A facelift is a procedure designed to help restore a more youthful appearance by reducing visible signs of aging in the face and neck. This procedure has many variations, including the deep plane facelift, which is designed to help target deeper layers of facial tissue.
At Southern Surgical Arts, our team of dedicated experts can help you find the best procedure to help achieve the rejuvenated appearance you desire. With the latest advancements and newest technology, our team has established a reputation in the South for providing consistent, outstanding results to patients.
To schedule a personal consultation at any one of our convenient locations and determine which facelift is right for you, please call (888) 988-5682 or contact one of our locations online:
About Traditional Facelifts vs. Deep Plane Facelifts
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a procedure designed to help lift and reposition the facial tissue to help patients achieve a more youthful appearance. During a facelift, the surgeon not only adjusts the skin but also the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), the layer of connective tissue beneath the cheekbones. This procedure primarily targets the lower part of the face and the midface. There are many variations on the procedure, providing a wide range of benefits for each individual.
At Southern Surgical Arts, we not only perform traditional facelifts but also deep plane facelifts to offer a more comprehensive take on the traditional facelift. A deep plane facelift targets the midface in addition to just the lower face, offering a deeper level of facial rejuvenation. While a traditional facelift will adjust the skin and SMAS layers of tissue, a deep plane facelift will also address deeper muscle layers. (1)
Which Procedure is More Beneficial?
Both a traditional and deep plane facelift offer patients many benefits that create a more youthful facial appearance. Patients receiving either the traditional or deep plane facelift can experience reduced sagging in the jawline and lower face, as well as a reduction in jowls, as the skin is tightened and excess tissue is removed. Wrinkles, creases, excess skin, and other visible signs of aging are also reduced, leaving a more refreshed, revitalized, and contoured appearance.
Patients receiving a deep plane facelift specifically will not only experience the benefits of a traditional facelift, but will see deeper facial rejuvenation as well. Patients can expect an improvement in the midface and nasolabial folds as the deeper layers of facial tissue are targeted. (1) The buccal and malar fat found in the cheeks and cheekbones can be repositioned, restoring a fuller appearance in the midface region. This variation of the procedure releases the facial ligaments that connect the deeper facial tissue to the bone structure, allowing for a more comprehensive correction without an unnatural, tight appearance. (1) The deep plane facelift also offers longer-lasting results, with effects being seen for up to 10-15 years.
To learn more about how a deep plane facelift may benefit you, please contact us online or schedule a consultation at one of our convenient locations by calling (888) 988-5682.
To learn more about our other procedures and their benefits, please visit our blog!
Ideal Candidates
While both the deep plane facelift and traditional facelift offer rejuvenating effects, the candidacy for both procedures can vary slightly.
Candidates for a traditional facelift are those primarily interested in correcting mild to moderate signs of visual aging, primarily in the mid- to lower face and jaw. These candidates are interested in impactful results but may not be interested in, or have time for, a longer procedure or recovery time.
Patients may be recommended for a deep plane facelift if they are experiencing more significant signs of aging. Candidates experiencing deep nasolabial folds or significant skin laxity along the jawline, lower face, and mid-face may find a deep plane facelift more beneficial, as it offers more extensive adjustments. Those interested in a deep plane facelift are also interested in longer-lasting results, as this variation offers results that can extend between 10-15 years.
Personal Consultation
The first step toward facial rejuvenation is a personal consultation with one of our talented surgeons at Southern Surgical Arts. The personal consultation is a chance for our surgeons to meet with each patient to discuss each detail of their procedure, medical history, and ideal results before examining the treatment area to determine whether a traditional or deep plane facelift is best. After the surgeon establishes a treatment plan, we will prepare preoperative and postoperative instructions for each patient alongside a cost estimate for each procedure.
As a practice dedicated to transparency, we make sure that each patient feels completely comfortable and informed before treatment.
To schedule a personal consultation at any one of our five locations, please submit our online contact form or call (888) 988-5682, and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible.
Preparation for a Deep Plane Facelift vs. a Traditional Facelift
Each patient preparing for any procedure must follow preoperative instructions to ensure the best outcome and recovery. Patients will receive a set of personalized instructions at their consultation detailing how to properly prepare for a facelift or a deep plane facelift. While individual instructions can vary from patient to patient, both deep plane facelifts and traditional facelifts are characterized by similar preparatory guidelines.
Patients will need to pre-arrange transportation after their procedure, in addition to any time needed away from work to focus on their recovery. Medications and supplements with blood-thinning properties should be avoided, and if applicable, patients should cease the use of nicotine and/or tobacco several weeks before their treatment and refrain from use until fully healed.
Is There a Difference Between the Procedures?
Before the start of both procedures, each patient’s skin will be cleansed and sanitized before anesthesia is administered. Patients receiving a deep plane facelift will be placed under general anesthesia, while those undergoing a traditional procedure may have varying anesthesia options.
The incisions made for a traditional facelift procedure can vary in placement but are often made in discreet, hidden locations such as along the hairline or near the ears. After the incisions are made, the surgeon will then adjust the SMAS layer of tissue, as well as the skin, repositioning them to recontour the patient’s mid and lower face. (2) After achieving the desired positioning, the surgeon will close the incisions.
Patients undergoing a deep plane facelift will have their incisions made in similarly discreet locations. The surgeon will then access the SMAS layer, as well as the deeper, underlying layers of muscle, repositioning them to eliminate deep folds and wrinkles. Fat pads and other tissues will also be adjusted, providing a more sculpted contour to the cheeks and mid-face. When closing the incision, the surgeon makes sure that any tension placed on facial structures helps create a more natural appearance rather than a “pulled” appearance. (1)
Is There a Difference in Recovery and Results?
After both a deep plane facelift and a traditional facelift, patients will be required to take time away from work and other social commitments to focus on their recovery. Patients can expect swelling or bruising at their treatment site, but these effects are common and will subside within a few weeks.
Patients who received a traditional facelift can expect to return to their daily schedules within two weeks, alleviating any potential discomfort through the use of prescribed or over-the-counter medications. Patients may be asked to attend a follow-up appointment so we can monitor their healing progress. After about four weeks, patients can expect to return to their daily lives, enjoying their new facial contours with no restrictions.
Those who received a deep plane facelift will receive prescription medications to help alleviate postoperative discomfort. These same patients are also required to keep their treatment area bandaged for the following two days to protect their incisions. After a week, patients will return for a follow-up visit to have their sutures removed. Patients may be able to return to work within two weeks, or when they are approved by their surgeon, but should wait at least a month to return to their full schedules at full capacity.
After any residual swelling subsides, patients can enjoy noticeable improvements in facial aesthetics. The results of a facelift are long-lasting with traditional facelifts offering effects for 5-10 years, and a deep plane facelift offering results for 10-15 years. (1, 2)
Why Choose Southern Surgical Arts?
Our team at Southern Surgical Arts is dedicated to helping every patient feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin. Our team of surgeons has over 23 years of combined experience and has performed over 18,000 major cosmetic procedures. No matter which surgeon you collaborate with, you can be assured you are working with someone who wants the best for you.
To learn more about our talented team of surgeons, you can either visit their profiles or find them on Instagram at the following handles: @drhidef.ssa, @drvincegardner, @drsummerready.ssa, @mcdreamy_hidef, @faceliftking, and @therockinmd.
Cost of a Facelift in Tennessee and Georgia
The cost of each facelift can vary between patients as each aspect of the procedure is fully tailored toward each individual. Different factors, such as the patient’s anatomy, experienced conditions, and surgical methods used, can all impact the cost, making it difficult for our team to give an accurate estimate.
The full cost of each patient’s procedure, as well as our accepted payment methods, will be discussed at a personal consultation after a treatment plan has been established by our surgeons. At Southern Surgical Arts, we want to offer our patients as many payment options as possible, which is why we are currently partnered with multiple reputable lending companies to help our patients finance the cost of their procedure.
To unlock the full cost of your facelift or deep plane facelift, schedule a personal consultation with the experts at Southern Surgical Arts. If you have any questions, please reach any of our locations by calling (888) 988-5682.
References
- Raggio BS, Patel BC. Deep Plane Facelift. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545277/
- Yang AJ, Hohman MH. Rhytidectomy. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564338/