Facelifts and neck lifts have long been the go-to procedures for patients who want to restore their youthful appearance. However, SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) lift procedures may not address subtle concerns about facial and neck contour or volume. Depending on the expertise of the surgeon, a SMAS procedure can even result in an unnatural finish where the skin looks pulled too tight.
Fortunately, surgeons have perfected new techniques, known as the deep plane facelift and neck lift, to achieve more natural aesthetic results. For those considering these procedures, it can be important to understand how this lift technique works and what recovery looks like.
The New Era of Facelifts and Neck Lifts
Since the invention of the facelift in the early 1900s, plastic surgeons have continued to innovate the procedure. The deep plane technique is designed to achieve more natural-looking results.
What is a deep plane facelift?
While a SMAS procedure focuses on superficial tissue manipulation, a deep plane facelift repositions and tightens both the superficial and deeper layers of tissue, including muscles, fat, glands, and connective tissue.
This results in a natural and long-lasting transformation that recontours the entire face — rather than simply pulling surface skin tighter to lift sagging tissue and reduce wrinkles.
What is a deep plane neck lift?
Similarly, a deep plane neck lift addresses sagging skin, undefined jawlines, excess fat, and muscle laxity in the neck by going beneath the surface to reposition and tighten deeper layers of tissue. Like with the deep plane facelift, this results in more sculpted contours of the neck and throat, and creates a more elegant and youthful profile.
Deep plane facelifts and neck lifts are often performed in conjunction to maximize results. The facelift portion of the procedure releases all major tension-bearing ligaments in the face and neck so the surgeons can elevate fallen tissue with minimal tension, creating a natural revitalization of the patient’s appearance.
Deep Plane Facelifts and Neck Lifts Achieve a More Natural Look
SMAS facelifts and neck lifts can create an unnatural aesthetic that doesn’t age well, with tight surface skin pulling in unflattering ways.
By focusing on refining the deeper layers of tissue under the face and neck — including muscles and connective tissue — deep plane facelifts and neck lifts recontour and volumize the structures under the skin, effectively turning back the clock on patients’ appearances.
Deep plane facelift and neck lift patients find that their results appear completely natural, making it seem as though no cosmetic work has been done at all. These procedures are the “quiet luxury” approach to plastic surgery.
Deep Plane Facelift Recovery: The Journey to Transformation
Initial recovery from a deep plane facelift or neck lift is similar to the timeframe of a traditional procedure. However, because deep plane procedures involve more beneath the surface, it’s best to understand recovery as a year-long journey. This not only prevents complications but also ensures optimal results.
The first week involves swelling, bruising, and varying pain levels, managed with prescribed medication. By day five, swelling begins to subside, and stitches are typically removed by day 10. By week three, patients can return to light activities, and resume work and social activities. Over the next three months, swelling gradually decreases, and patients may experience lumps, tightness, and tingling as the face heals. By six months, results are clearly visible and feeling should return, with full results coming into focus at the end of the first year.
Want to see how you can turn back the clock and return to a more youthful, confident you? Schedule a consultation with the team at Palm Beach Facial Plastic Surgery to begin your journey.
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