A Deep Plane facelift is a variation of the SMAS facelift, which relies on lifting a tissue layer under the skin (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System) to avoid a pulled, artificial look. There are a few technical points that differentiate a Deep Plane from what is usually just called a SMAS facelift, but experts debate whether they make a true difference. The “deep plane” is just the layer under the SMAS, so every SMAS facelift involves the deep plane.

 

Here is another interesting fact about facelifts: they almost always include a neck lift, but not always a forehead lift. It’s almost as though someone decided that the neck was part of the face but not the forehead! To be clear, a brow lift (same as a forehead lift) can be done at the same time, it’s just not automatically part of the standard approach. Same for eyelids: frequently done at the same time as a facelift, just not always. Patients tend to lump everything together, but the truth is everybody is unique and individualized approach is required for a successful surgery.

 

Neck lift vs. Facelift

 

Often patients come in concerned about sagging skin in the neck, hoping for a neck lift but not a full facelift. The neck seems to show signs of aging before other parts of the face, but the patient who really only needs a neck lift is the exception. One reason is that sagging occurs in a vertical direction, from the cheeks into the neck. In order to create a natural appearance, the jowl area needs to go up while the neck skin goes back and up behind the ears. The vertical part is done mostly with a tissue layer under the skin called the SMAS (Deep Plane) while the skin redrapes in a slightly different vector. The specific approach is customized depending on the individual patient, often including fat grafting for volume restoration. Brow lift or eyelid surgery are commonly added too.

 

What is a Mini Facelift?

 

Unfortunately, there is no standard terminology to define a mini facelift vs a full lift. A neck lift alone could be considered a mini, or a cheek lift without neck. There are short-scar techniques (S-lift, MACS lift) which may include a combination of both. There is no shortage of clever ideas to name a facelift; you can pretty much choose anything, attach “lift” to it, and you’re set. Nonsurgical “facelift” with injectable fillers? Call it the “liquid facelift.” For this reason there is a lot of confusion about what’s possible and what’s not, and our goal is to accurately guide patients through their facelift options to achieve the most natural outcome.

 

Always consult an experienced professional.

 

The goal of most patients is to achieve natural and subtle results, and the best way to sort this out is trust your plastic surgeon to recommend what is best for you. It could be deep Plane/SMAS, or something simpler. Think about what you see in the mirror that bothers you, rather than the operation. It may turn out to be something else entirely, such as a laser peel, that best addresses your concerns.