A deep plane facelift is a type of facelift surgery (aka rhytidectomy) that tightens and lifts the middle and lower areas of the face by targeting the muscular and soft tissue layer, known as the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system), a deeper layer than that which is addressed in a skin-only facelift.
The procedure addresses sagging skin and facial muscles, and smoothes wrinkles and folds, while maintaining a natural appearance. Deep plane facelifts usually include a neck lift, because the two areas are closely connected “By lifting the face, the neck also gets lifted, resulting in a more comprehensive and powerful face and neck rejuvenation than just about any other procedure,” explains Dr. Vu Ho, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Plano, Texas.
“Deep plane facelifts lift not only the jowls and neck areas, but also release the cheek ligaments and elevate the cheek fat pads and muscles,” says Dr. Andrew Jacono, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City. “When the malar fat pad is lifted, it reduces the nasolabial folds and gives the face a youthful heart shape.”
While facelift techniques are often pitted against one another—deep plane versus SMAS—the deep plane is actually a type of SMAS facelift (the modern standard for facelifts), with one key difference: during a deep plane facelift procedure, the skin and the SMAS are lifted together, rather than separately. Some doctors claim this creates more natural results.
Deep plane facelifts can be combined with other procedures, such as a brow lift or forehead lift, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), face and neck liposuction, fat transfer, facial implants, laser skin resurfacing, or a chemical peel, for full face and neck rejuvenation.
“I often include skin-rejuvenating treatments, such as RF microneedling, chemical peeling, and laser resurfacing, to further enhance the results of my facelifts,” explains Dr. Ho. “A deep plane facelift result looks great, but transforming the skin envelope at the same time really knocks it out of the park.”
For the most youthful appearance, you may also need a platysmaplasty (neck lift). This procedure rejuvenates the neck and improves the jawline by tightening the platysma muscle (to smooth out banding) and removing excess fat (to reduce a double chin or jowls) and excess skin (to smooth wrinkles and contour the area).
Discuss your goals and a personalized treatment plan with your board-certified plastic surgeon during your initial consultation.
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