loss of neck contour from jowling and mid face descent with a deepening nasolabial fold
These can all be corrected with a deep plane facelift with natural repositioning of these areas without over stretching and obvious signs of surgery.
A comparison of the the pre-oeprative and post-ioperatibe three quarter view can easily pick up the power and correction of a properly executed deep plane facelift as well as changing the A frame aging face to a V frame contoured faceont he frontal view.
This procedure is often paired with a neck lift, fat transfer, or eyelid surgery to create complete facial harmony.
Surgical Precision Meets Artistic Vision
Our approach prioritizes anatomical balance, safety, and subtle transformation. The deep plane technique is more complex than traditional SMAS facelifts but delivers more impressive and natural outcomes with a lower rate of revision.
“The most beautiful facelift is the one no one can detect.”
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Let’s discuss your goals and assess whether a Deep Plane Facelift is the right path to a refreshed, confident version of you.