Guide:
- What Is A Deep Plane Facelift?
- How Is A Deep Plane Facelift Done?
- Can A Deep Plane Facelift Be Combined With Other Procedures?
- Are Deep Plane Face Lifts Worth It?
What Is A Deep Plane Facelift?
The deep plane facelift is an advanced approach to facial aging concerns that goes deep beneath the skin’s surface, beyond superficial adjustments. This next-level facelift technique is a popular option for facial rejuvenation among patients in Orange County because it promotes a natural, long-lasting lift.
Unlike traditional facelifts that stretch the face while leaving the underlying ligaments in place, deep plane facelifts release four ligaments to resuspend the connective tissue and muscle in the face, says UCSF Head and Neck Surgery. Resulting in a natural yet dramatic improvement in the face, from restoring youthful features by tightening and elevating the underlying framework to smoothing out surface-level fine lines and wrinkles.
The deep plane facelift does not damage the skin’s surface as much as a traditional (SMAS) facelift, as it keeps the upper layers thicker, making it a safer procedure by reducing the risks of skin injury or necrosis.
Some patients no longer seek injectables to address fine lines and wrinkles after a deep plane facelift because it targets and adjusts the underlying structures beneath the muscles that Botox attempts to freeze. If you’re wondering what age is best for a deep plane facelift, it’s typically the age in which non-surgical treatments such as Botox and fillers are no longer enough.
This innovative technique helps you look and feel younger and more confident while enjoying the benefits longer than you likely would after a traditional facelift, turning back the clock as naturally yet dramatically as possible.
How Is A Deep Plane Facelift Done?
During a deep plane facelift, Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva goes below the SMAS layer (which the traditional rhytidectomy targets) to reposition and reshape the tissue on the level beneath it. Despite releasing and readjusting deep connective tissues and muscles in the jowls and around the folds of the mouth, deep plane facelift scars are smaller than those for a traditional facelift.
Incisions are typically made by the ears in the sideburn area, within the folds of the ear, and behind the ear along the hairline. Dr. Ho Taghva then enters the “deep plane,” a term that describes the embryologic cleavage plane between the SMAS layer and the deeper muscles that play an essential role in facial expression and a youthful facial structure. Targeting this layer rather than just the superficial layers allows her to tighten the appearance of everything from your midface to your neck while preserving your natural facial contours and expressions.
While the SMAS facelift dissects the superficial skin and SMAS separately, the deep plane facelift keeps the skin and SMAS layers together in a composite approach while repositioning the underlying framework, according to Dr. Brock Ridenour for RealSelf.
Can A Deep Plane Facelift Be Combined With Other Procedures?
Yes, for a complete facial rejuvenation, deep plane facelifts can safely be done in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures to target the areas it does not address on its own.
Facial fat transfer involves removing unwanted fat from areas of the body and injecting it into areas of the face needing volume restoration. It can be an excellent procedure to combine with a facelift to volumize the cheeks, lips, or other features that have lost their youthful fullness. Dr. Ho Taghva uses nano fat grafting when addressing more delicate areas like fine lines or tear troughs. Dr. Ho Taghva purifies harvested fat through a specialized nano fat processing system and injects tiny particles of the nano fat as an alternative to injectable fillers with potentially fewer side effects.
Eyelid surgery is a popular procedure to pair with a deep plane facelift, as the facelift alone does not target excess skin and fat in the eye area. Depending on your concerns, blepharoplasty can target your upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both.
During an upper blepharoplasty, plastic surgeons make a small incision along the fold of the upper lid to remove excess skin, fat, and muscle.
During a lower blepharoplasty, surgeons create a small incision in the natural crease just below the lash line or inside the lower lid to remove excess fat and tighten the skin and muscle that causes puffiness, reducing the appearance of eye bags and wrinkles.
Double blepharoplasty allows surgeons to address the whole package, rejuvenating the upper and lower eyelids and completely refreshing the appearance of the eyes.
Patients sometimes opt for a combined brow and facelift if concerned with sagging skin in their forehead and upper eyelids. To rejuvenate the appearance of the upper portion of your face with less risk and downtime, Dr. Ho Taghva specializes in the endoscopic brow lift technique. This minimally invasive procedure allows her to use a tiny video camera called an endoscope to detect any nerves surrounding the eyebrows, helping to protect them while lifting and tightening the brow area.
Are Deep Plane Face Lifts Worth It?
While it requires a lengthier, slightly more demanding recovery time than a traditional facelift, as it goes deeper beneath the skin’s surface, many patients believe the deep plane facelift cost and downtime is worth it. They believe the time and money invested in the procedure are well worth it as it creates a visibly smoother, tighter face and neck without looking unnatural. How long does a deep plane facelift last, you may ask? The results are longer-lasting than any other facelift procedure.
Some patients who only need to target their lower face and jawline may benefit from a deep plane mini facelift.
After a deep plane facelift, you can expect to look younger and feel more confident. It redistributes facial tissues and smooths out skin to restore your face to what it looked like several years before.
Some of the most notable benefits of deep plane facelift include:
- Smooths out fine lines and wrinkles
- Restores skin elasticity
- Restores volume to the cheeks
- Natural-looking results
- Longer lasting results
- Redistributes fat to its youthful position
- Increases confidence
- Less trauma to the skin
With age, the structure of the face changes as underlying muscles weaken and the top layers of skin become less elastic. Deep plane facelifts comprehensively address aging changes in the face for a naturally refreshed appearance. Schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva in Newport Beach to find out if a deep plane facelift can help you restore confidence in your appearance.