Are Deep Plane Facelifts Worth The Hype?

Facelift surgery involves various techniques designed to address changes in facial anatomy over time. One approach to this is the deep plane facelift which changes the positions of deeper facial tissues to achieve specific facial shapes. 

This article provides an overview of the deep plane facelift, what it may potentially achieve, considerations, and how it compares to other facelift methods.

Downtime

The time it will take to recover post-surgery varies from person to person. But, it’s comparable to other surgical facelift techniques. You may expect around two weeks off from work and daily activities as the body begins to heal.

During this period, you may experience swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort around the face and neck. These symptoms are part of the natural healing process and typically subside over the first few weeks.

Unlike more superficial facelift methods that primarily lift the skin, a deep plane facelift involves repositioning deeper facial tissues. While this technique can result in less tension on the skin and potentially reduce visible scarring, the recovery process still requires patience and you should religiously adhere to the post-operative care instructions provided by your surgeon.

Everyone heals differently and the recovery period by which you can return to normal activities will depend on the extend of the procedure and how well your body heals.

Pain

Experiences with pain or discomfort can vary widely. You may find some patients reporting minimal to no pain after the procedure, while others may experience a mild discomfort or tightness around the treated areas.

This difference can depend on the pain tolerance, how long it took to complete the procedure, and whether additional surgeries were performed at the same time. Combination procedures will involve a longer recovery period and may lead to increased discomfort versus a standalone deep plane facelift.

Your surgeon may prescribe pain medication or post-operative care instructions like keeping your head elevated, avoiding exercise, and adhering to cold compress routines.It will depend on your surgeon. 

Facelift surgery is a highly individualised procedure, and what works well for one person may not be suitable for another. This is why it’s essential to have an in-depth consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon. During this consultation, your surgeon can discuss your unique concerns, goals, and anatomy to recommend the most appropriate approach. 

Disclaimer: At Artiste Plastic Surgery, our Plastic Surgeons led by Dr Jack Zoumaras have been trained to the highest possible degree. All surgery has risks and it is always advised to get a second opinion. Risks are very real and we cannot guarantee any result. Results are illustrated as a guide only. All risks are managed and any need for revision surgery or complications (1-5%) can be managed by our specialist plastic surgeons.

Any statements on how you will feel is based on Level V Evidence:

Level V:  How you will feel after plastic surgery varies between individuals, depending on psychological and physical factors. Our internal research is based on how patients in our practice feel after surgery.

The blogs are not a substitute for a medical consultation and do not form as part of the doctor to patient relationship.