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What Is a Deep Plane Facelift? Technique, Results and Recovery
Updated: 29 minutes ago
A deep plane facelift is a facelift technique in which the surgeon works beneath the deeper supporting layer of the face, the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system), and moves the skin and the SMAS together as one unit. Because the tissues that have descended are released and lifted from underneath, rather than pulled at the skin, the aim is a natural result that does not look tight.
Written by Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon, Istanbul.
How a deep plane facelift works
With age, the soft tissues of the face descend. The cheek fat moves downward, the jawline loses its definition and jowls form, and the neck loosens. These tissues are held in place by small fibrous attachments called retaining ligaments.
In a deep plane facelift the surgeon enters the plane beneath the SMAS and releases the key retaining ligaments. This allows the cheek, jowl and neck tissues to be repositioned upwards as a single layer, together with the overlying skin. The skin is then closed without excessive tension.
Deep plane vs SMAS vs mini facelift
Skin-only / mini facelift | SMAS facelift | Deep plane facelift | |
Layer treated | Mainly the skin | SMAS tightened or trimmed, separately from the skin | Skin and SMAS moved together after releasing the retaining ligaments |
Best for | Mild, early laxity | Moderate laxity | Moderate to advanced sagging of the mid-face, jowls and neck |
Effect on the mid-face | Limited | Moderate | Can lift the cheek tissues as well as the jawline |
Technical difficulty | Lower | Moderate | Higher; requires specific training |
Who is a good candidate?
A deep plane facelift may suit you if you have sagging cheeks, jowls, a loss of jawline definition or loose neck skin, and you are in good general health. People who smoke, who have certain medical conditions, or who expect a dramatic change without any recovery time may not be good candidates. A consultation with a plastic surgeon is the only way to know.
Lower deep plane facelift
A lower deep plane facelift focuses on the jawline, jowls and neck, and does less work in the mid-face. Prof. Dr. Tas decides in the consultation which areas your face needs; in the TAS Signature Lift they are combined in one session.
Can it be done under local anesthesia?
Yes. Prof. Dr. Tas performs every deep plane face and neck lift under local anesthesia, without general anesthesia. These operations usually take six to eight hours, and waking up from general anesthesia after such a long operation raises blood pressure, which increases the risk of bleeding and nausea. Read more about the awake deep plane facelift.
Recovery
With Prof. Dr. Tas you walk out the same day and go to your hotel with a private nurse.
Swelling, bruising, numbness and a feeling of tightness are normal and settle gradually.
Most patients return to social life in 7 to 10 days and are camera-ready in 2 to 3 weeks.
The final result settles over several months.
How long do the results last?
A facelift does not stop ageing; your face continues to age from its new, younger-looking starting point. How long the result lasts depends on your skin, your genetics, your weight stability and your lifestyle, especially smoking. This is why Prof. Dr. Tas asks patients never to smoke after surgery.
Risks
As with any facelift, risks include bleeding and hematoma, infection, scarring, temporary or, rarely, permanent facial nerve weakness, skin problems, asymmetry and the need for further surgery. Because the deep plane technique works close to the facial nerve branches, surgeon experience matters.
Deep plane facelift in Istanbul
Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas performs deep plane facelifts in Istanbul for patients from around the world and teaches his techniques to other surgeons at international live-surgery courses. See facelift results and the cost of a facelift in Turkey.
Deep plane facelift before and after: real results
These are real patients of Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas, shown on his own Instagram and YouTube channels, many of them watched by millions of people. Results vary from person to person; your own plan is decided at your consultation.
Severe cheek sagging, 15 days after a scarless deep plane facelift
The cheeks had dropped so far that lifting the skin alone could not correct them. Releasing the deep plane let the cheek, jowl and neck move back up as one unit. Watched more than 6 million times on YouTube.
74 years old: scarless facelift and neck lift, 7 days after
A face in its seventh decade, refreshed without visible scars. Watched more than 9.3 million times on YouTube.
3 weeks after a scarless deep plane facelift: 10 million plays
A large amount of loose skin removed without visible scars, with neck lift, temporal lift, brow lift, nano fat grafting and laser tightening, shown three weeks after surgery. Played more than 10 million times on Instagram.
Revision at 77, after a previous classic facelift
She had already had a classic facelift elsewhere, with its visible scar, and her skin and muscles had sagged again. She is shown 6 days after a scarless revision facelift; the only incision is about 2 cm, inside the hairline. Watched more than 6 million times on YouTube and played more than 1.4 million times on Instagram.
Endoscopic deep plane facelift, performed live for surgeons in Colombia
Prof. Dr. Tas teaches the technique to other plastic surgeons. This endoscopic deep plane facelift was performed as a live surgery case at a congress in Colombia. Played more than 3.8 million times on Instagram.
For the complete guide, including technique, recovery and cost, see deep plane facelift in Istanbul. More results: facelift before and after gallery.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a deep plane and a SMAS facelift?
In a SMAS facelift the skin is lifted off the SMAS and the two layers are tightened separately. In a deep plane facelift the surgeon releases the retaining ligaments and moves the skin and SMAS together as one unit.
Is a deep plane facelift worth it?
For patients with moderate to advanced sagging of the mid-face, jowls and neck, many surgeons consider it the technique that gives the most natural, comprehensive lift. Whether it is right for you depends on your anatomy.
Does a deep plane facelift leave scars?
Yes, as with any facelift. The incisions are placed around the ear and in the hairline so that they are as discreet as possible.
What does a deep plane facelift look like after 10 years?
The face continues to age, but from a younger-looking baseline. How the result holds depends on your skin, genetics, weight stability and lifestyle.
Send your photographs for a free pre-assessment, or book your online consultation.
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