Deep Plane Facelift
Deep Plane Facelift Procedure
What’s a Deep Plane Facelift?
With a deep plane facelift, you receive a subtle lift but an immense confidence boost.
This facelift focuses on the middle and lower portion of your face, addressing the soft tissue and muscle deep within, also known as the superficial musculoaponeurotic system or SMAS. That’s why you’ll sometimes hear it referred to as an SMAS facelift, though a true SMAS facelift doesn’t reach as deeply as a deep plane one. With a deep plane facelift, Dr. Gallo not only concentrates on the SMAS but also focuses on the fat pads and muscles underneath this layer.
During a deep plane lift, Dr. Gallo raises the jowls and cheek muscles and adipose tissue while releasing the cheek ligaments. This results in a very pronounced lift, especially as it lessens the nasolabial folds and gives your face that younger-looking heart shape.
And while Dr. Gallo raises this portion of your face, the neck naturally rises, providing comprehensive results. Because these effects aren’t as dramatic as a true neck lift, some opt for a neck lift or neck liposuction as well to amplify the results. You can also opt for a brow lift to improve the upper portion of your face, too.
Find out what
Dr. Gallo can do for you.
How a Deep Plane Facelift Differs From a Full Facelift
Changing the appearance of your face to look more youthful takes careful consideration, especially with so many options to age-defy. With that said, both deep plane and full facelifts restore youthfulness, but they differ in certain ways.
The Basics
As with a full facelift, Dr. Gallo only addresses the lower two-thirds of your face with this version.
Though still a rhytidectomy, a deep plane lift targets the tissue and muscle structure deep within the face, while a full facelift doesn’t reach as deeply during the lifting process.
The Results of a Traditional Facelift Vs. a Deep Plane Lift
Dr. Gallo tightens, lifts, and repositions the SMAS layer and the tissue underneath with a deep plane lift, providing longer-lasting results than a standard facelift.
A full facelift offers more noticeable results, but they don’t last as long. Though you may see results for up to 10 years with a full facelift, the lifting and tightening of a deep plane lift lasts even longer, possibly up to 15 years.
Moreover, a deep-lifting facelift provides a more subtle change in contrast to a full facelift, but a noticeable transformation from a full facelift happens much more rapidly.
Deep Plane Facelift Procedure and Recovery Compared
Typically, a deep plane facelift takes less time, with some patients only being in for treatment for under two hours, though it can take up to four hours in some cases. A traditional facelift takes three to six hours.
The techniques used are less invasive if you opt for a deep plane facelift, so the initial and complete recovery both take less time. For instance, bruising and swelling only occur during the first week or two with a deep plane facelift, whereas it can take two to three weeks for bruising and swelling to subside with a full lift.
The care needed for each is similar, such as changing the dressings and keeping the area clean. You could need drainage tubes for either one.
The initial recovery time from a deep plane facelift usually takes three to four weeks, while it takes four to six weeks with a full lift.
Why Choose a Deep Plane Facelift
If you’re wondering if this facelift is for you in general or compared to a traditional one, this one can be quite a confidence boost as you see a more youthful face.
Overall, you’ll benefit from all the following with this type of facelift:
- Tightened and lifted appearance
- Improved facial contours and neck
- Augmented jawline
- Long-lasting results
- Minimal scarring
- Natural-looking effects by lifting all tissue with the skin
- Preserved facial expressions by not overly tightening the skin
- Relatively quick recovery time
Are you a Candidate for a Deep Plane Facelift?
A deep plane facelift is most suited for patients with moderate sagging, which is why most patients who come in for this option are in their 40s or 50s.
Dr. Gallo recommends this procedure for patients in good overall health who are free from conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or heart disease. You may not qualify if you have keloid formation or a clotting disorder.
During your consultation, you’ll see real examples of previous patients so you know what to expect and can determine if those meet your expectations. Dr. Gallo can also show you the results of other procedures that can help you meet your goals alone or along with this type of facelift.
If you smoke, Dr. Gallo will advise you to stop because it notably slows your healing time for this procedure by impeding circulation, reducing your oxygen level, and increasing inflammation.
With all that said, the only way to know for certain if you qualify is to schedule a consultation.
What to Expect During a Deep Plane Facelift
You don’t require a general anesthetic when you opt for this lift. Instead, you’ll receive a local with either an IV or oral sedative, minimizing the risk of potential adverse effects and saving you money.
After the sedation sets in, Dr. Gallo will make incisions near your hairline toward your sideburns, carefully following along the lines in front of the ears. The incisions will continue behind the ear as well.
Dr. Gallo will then lift the subcutaneous fat and skin above it to expose the SMAS. The next step varies based on your facial structure, but Dr. Gallo may need to either remove or fold the tissue. To perfect the final look, Dr. Gallo will redrape your tissue and skin to harmonize it with your facial structure.
You may need small drainage tubes to remove fluid that hinders healing, but not all patients require them.
Once done, Dr. Gallo will dress your face in bandages to protect the incisions from infection. You can return home the same day, but you should have somebody drive you, as you may feel groggy from the anesthesia for at least the next few hours. Be aware that residual effects from it can extend into the following day.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Deep Plane Facelift
You can get the answers you need to the most commonly asked questions about a deep plane facelift here:
Typically, your results will last 10 to 15 years, particularly if you avoid smoking and always use sunscreen when outdoors to reduce sun-related aging. Dr. Gallo will also recommend maintaining your current weight because gaining or losing excessive weight can affect the results.
You can expect the average cost to be around $20,000, but keep in mind that you need fewer touch-ups to retain the results with this kind of facelift compared to a full one.
A deep plane facelift consists of Dr. Gallo lifting and repositioning the tissue underneath the skin, known as the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), as well as the tissue underneath. Ultimately, this creates a natural-looking lift for the lower portion of your face.
Generally, the best age for this type of facelift is in your 40s or 50s, though people younger or older can sometimes benefit.
The procedure is tolerable, though still uncomfortable. Consequently, you’ll receive a local and either IV or oral sedation to keep you relaxed and pain-free during the surgery. Afterward, Dr. Gallo may prescribe a medication to control the pain during the first few days. The discomfort is minimal after that.
This facelift raises the skin and the tissue underneath it together, allowing Dr. Gallo to make the results look natural.
You remain awake for this procedure. You receive a local to numb the regions along with oral or IV sedation so you can still breathe on your own without a ventilator or breathing tube but aren't aware of what's going on. Ultimately, this reduces the risk of complications. Plus, if you remain awake during a facelift, you're less likely to have bleeding or swelling.
The procedure requires a great deal of skill and precision to achieve a patient’s desired results. The surgeon must lift and reposition tissue deep within the face and contour the skin to retain your features while making you look more youthful.
Patients are often pleased with the results of this type of facelift. The effects are incredibly noticeable without creating a fake “winded” appearance. Typically, patients report looking years younger and having results lasting 10 years or longer.
The initial swelling and bruising will subside within two weeks or so. Final healing takes between three and six months because your skin will need time to settle.
Contact Gallo MD
in Midtown Miami
Address
115 NE 32nd Street, Suite
102-A, Miami, FL 33137
