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Deep Plane Facelift and Skin Quality: Why Wrinkles Need Their Own Treatment
Quick answer: A deep plane facelift lifts the jowls, cheeks and neck, which smooths the large folds caused by sagging. It does not remove fine wrinkles, sun damage, pigment spots or crepey skin texture, because these are changes in the skin itself. Those are treated with laser resurfacing, chemical peels, nano fat grafting and skin care, either at the time of the facelift or a few months later.
Key takeaways
Lifting improves folds caused by sagging, not wrinkles caused by skin damage.
Fine lines around the mouth and eyes usually need laser or peels.
Nano fat, a finely processed fat graft, can improve thin, crepey skin.
Some skin treatments can be done in the same session; others are done after healing.
Daily sun protection is the most important long-term step for skin quality.
Two kinds of ageing
Structural ageing is the descent of the cheek fat, jowls and neck, together with volume loss. A deep plane facelift treats this by repositioning the tissues. Skin ageing is the change in the skin itself: fewer elastic fibres, thinner collagen, sun damage, pigment changes and fine wrinkles. No lifting technique treats this, because lifting moves the skin but does not renew it.
Video: 74-year-old woman before and after a facelift with neck lift, eyelid surgery, lip lift, fat grafting and laser. Watch on YouTube
The video above, viewed more than 3.7 million times, shows the full-procedure version of a 74-year-old woman's facial rejuvenation by Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas, combining a facelift and neck lift with eyelid surgery, a lip lift, fat grafting and laser to treat both the structure and the skin.
Endoscopic facelift before and after Endoscopic facelift before and after Scarless facelift before and after
What a facelift improves and what it does not
Improves: jowls, jawline, neck laxity, the heavy nasolabial area and marionette folds caused by sagging.
Does not remove: fine lines around the lips, crow's feet, sun spots, enlarged pores and rough texture.
Partly improves: cheek creases and neck lines, depending on skin quality.
Treatments for skin quality
Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing: removes thin columns of damaged skin and stimulates new collagen; effective for lines around the mouth and eyes.
Chemical peels: light to medium peels improve texture and pigment.
Nano fat grafting: finely filtered fat injected under thin skin; it may improve its quality and, in some patients, its colour.
Microneedling and energy-based skin tightening: support collagen production in mild cases.
Medical skin care: retinoids, vitamin C and daily sunscreen maintain the result.
"The lift gives the face back its shape. The skin treatment gives it back its surface. Patients want both, so we plan both from the first consultation." — Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas
Video: Scarless facelift with neck lift and eyelid surgery: jowls and jawline before and after. Watch on YouTube
The second video, viewed more than 4.2 million times, shows a combined facelift, neck lift and eyelid surgery in the operating room, with the jowls and loose jawline skin before surgery and the lifted contour right afterwards.
Same session or later?
Some treatments, such as fat grafting and certain laser treatments of areas that are not lifted, can be performed during the facelift. Treatments over the lifted skin are often planned a few months later, when the skin has healed and its blood supply has recovered. Your surgeon decides based on your skin type and the extent of the lift. Read about other combinations in facelift combined with eyelid surgery, brow lift or fat transfer.
Keeping the result
Wear sunscreen every day and avoid tanning.
Do not smoke; smoking accelerates skin ageing.
Keep a stable weight.
Use the skin care plan you receive and attend follow-up visits.
Choosing the right laser
Fractional CO2 lasers give the strongest improvement in wrinkles and texture but need more recovery, about 1 to 2 weeks of peeling, with pinkness that can last several weeks. Lighter fractional lasers and peels need less downtime and are repeated in series. Darker skin types need careful settings to avoid pigment changes. Your surgeon decides the type and timing after examining your skin.
Costs to plan for
Skin treatments are usually priced separately from the facelift. Combining them in the same session can reduce the total recovery time. Ask for a written plan that lists which treatments are included and when they will be performed. See facelift cost in Istanbul.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a deep plane facelift remove wrinkles?
It smooths folds caused by sagging but does not remove fine wrinkles, which are treated with laser, peels or other skin treatments.
Can laser be done at the same time as a facelift?
Some laser treatments can be combined, especially in areas that are not lifted. Resurfacing of lifted skin is often planned a few months later.
What is nano fat?
A finely processed form of your own fat, injected under thin skin. It may improve skin quality and, in some patients, its colour.
How can I keep my skin looking good after a facelift?
Daily sunscreen, no smoking, a stable weight and a medical skin care routine are the most effective steps.
Will my skin look tighter after a facelift?
The skin looks smoother over the jaw and neck because the deeper tissues are lifted, but its texture only changes with skin treatments.
About the Author
This article was written and medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas, a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon in Istanbul with over 20 years of experience. He is the author of Rhinoplasty in Practice (CRC Press, 2020), has more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications and five patents, and teaches facelift and rhinoplasty techniques to surgeons at international courses. Read more about Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas.
Individual results vary. Before and after photos and videos are shared with patient consent. This article is for general information and does not replace a personal medical consultation.
See More Before and After Results
Would You Like a Similar Result?
You can send your photos for an online assessment or book an appointment at the Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas Clinic, Terrace Fulya, Şişli, Istanbul. Book an online consultation.
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