Facelifts have been around for decades as a trusted way to rejuvenate the face. But not all facelift procedures can accomplish the same goals. For example, people who only want to correct minor concerns may prefer a mid-facelift, while people who want to correct the underlying causes of visible aging may prefer a deep plane facelift. At Keller Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara, CA, our experts know that a deep plane facelift can significantly improve the appearance of your cheeks, neck, jowls, and other features.
What Is the Benefit of a Deep Plane Facelift?
The primary benefit of a deep plane facelift is the fact that it comprehensively improves your appearance. While traditional facelifts can improve the appearance of the skin to erase fine lines and wrinkles, a deep plane lift can address the underlying cause of visible aging. In particular, as you age, the ligaments and internal structures of your skin tissue descend with gravity.
Advanced skills are used to reposition these ligaments and tissues to a natural, higher position, which reverses the visible signs of aging from the deepest areas of your face and outward. To finish the procedure, your surgeon will reposition your superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) to achieve natural-looking rejuvenation for all of your facial features. Overall, the results of a deep plane facelift will look much more natural than a skin-only facelift.
When Should You Use This Procedure?
Everyone ages at a slightly different pace, so it’s important to time your procedure based on your visible aging rather than your physical age. In general, your aesthetic objectives, the condition of your skin, and your overall health are the most important particulars to pay attention to when it comes to timing your procedure. It’s common for patients who are experiencing early sagging to have this type of lift between the ages of 40 and 50, while others may wait until they are near age 60 for this procedure.
Why Might You Need an Early Lift?
Several lifestyle factors will determine how fast your facial tissues begin to sag. For example, genetics are sometimes associated with early aging; if your parents or other blood relatives had early visible signs of aging, you may be more likely to experiencing aging in the deeper structures of your face as you reach age 40. If loose skin on your face and upper neck bother you, then you are likely a good candidate for this procedure. An early lift may help you look 10 or more years younger – and the younger you have this lift, the longer the results will last.
Is This Lift Effective Later in Life?
If you want to have this procedure done over that get of 50, you will be happy to learn that the results of this treatment can be just as effective. In fact, if you use a deep plane lift to correct sagging tissues at a later age, you may be able to enjoy the results of this procedure for the rest of your life. It’s common for people in their mid-60s to use this procedure to turn back the clock.
Will You Need a Consultation?
Yes, you will need a consultation before you schedule your procedure. A consultation will allow us to examine the condition of your face and your facial structure to map out your procedure. The in-person meeting will help analyze your facial anatomy, discuss your aesthetic goals and preferences, and go over your general medical history. We may recommend additional aesthetic treatments depending on your goals.
Does This Procedure Look Natural?
Yes, this procedure will produce results that look natural. The results of this treatment usually look more natural than a traditional facelift, which can produce overly tight results. The advanced techniques used for this treatment will achieve realistic changes while also restructuring the sagging tissues and ligaments in your face that contribute to moderate to severe aging. Your face will appear soft and refreshed once you have finished recovery.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
A deep plane lift is an invasive technique, just like a regular facelift, so you can expect to have a short recovery period. Typically, the recovery for this period will last for about a month before you can return to your normal daily activities. During your month-long recovery period, you will need to follow a few simple post-procedure rules.
Most people will be able to go back home after their procedure is finished. You will need to arrange for transportation after your treatment and prepare to take time off of work. Ideally, you should rest as much as possible, eat soft foods, avoid bending, and do not expose your skin to hot water for at least 24 hours. You will likely be able to return to work after about two weeks, as well as most light activities, like walking for exercise.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is This Surgery More Complicated?
From the patient’s point of view, this procedure is no more complicated than an ordinary facelift in terms of recovery. But the techniques used for this procedure are more advanced than the techniques used for a traditional facelift. This is because the work required to correct the ligaments and structural tissue of the face, as well as repositioning the SMAS requires greater expertise to achieve natural-looking and long-lasting results.
2. Can Recovery Be Faster?
Yes. Although a one month recovery period is relatively short compared to some other plastic surgery treatments, there are always ways to speed up recovery. For example, many patients are prescribed Tranexamic Acid, which can speed healing by reducing bleeding and bruising.
3. Can Men Also Use This Procedure?
Yes. Although facelifts are typically thought to only be sought by women, there are plenty of men who also seek facelift procedures. In fact, men can benefit just as much as women from a deep plane lift, particularly men who have lost definition in the jaw because of fat pad displacement caused by aging.
4. Is This Procedure Risky?
No, this procedure is no riskier than any other plastic surgery. It’s common for general anesthesia to be used for sedation for the duration of your surgery. For this reason, all patients must be in good physical health, so it might be necessary for you to pass certain labs or exams before your surgery is scheduled. This is true of all plastic surgery that requires deep sedation to perform the procedure, so a deep plane lift is not risky in this regard.
5. Will This Procedure Fix Superficial Concerns?
There are some superficial concerns, like fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity, that can be corrected with this procedure. But for skin concerns such as dark spots, blemishes, sun damage, broken capillaries, or other byproducts of the aging process, this treatment will not be useful.
That said, several other aesthetic treatments can be used to correct the appearance of superficial concerns, including microneedling, Ultherapy, laser treatments, and skincare products. If you want to correct the appearance of additional age-related concerns, please let us know during your consultation so we can create your treatment plan together.
6. Can You Still Use Fillers and Botox After Treatment?
It’s not uncommon for patients to still use dermal fillers and neurotoxin injections after this procedure. Based on your aesthetic goals, dermal fillers may be necessary to increase skin volume in areas such as the lips, cheekbones, or even the tip of the nose; similarly, neurotoxins can relax the appearance of deeper wrinkles on the upper face. Please discuss the possibility of these additional treatments with our expert staff.
7. Who Are Good Candidates?
In general, if you’re a good candidate for a traditional facelift, then you’re a good candidate for a deep plane facelift. That said, a deep plane lift has more candidates since this procedure can be used by people who are younger, older, and who may not be qualified for other types of lifts. Even if you’ve already had a facelift before, you may still be a good candidate for this procedure.
Reverse the Effects of Time
The natural aging process catches up to all of us eventually, but a traditional facelift isn’t the only treatment you can use to look younger. For many people, a deep plane facelift is a more practical, long-lasting, and natural-looking solution to the visible signs of aging. Please contact Keller Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara, CA to schedule your consultation today.
