What Is the Difference Between a Traditional Facelift and a Deep Plane Facelift?

When shopping for a facelift technique that’s right for you, it’s important to understand the differences in technique and results so you can make an informed decision. This blog compares the deep plane facelift technique with traditional techniques, as well as the potential results of each, so patients can be more informed.

Deep Plane Facelift vs. Traditional Facelift

A deep plane facelift is an advanced facelift technique that offers superior, long-lasting results when performed by an experienced plastic surgeon. As it gains popularity, more patients want to know how it differs from traditional methods. 

First, we’ll cover what a traditional facelift entails. 

Traditional Facelift Methods

Older techniques for facelifts rely on tightening the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system), the fibrous layer of tissue located beneath the skin and fat of the face. As we age, the SMAS loses elasticity, leading to signs of visible aging, including jowls, drooping cheeks, and deep creases.

Older facelift techniques focused on separating the SMAS layer from the skin and tightening it to reduce these concerns. The skin may also be tightened and the excess removed. 

The problem with this approach is that it can create a pulled or “overdone” look, as tightening the skin can make facial features appear somewhat distorted or obviously altered. That tension can also cause scars to become more pronounced and the ears to similarly be pulled unnaturally.

A better alternative is the deep plane facelift.

Deep Plane Facelift Methods

Most of the problems with traditional facelifts stem from excessive tension on the skin and superficial tissues. A deep plane facelift eliminates these issues by targeting the deeper structures of the face beneath the SMAS layer.

During a deep plane facelift, the underlying muscles, tissues, SMAS, and skin are lifted as a single unit, reducing tension on the upper surfaces. Additionally, the ligaments anchoring those deep structures are released so they can be moved as a unit and then reattached in a new, more youthful location. Lastly, the underlying fat pads are also relocated, providing volume that’s crucial to a rejuvenated result.

Deep Plane Facelift Results vs. Traditional Facelift Results

Both the traditional and deep plane facelift treat the mid-face, jawline, and neck to address visible signs of aging, albeit with very different results. First, let’s review the common issues patients want to resolve with a facelift: 

• Loose, hanging skin around the jawline and top of the neck
• Loss of facial contour and definition due to loose skin
• Deep creases around the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds)
• Sunken cheeks and a loss of volume in the mid-face

Traditional Facelift Results

With a traditional facelift, the skin and underlying tissues are tightened and pulled back to smooth these issues. While the neck and jawline can look more sculpted, revealing the contours of the jaw, many of the issues with this technique are visible with the face.

To resolve deep creasing around the mouth and nose, older techniques pull the skin taut, effectively reducing these lines but causing the mouth to look stretched and false. Similarly, the sunken cheeks are not restored to youthful plumpness but are instead cinched tighter to the cheekbones, sometimes causing a gaunt look. 

This is not to say a traditional facelift always looks bad; But rather, advanced techniques like the deep plane facelift offer much more natural and favorable results.

Deep Plane Facelift Results

Deep plane facelift results tell a different story, as they rely on the deeper tissues and muscles, the actual structure of the face, to lift the skin rather than pull on it. This eliminates the issue of marring the facial features and provides a much more natural result. By lifting and re-anchoring ligaments and underlying tissues, the jawline and neck are lifted and contoured, and nasolabial folds are smoothed without stretching the skin.

Additionally, due to the technique of replacing sunken fat pads, the deep plane facelift allows your surgeon to effectively restore lost facial volume like no other procedure. Lost volume is a key facial aging concern, since signs of a youthful face are plump cheeks due to healthy fat and collagen; without these, the skin can fold and crease, and the facial structure will look more gaunt. By adding fat pads back onto the face in a higher position, the deep plane facelift restores this youthful contour without the need for dermal fillers or fat grafting. 

All in all, a deep plane facelift offers much more dramatic, favorable, and long-lasting results that truly help patients look like themselves but younger and more refreshed.

Want to Learn More About the Deep Plane Facelift in Newport Beach?

Dr. Boris Ackerman is one of the pioneering developers of modern deep plane facelift techniques and is considered a leading authority on the technique. Discover what a deep plane facelift performed by expert hands can do for you. Call Dr. Ackerman today at (949) 536-9047, or complete the contact form to request a consultation.