Deep Plane Facelift in Istanbul, Turkey

A deep plane facelift is a facelift technique in which the surgeon releases and repositions the deeper layer of the face (the SMAS and the retaining ligaments) as one unit together with the skin, instead of pulling the skin alone. Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas performs the deep plane facelift in Istanbul with a scarless, atraumatic approach: incisions hidden inside the ear and hairline, no drains, and a deep plane neck lift, endoscopic temporal lift and nano fat injection added when the face needs them. This page explains what a deep plane facelift is, who it suits, how it is done, what recovery looks like, what it costs in Turkey and how it compares with SMAS, mini and endoscopic facelifts.

Deep plane facelift at a glance

• What it is: release of the SMAS and retaining ligaments and repositioning of the cheek, jowl and neck tissues as a single deep layer

• Who it suits: patients from the mid-40s onward with sagging cheeks, jowls, deep nasolabial folds and a loose neck; also revision cases after an earlier skin or SMAS facelift

• Anaesthesia: general anaesthesia

• Operation time: 3 to 5 hours depending on the neck lift and additional procedures

• Hospital stay: 1 night

• Stay in Istanbul: 7 days (stitches out on day 7)

• Back to social life: 2 weeks; sport after 4 weeks; final result at 3 to 6 months

• How long it lasts: 10 to 15 years

• Price in Istanbul: deep plane facelift 15,000 USD; deep plane neck lift 10,000 USD; TAS Signature Lift (all eight procedures included when needed) 30,000 USD all-inclusive

What is a deep plane facelift?

The face has layers: skin, a thin fat layer, the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a sheet of muscle and fascia), the retaining ligaments that tie the SMAS to the bone, and the facial nerve branches below. Ageing loosens the ligaments, so the cheek fat and the jowl slide downward and the nasolabial fold deepens. A skin-only facelift pulls the skin over this descended structure, which gives a tight, "done" look and relapses early. A SMAS facelift tightens the SMAS with sutures (plication) or removes a strip of it (SMASectomy) but leaves the ligaments in place, so the lift stops at the ligaments. A deep plane facelift goes under the SMAS, releases the zygomatic, masseteric and mandibular ligaments, and moves the entire cheek, jowl and neck unit upward and backward. Because the skin is not separated from the SMAS over most of the face, it is not stretched; it simply follows the deeper tissue. This is why a well-done deep plane facelift looks rested rather than pulled, and why it holds for longer.

Who is a candidate for a deep plane facelift?

The typical candidate is between 45 and 75, has jowls that blur the jawline, cheeks that have fallen and emptied, a deep fold from the nose to the corner of the mouth, loose skin or bands in the neck, and good general health. Younger patients in their late 30s with early jowls and heavy cheeks benefit from a more limited deep plane release. Patients who had a facelift 10 or more years ago and have relapsed are frequently treated with a revision facelift in the deep plane. Men are good candidates as well; the technique keeps the incisions behind the tragus and in the hairline so that the beard pattern is not displaced (see male facelift).

How Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas performs the deep plane facelift

Planning

Every face is examined for the degree of descent of the cheek, the jowl and the neck, the quality and thickness of the skin, the volume lost in the temples and midface, the position of the brow and the amount of excess upper eyelid skin. The plan states which of the eight components (deep plane facelift, deep plane neck lift, endoscopic temporal lift, forehead lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, fat injection, lip lift) are needed; in the TAS Signature Lift all of them are included when needed at one all-inclusive price.

Incisions

The incision starts inside the temporal hair, runs along the natural crease in front of the ear and behind the tragus, around the earlobe and into the hair behind the ear. No hair is shaved and the hairline is not moved, so the scar is not visible even with the hair tied back.

Release and repositioning

After a short skin undermining, the surgeon enters the plane under the SMAS and releases the retaining ligaments under direct vision while protecting the facial nerve branches. The cheek fat pad, the jowl and the platysma muscle of the neck are repositioned upward as a composite flap and fixed to firm structures with sutures that bear the tension. The skin is then redraped without tension and the excess is removed.

Deep plane neck lift

When the neck is loose, a small incision under the chin allows the platysma bands to be released and tightened, the excess fat removed and, if needed, the submandibular glands and digastric muscles treated so that the angle between the chin and the neck becomes sharp again.

Added procedures

Nano fat injection refills the temples, under-eye area and lips; an endoscopic temporal lift raises the outer brow and eye corner (fox eye lift); upper and lower blepharoplasty removes excess eyelid skin and bags; a lip lift shortens a long upper lip. A laser or chemical peel can be added for skin quality.

No drains, no pressure dressing

The atraumatic technique with careful haemostasis allows the operation to be finished without drains. A light dressing is used for the first night only.

Recovery week by week

• Day 0 to 2: one night in hospital; mild to moderate swelling, little pain, simple painkillers are sufficient

• Day 3 to 7: swelling and bruising decrease; walking and light daily activity are encouraged; stitches are removed on day 7 and patients fly home

• Week 2: most patients return to desk work and social life, often with light make-up

• Week 3 to 4: sport and heavy exercise are allowed; the face looks natural to other people

• Month 3: residual swelling has gone; the result is now visible

• Month 6 to 12: scars fade to a thin pale line hidden in the creases and hair

How long does a deep plane facelift last?

A deep plane facelift does not stop ageing, but it resets the position of the tissues. Published series and the experience of the clinic show that the result holds for 10 to 15 years; patients who have had the operation in their late 40s typically consider a second, smaller procedure in their 60s. Protecting the skin from the sun, not smoking and keeping a stable weight extend the result.

Deep plane facelift versus SMAS, mini, endoscopic and thread lifts

• SMAS plication or SMASectomy: tightens the SMAS without releasing the ligaments; good for mild descent; shorter lasting in heavy, sagging faces

• Mini facelift: short-scar, limited undermining; suits early jowls in the 40s; does not treat the neck

• Endoscopic (scarless) facelift: lifts the midface and brow through hidden incisions in the hair; ideal for younger patients and for the upper face; combined with a deep plane lift in the lower face

• Thread lift: temporary, 6 to 12 months, does not reposition tissue; often followed by a surgical lift later

• Deep plane facelift: releases the ligaments and repositions the whole cheek-jowl-neck unit; the longest-lasting option for moderate to severe descent

More detail on the choice between techniques: Deep plane vs SMAS facelift, Endoscopic facelift guide, Full vs mini vs deep plane facelift.

Deep plane facelift cost in Turkey

At Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas Clinic in Istanbul the deep plane facelift costs 15,000 USD and the deep plane neck lift 10,000 USD as individual procedures. The TAS Signature Lift, which includes the deep plane facelift, deep plane neck lift, endoscopic temporal lift, forehead lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, fat injection and lip lift whenever they are needed, is 30,000 USD all-inclusive, compared with 47,000 USD if each procedure were chosen individually. The price covers the surgeon’s fee, hospital, anaesthesia, one night in hospital, medication and follow-up. Compare the full list on the facelift cost in Turkey page. For reference, a deep plane facelift by an experienced surgeon typically costs 30,000 to 60,000 USD in the United States and 20,000 to 40,000 GBP in London.

Is it safe to have a deep plane facelift in Turkey?

The deep plane facelift is a technically demanding operation because the facial nerve branches lie just under the plane of dissection; safety depends on the surgeon, not on the country. Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas is a double board-certified plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience and more than 10,000 operations, the author of peer-reviewed publications and books on facial surgery, and the organiser of international facelift and rhinoplasty courses in which surgeons from Europe, the United States and the Middle East watch him operate live. Operations take place in a fully equipped hospital in Istanbul with an anaesthesiology team, and international patients stay seven days for the first-week check before flying home, with video follow-up afterwards. Independent references: the Turkish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery announcement of his Luca Ortelli Video Award, the ISAPS-endorsed Closed Atraumatic Rhinoplasty Course he organises in Istanbul, and the Rhinoplasty Society of Europe scientific tools he co-authored.

Before and after

See the facelift before and after gallery and the ten most-watched facelift videos on the facelift page. Cases include patients aged 38 to 77, revision facelifts after earlier surgery elsewhere, and combined deep plane facelift and neck lift results at 7 days, 15 days and 1 year.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a deep plane facelift and a regular facelift?

A regular (SMAS) facelift tightens the deep layer with sutures and pulls the skin; a deep plane facelift releases the ligaments under the SMAS and moves the whole cheek, jowl and neck unit without tension on the skin, which gives a more natural and longer-lasting result.

Does a deep plane facelift look natural?

Yes, when the tissues are repositioned along their original vector and the skin is not stretched. The aim is a rested version of the same face, not a different face.

How painful is it?

Most patients describe tightness rather than pain and use simple painkillers for a few days.

How long is the scar?

The incision runs from the temporal hair, around the ear and into the hair behind it; after six to twelve months it is a thin pale line hidden in the creases.

At what age should I have a deep plane facelift?

Most patients are between 45 and 70; the right time is when the jowls and neck bother you in photographs, not a particular age. See the right age for a facelift.

Can it be combined with a neck lift, eyelid surgery and fat transfer?

Yes; in most patients over 50 these are combined in one operation, and in the TAS Signature Lift they are included when needed at a single all-inclusive price.

How many days do I need to stay in Istanbul?

Seven days: one night in hospital, then a hotel near the clinic, stitches removed on day 7 and clearance to fly.

Next step

Send your photographs for an online consultation with Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas, or book a face-to-face consultation in Istanbul. Related pages: Facelift in Turkey, Facelift cost in Turkey, Facelift before and after, Deep plane facelift guide (recovery week by week), Deep plane facelift risks.