What is a deep plane facelift?

A deep plane facelift lifts beneath the SMAS to reposition deeper facial tissues. It targets midface descent, jowls, and folds for a natural, long lasting result.

What does a neck lift treat?

A neck lift addresses loose neck skin, vertical platysmal bands, and excess fat under the chin. It sharpens the jawline and the angle beneath the chin.

Is it better to combine a facelift and a neck lift?

When aging affects both the face and neck, combining procedures creates a balanced, seamless result with a single recovery. Your plan is customized after consultation.

How long is recovery for a deep plane facelift or neck lift?

Bruising and swelling improve after the first week. Many patients return to light work in 1 to 2 weeks and resume exercise gradually over weeks 3 to 6, pending clearance.

Will my results look natural?

Yes. The goal is refined, not overdone. The deep plane approach restores youthful contours while preserving your unique features. Results vary by anatomy and healing.

Deep Plane Facelift vs Neck Lift in Newport Beach

Guide:

Quick Takeaways
What a Deep Plane Facelift Actually Does
What a Neck Lift Corrects
Deep Plane Facelift vs. Neck Lift (At a Glance)
When Combining Them Makes the Most Sense
The Role of CO₂ Laser Resurfacing
Recovery: What to Expect
Results and Longevity
Who Is a Good Candidate?
An Inspired Case

When patients say their reflection does not match how energetic and fit they feel, especially around the jawline and neck, the conversation usually centers on three options: a deep plane facelift, a neck lift, or a combined approach. The right choice depends on where you are aging (midface, jowls, neck) and how seamlessly you want those areas to blend after surgery.

Below, I will break down what each procedure does, who it is best for, recovery expectations, and when combining them (sometimes with CO₂ laser resurfacing) creates the most natural, long-lasting harmony.

Quick Takeaways

Deep plane facelift repositions deeper facial layers to lift the cheeks, soften nasolabial folds, and define the jawline, delivering a natural look that typically lasts well over a decade.
Neck lift (lower rhytidectomy or platysmaplasty) tightens the platysma, removes excess fat or skin, and sharpens the under-chin angle and neckline.
Combining both in one surgery often yields the most balanced, cohesive lower face result, and it is commonly done together in facial rejuvenation.
CO₂ laser resurfacing can be layered in to improve skin texture, fine lines, and tone, polishing the surface while surgery restores structure.

What a Deep Plane Facelift Actually Does

A deep plane facelift lifts beneath the SMAS layer (not just the skin), freeing key retaining ligaments and repositioning the deeper facial tissues as a unit. This addresses midface descent, softens deep folds, improves jowls, and refines the jawline without the “pulled” look. At LEA, we perform this advanced technique to preserve character while restoring youthful contours.

Good candidates tend to have:

Jowling and heaviness along the jawline
Deepening nasolabial folds
Dropping of the midface or cheek fat pads

Longevity: Many patients enjoy results for 15 years or more (individual results vary with skin quality, lifestyle, and anatomy).

Want to go deeper? See:

What a Neck Lift Corrects

A neck lift (also called a lower rhytidectomy or platysmaplasty) targets the under-chin and neck region. It can tighten the platysma muscle, remove submental fat, and redrape or trim lax skin, sharpening the cervicomental angle and jawline. If your main concerns live below the jaw, such as neck bands, “turkey neck,” or fullness, this is the workhorse.

What it treats:

Loose neck skin and vertical platysmal bands
Excess fat under the chin

Soft or poorly defined jawline and neck transition

Deep Plane Facelift vs. Neck Lift (At a Glance)

Focus	Deep Plane Facelift	Neck Lift
Primary area	Midface, jowls, jawline	Under-chin and neck
Main actions	Repositions deep facial layers for natural lift	Tightens platysma, removes fat, redrapes or trims skin
Best for	Global facial aging (cheeks and jawline)	Banding, fullness, lax skin under the chin
Typical benefit	Softer folds, lifted cheeks, defined jawline	Sharper angle under the chin, smoother neck contour

When Combining Them Makes the Most Sense

If the face is lifted but the neck is untouched, or vice versa, you can end up with a mismatch.

Combining a deep plane facelift with a neck lift in one operation creates a seamless transition from cheek to jaw to neckline, and you recover once. It is a common pairing in facial rejuvenation for proportionate results.

You might be an ideal combined case candidate if you have:

Midface descent and neck banding
Jowls with under-chin fullness
A desire to minimize total downtime with one recovery

The Role of CO₂ Laser Resurfacing

Surgery restores structure, while CO₂ laser refines skin quality. For patients with etched lines, sun damage, or texture changes, pairing AcuPulse™ CO₂ resurfacing with surgery can smooth fine lines, even tone, and boost collagen, so the skin matches the refreshed facial architecture.

Explore our device: Lumenis AcuPulse™ CO₂ Laser in Newport Beach

Recovery: What to Expect

Every plan is customized, but here is the general pattern we see with deep plane facelift recovery at LEA:

Days 1–7: Bruising and swelling peak, then begin to recede. Most patients can work from home or return to light desk work in about 1–2 weeks.
Weeks 3–6: Aerobic activity resumes gradually. Avoid strenuous or impact exercise until cleared.
Months 3–6: Swelling continues to refine, and results keep improving through month 6 and beyond.

Neck lift recovery is similar in pace. Dressings and support garments may be used early on, and we will guide head elevation, movement, and incision care to limit swelling and protect blood flow.

Helpful reads:

Results and Longevity

With a deep plane facelift, patients often enjoy 15 years or more of natural-looking improvement. Neck lift results are also long-lasting, especially with good skin care, sun protection, and weight stability. Everyone ages at their own pace, and your anatomy, skin quality, and lifestyle matter.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

You are likely a candidate if you are healthy, a nonsmoker, and want to address visible aging in the lower face or neck with realistic expectations.

During your consultation, we will analyze your facial anatomy, skin elasticity, and goals to recommend a deep plane facelift, neck lift, or a combined plan tailored to you.

An Inspired Case

One of our athletic patients felt her lower face and neck no longer reflected her vibrant lifestyle. We performed a deep plane face and neck lift and added CO₂ laser resurfacing to refine skin texture. The outcome restored harmony from cheeks to collarbone, subtle to the casual observer yet confidence-boosting to her. (Individual results vary.)

You can explore some before and after of deep plane facelift surgery here.

Ready for a Personalized Plan?

Consult with Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva in Newport Beach to map the most elegant path to your goals, whether that is a deep plane facelift, neck lift, or a thoughtful combination (with or without CO₂ laser). You will leave with a plan designed for your anatomy, your lifestyle, and your definition of natural.

Request a private consultation or call 949 945 2168.