Deep Plane Facelift

Do you find yourself looking in the mirror and seeing someone who looks older or more tired staring back at you? Over time, our natural facial tissues start to descend, creating deep folds, wrinkles and a loss of jawline definition that ages us beyond our years. While traditional facelifts can restore a youthful appearance, a deep plane facelift provides more dramatic results by addressing the root causes of aging, avoiding an unnaturally tight or “windswept” look.

The deep plane facelift is widely considered the gold standard in facial rejuvenation surgery, offering natural results that can last for more than a decade. By working beneath the superficial layers of the face to release and reposition descended tissues, this advanced technique restores youthful contours without the telltale signs of surgery. Double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Steven M. Daines is an expert in the deep plane facelift, allowing him to turn back the clock while preserving the unique features that make you look like yourself.

What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?

A deep plane facelift is an advanced surgical technique that treats the fundamental causes of facial aging to rejuvenate your appearance. Unlike other facelift techniques that only address the superficial layers of skin and muscle, this approach operates on a deeper anatomical plane.

If you think of the face as being organized into multiple layers (much like an onion), a deep plane facelift repositions the entire system as a single unit, keeping the skin and tissues in alignment with each other. This allows for more natural facial movements and comprehensive rejuvenation of the midface. However, to understand more about why this technique is so effective, it’s important to first learn about the crucial role of a facial layer called the SMAS.

The SMAS Layer

The superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or SMAS, is a layer of tissue that lies beneath your skin. It is a thin, organized network of muscle, fiber and connective tissues that extend from the neck to the forehead. This layer is what allows you to make facial expressions, and more importantly, it’s what gives your face its youthful shape and contour.

As we age, the SMAS loses its strength and elasticity. Early facelifts only tightened the skin to reduce sagging while leaving these important tissues untouched, which is like fixing a drooping mattress by pulling the covers taut. Unsurprisingly, this often led to an unnatural appearance. Traditional or full facelifts “pull” the SMAS tight to rejuvenate the lower face.

Releasing Retaining Ligaments

Retaining ligaments are strong, fibrous attachments that anchor the skin and underlying muscles to the bone and deep fascia. However, as the face starts to sag, these ligaments restrict the movement of the soft tissues and tether them to an aging shape. In order to get the best possible results from a facelift, the retaining ligaments have to be released, allowing the SMAS and deeper structures of the face to be “lifted” rather than “pulled,” resulting in minimal tension on the skin. This is what a deep plane facelift does, providing patients with dramatic and long-lasting results that never look too tight or overdone.

Other Types of Facelifts

In addition to the deep plane facelift, Dr. Daines is experienced in a variety of facelift techniques. Each approach is tailored to address specific aging concerns and can be recommended based on your unique facial anatomy, the amount of correction needed and your aesthetic goals.

Full Facelift

A traditional full facelift addresses aging changes in the midface, lower face and neck areas. This technique typically involves tightening the SMAS layer and removing excess skin to restore definition to the jawline and neck. While effective for overall facial rejuvenation, this approach may not provide the same level of midface improvement as a deep plane facelift.

Full facelifts are ideal for patients with:

• Significant skin laxity in the lower face and neck
• Pronounced jowls
• Loose neck skin or a “turkey neck”
• Multiple signs of aging they’d like to address in one procedure

Mini Facelift

A mini facelift, sometimes called a limited incision facelift, is a less invasive version of a full facelift that focuses primarily on the lower third of the face. This technique uses shorter incisions and is best suited for patients with subtle signs of aging without significant neck laxity.

It’s an excellent option for:

• Younger patients (typically in their 40s or early 50s)
• Those with minimal neck aging
• Patients wanting to address early jowl formation
• Those seeking subtle improvement with a shorter recovery time

Submentoplasty

A submentoplasty specifically targets excess fat and sagging in the chin, upper neck and jawline to restore a youthful facial profile. This focused procedure is most often performed in conjunction with a mini or traditional facelift as a minimally invasive alternative to a full neck lift.

Submentoplasty is a good option for patients with:

• A loss of jawline definition
• Loose neck skin
• Neck muscle banding
• Excess fat under the chin and along the neck

Ideal Candidates for Deep Plane Facelift

A deep plane facelift can provide dramatic and long-lasting results but might not be right for every patient looking to take years off their appearance. There are certain characteristics that make someone particularly well-suited for this procedure, such as:

• Significant skin laxity in the mid and lower face
• Jowls and a noticeable loss of jawline definition
• Deep marionette lines and nasolabial folds
• Vertical, cord-like bands on the neck
• Hollowing in the midface due to descending malar fat pads
• Realistic goals and expectations
• Good overall health and non-smokers (or willing to quit)

Most patients who opt for a deep plane facelift are between the ages of 40 and 70, but there is no specific timeframe for undergoing surgery. While age is a consideration, it is not the determining factor in your candidacy — your goals and the amount of correction needed to achieve them are more important in determining whether this procedure is right for you.

If you’re interested in a deep plane facelift, schedule a consultation with board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Daines in Newport Beach, California. During this meeting, he can evaluate your unique concerns and facial anatomy to recommend the best surgical approach for rejuvenating your appearance. He’ll also explain the treatment process in detail to ensure that you have a complete understanding of the procedure, the recovery and the results.

What to Expect During Your Procedure

At Daines Plastic Surgery, a deep plane facelift is performed as an outpatient procedure under general or twilight anesthesia at a fully equipped and Joint Commission-certified surgical facility in Newport Beach. It typically takes several hours to complete, after which you’ll be able to return home and begin the recovery process. The residual effects of anesthesia can impair your ability to drive safely, so you’ll need to arrange for transportation with a friend or family member.

Your surgery will begin with carefully placed incisions that follow the contours of the ear and hairline. If a neck lift, submentoplasty or other rejuvenating procedure is being performed at the same time to enhance your results, additional incisions may be needed. Regardless of your treatment plan, all incisions are hidden in discreet locations to minimize visible scarring.

During your procedure, Dr. Daines will work below the SMAS layer in the deeper planes of the face, meticulously releasing the retaining ligaments that hold your tissues in place. This crucial step allows him to move the underlying facial structures as a single unit, lifting the cheeks, neck and jowls to a more youthful position. To ensure optimal healing and natural facial movements after surgery, special care is taken to preserve important anatomical structures, such as the nerves and blood vessels. Once a sufficient amount of correction has been achieved, Dr. Daines will secure the tissues with sutures and trim away excess skin. The incisions will then be closed and your face wrapped with gauze to minimize side effects like bruising and swelling.

After surgery, you’ll spend some time in our recovery area, where our medical team will monitor you closely. Once you’re stable and comfortable, you’ll be able to return home the same day, accompanied by a family member or friend. Dr. Daines will provide detailed aftercare instructions and schedule your follow-up appointments to ensure a smooth recovery.

Deep Plane Facelift Recovery

While the deep plane facelift is a more complex and involved procedure than other facelift techniques, the recovery is often surprisingly manageable. Most patients find they can return to light activities within one week, though complete healing continues for several months.

The first few days after surgery are focused on rest and initial healing. You’ll experience some swelling and bruising, which typically peaks around day three or four. Many patients are pleasantly surprised to find that discomfort is minimal and well-tolerated with prescribed pain medication. Because the deep plane technique works with your natural tissues rather than against them, patients also report less post-op tightness compared to traditional facelifts.

For optimal healing, follow all aftercare instructions provided by Dr. Daines and don’t hesitate to contact our office with any questions or concerns you may have. Some of the guidelines you can expect during the first few weeks of your recovery include:

• Keeping your head elevated while sleeping
• Applying cool compresses as directed
• Taking prescribed medications on schedule
• Attending all follow-up appointments

Most patients feel “back to normal” and return to work and social activities after 10-14 days. By this time, any bruising or swelling that persists can be covered with makeup. You can usually resume light exercise three weeks after surgery, with more strenuous activities permitted after six weeks. Keep in mind that everyone heals differently, so this timeline can vary from person to person. When in doubt, err on the side of caution until cleared by Dr. Daines.

What Kind of Results Can I Expect?

A deep plane facelift provides comprehensive results that look natural and last for years. Because this advanced technique addresses the underlying causes of facial aging rather than just pulling the skin taut, it avoids the telltale signs of surgery that people often worry about when it comes to facelifts, such as an overly tight and “windswept” appearance.

While you may notice a difference in your appearance immediately after surgery, your results will continue to improve over several months as healing progresses. Most patients look refreshed and naturally younger, with friends and family often commenting that they look “well-rested” or “fantastic” without being able to pinpoint exactly what has changed.

You can expect to enjoy the results of a deep plane facelift for 10-15 years. However, it’s important to understand that while a facelift can significantly turn back the clock, your face will continue to age naturally from your new baseline. Factors such as sun protection, skincare and a healthy lifestyle play important roles in maintaining your rejuvenated appearance.

The Importance of Choosing a Qualified Facial Plastic Surgeon

The deep plane facelift is a highly technical and demanding procedure that requires extensive knowledge of facial anatomy and considerable surgical expertise. Because this technique involves working in deeper tissue layers around delicate structures like the nerves and blood vessels, it’s crucial to choose a surgeon with specific training in this advanced approach.

Dr. Daines is a double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon with years of experience in performing complex procedures.He received his education and training from premier institutions like the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine and the Williams Center in New York. His comprehensive understanding of facial anatomy and aging patterns, combined with an artistic eye and unmatched technical precision, have made him one of Orange County’s top surgeons for patients looking to achieve safe, consistent and reliable facelift results.

Book a Consultation at Daines Plastic Surgery

The right type of facelift can take years off your appearance without changing what makes you, you. Dr. Daines’s training and expertise in the deep plane technique allow him to create results that honor your natural features while providing significant rejuvenation. The goal isn’t to make you look like a different person but rather like a more refreshed, younger version of yourself.

If you’re interested in learning more about advanced facelift techniques, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Daines at Daines Plastic Surgery. Get started by calling our office in Newport Beach at 949-209-1622 or completing our online contact form.