What is a Deep Plane Facelift?

There has been a lot of promotion online lately about the “deep plane facelift.” This is a term that we hear all the time in our Toronto plastic surgery practice. While the term may seem novel to you, it is in fact not a new procedure; this facelift surgery technique dates back over 50 years.

If you are a man or woman in the greater Toronto area considering a facelift, please, request a consultation or call (416) 925-7337 to schedule an appointment with one of the RCPSC-certified plastic surgeons at Ford Plastic Surgery.

Deep Plane Facelift Before-and-After Photos

What Does “Deep Plane” Mean?

Let’s start with some simplified anatomy. The face is built in layers. The skin sits on top of an underlying foundation called the “superficial musculoaponeurotic system” or “SMAS.” This is the layer of your face where many of your facial muscles sit.

Deep to the SMAS, there is a space or “plane” where the facial nerves connect with the muscles of the face.

How Is a Deep Plan Facelift Different from a Traditional Facelift?

A “deep plane facelift” refers to any facelift procedure in which a dissection has been performed deep to the SMAS layer to mobilize the underlying foundation so that it can be used to tighten and lift the face. A traditional facelift lifts and tightens the skin and fatty tissue on the face but does not address the underlying structures.

A deep plane facelift includes the deep layers of muscle and tissue in the face, requiring additional surgical skill to perform this procedure.

To perform a deep plane facelift, plastic surgeons must exercise great caution because, as mentioned above, this is the layer of the face where the facial nerves can be found.

As aesthetic plastic surgery specialists in Toronto, we perform a large number of facelifts each year, and all involve the deep plane.

How Is a Deep Plane Facelift Performed?

There are different ways to perform a deep plane facelift: the composite deep plane facelift, and the bi-lamellar deep plane facelift.

A composite deep plane facelift essentially only involves dissection at the level of the SMAS and can be faster for the surgeon to perform.

A bi-lamellar deep plane facelift involves dissection beneath the SMAS as well as beneath the skin. This technique allows the surgeon to tighten and lift the SMAS layer and the skin layer independent from one another.

This technique, in our experience, allows for more nuanced correction of facial aging and the inherent asymmetries in the face.

Request Your Deep Plane Facelift Consultation Today

If you are ready to turn back the hands of time with a deep plane facelift, please contact Ford Plastic Surgery to request your consultation or call (416) 925-7337 today. Our facial plastic surgery experts look forward to discussing your options to help you look and feel your best for years to come.