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Deep Plane Facelift
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
It’s important to understand that the type of facelift you choose affects the outcome. Plastic surgeons are always striving to improve the appearance and longevity of the procedures they perform. The Extended Deep Plane Lift is one of the latest approaches to facial rejuvenation and has both theoretical and real advantages over other approaches.
Benefits of a Facelift
A deep plane facelift is a highly advanced technique that provides natural-looking, long-lasting facial rejuvenation by addressing sagging skin and deep structural support. This procedure offers transformative results with a more youthful, refreshed appearance. Examples of deep plane facelift benefits are:
- Lifts sagging face and neck
- Smooths deep lines and folds
- Restores youthful facial contours
- Reduces jowls and loose skin
- Outperforms lasers and injectables
Surgical Technique for Deep Plane Facelift Surgery
Facelift procedures can basically be categorized on how the skin and deep structures are approached. We are striving for the safest way to provide natural, long lasting results that tighten the skin, decrease jowls, lift the mid face and improve the contour of the neck.
The most basic form of lifting addresses only the skin. This has the advantage of a rather quick recovery but the results do not last. Facial skin has often been exposed to the sun for years and has lost some of it’s elasticity. When trying to effect change in the lower face the appearance of being pulled may result.
Other techniques address deeper structures (SMAS) after the skin is elevated by either plication (folding) and suturing or by excision of a small area of SMAS tissue with limited undermining and suturing. This has the advantage of pulling the deeper tissue tighter but does not significantly address the mid-face and does not release the ligaments that the tissues may sag around.
Understanding the Procedure
A “Deep Plane” lift does not rely on the skin or folding of the SMAS but rather goes beneath the SMAS, the “deep plane”, releases the adherent ligaments in both the mid face and neck and allows for them to be tightened as a unit as needed, all with limited skin undermining. This technique is further enhanced by carrying the deep plane undermining all the way to the jowls and nasolabial folds as well as the neck a.k.a. an extended deep plane lift. Many feel that this type of lift offers a longer lasting result.
The neck is approached from a small incision under the chin. A thin layer of fat is left on the elevated skin to give a more natural appearance. The deep structures are contoured by removing deep fat, bulging glands and muscle as necessary beneath the muscle layer, followed by tightening of any lax muscle.
Video
Gallery
Our doctors and staff are committed to providing quality education to all patients. Please visit our video gallery to learn more about this procedure.
View GalleryAm I a Candidate?
You may be a great candidate for a facelift if you’re noticing any of the following:
- Deep creases or folds between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds) that don’t smooth out with fillers
- Loss of youthful volume in the mid-face, giving a tired or hollow appearance
- Jowls or a less defined jawline that’s disrupting your facial contour
- Loose, excess skin or vertical banding along the neck (sometimes called “turkey neck”)
- You want long-lasting, natural-looking rejuvenation that goes beyond what non-surgical treatments can offer
In addition to cosmetic concerns, ideal facelift candidates should also meet certain health criteria to ensure a safe and successful procedure:
- You’re in overall good physical health with no unmanaged chronic conditions
- You don’t smoke or are willing to quit several weeks before and after surgery
- You maintain a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle
Plastic Surgery Safety
Questions of safety have been raised since the deep plane is directly over and often exposes the nerves to the muscles of the face. Studies have shown no difference in nerve injury with this technique compared to plication/excision techniques. An experienced surgeon with intimate anatomical knowledge of the face is paramount. Dr. Magge and Dr. Jabs have a wealth of surgical experience in this area. This is one of many reasons why choosing a board certified plastic surgeon to perform your surgery is so important.
Surgery Recovery Expectations
Recovery is similar to a more conventional lift and no drain is required. The sutures dissolve over time. You should be able to be in public within two weeks with minimal to no bruising.
The procedure is performed in our certified office OR under twilight anesthesia which allows for less post operative nausea. General anesthesia is not required although it is available on request.
Free Consultation in Bethesda, Maryland
To learn more or to schedule a free consultation please contact our office by phone or filling out our online contact form.
Our Plastic Surgery Associates team includes Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. A. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge. Each of our plastic surgeons is board-certified, and together they have over 60 years of combined experience. Drs. Richards, Jabs, and Magge are all highly qualified in procedures for the face, breast, and body, and pride themselves in providing excellent results through our state-of-the-art, Quad A certified operating centers