Deep plane facelift – how it differs from a classic facelift

For many people, a facelift is associated with a “pulled” look. That image dates back to a time when the operation mainly tightened the skin. The deep plane technique works differently: instead of pulling the surface, it moves the deeper layers of the face back to where they used to be.

How the face ages

With age, it is not only the skin that descends. The tissues beneath it also move downwards: the fascial and muscular layer, the fat of the cheeks and the structures that hold them in place. This is what deepens the nasolabial folds, blurs the jawline and loosens the skin of the neck. If only the skin is tightened during surgery, the cause of the descent remains and the face may look “pulled”.

Classic facelift: tension on the skin

In a classic facelift, the tension is largely carried by the skin, while the deeper tissues are only partly lifted. Such a correction brings improvement, but the skin works under greater tension, which can affect how natural the result looks, the appearance of the scars and how long the effect lasts.

Deep plane: moving the tissues as one block

In the deep plane technique, I work at a deeper level. I release and reposition the fascial and muscular layer together with the skin, as a single block of tissue. As a result, the tissues return towards their original position without the typical tension of the skin. The jawline and cheek regain support, and the features remain your own.

Because the deep tissues carry the tension, the skin does not have to be pulled tight. This supports a natural facial expression and less visible scars, which I place along the hairline, around the ears and along the jaw.

Precision and anatomy

The operation takes longer than a classic facelift and requires precise knowledge of the course of the facial nerve and blood vessels. In the deep layer, the margin for error is smaller, which is why the surgeon’s anatomical experience matters so much. I teach clinical anatomy at the Department of Anatomy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College, and the course of the facial vessels was the subject of my habilitation.

Who is a good candidate

I consider a deep plane facelift for people with visible descent of the cheek tissues, a blurred facial outline and loose skin on the neck. The assessment covers not only the skin but also the structure of the deep tissues, general health and expectations. The midface can be corrected during the same operation, as a midface lift.

Preparation and return to activity

I perform the operation under general anaesthesia. It usually takes 3-4 hours, and after the procedure the patient stays in the clinic for 1 day. For six months before surgery, strong stimulants should not be used. It is worth planning two weeks off work, and full physical activity can be resumed after 6 weeks.

The full result is assessed after a few weeks, once the swelling has subsided. A facelift does not stop ageing, but it reverses its visible effects, and a result achieved in the deep layer is usually more durable than one based on skin tension alone.

Details of the procedure are described on the Face and neck lift page.