Maybe it’s the softening around your cheeks, the heaviness at your jawline, or folds around your mouth that make you look more tired than you feel. These changes are part of the natural aging process, but they can be especially noticeable when your face no longer reflects your energy.
A Deep Plane Facelift is an advanced facelift technique that has recently received a lot of media attention. This surgical procedure goes beneath the SMAS (the scaffolding layer of the facial soft tissues) to lift and reposition soft tissues, creating a very natural appearing, powerful lift. This approach allows us to release deep tether points, which allows precise control when repositioning the overlying fat pads that shape your face. The result is smoother facial contours, a more defined jawline, and a refreshed, youthful appearance that stands the test of time. At Pitt Aesthetic Surgery, our team of board-certified plastic surgeons uses evidence-based methods and advanced plastic surgery techniques to help patients achieve natural-looking results.
The deep plane facelift is a specialized facelift procedure that goes beneath the skin and SMAS to reposition the facial soft tissues. By working in the deeper layers, surgeons can address loose skin, sagging, and areas of lost volume more effectively than surface-level lifts.
This technique targets the release of the osteocutaneous ligaments, which lie deep to the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), and can limit repositioning achieved with more surface-level techniques. Because it corrects the foundation, not just the surface, patients often report results that look smoother, softer, and more natural than those from a traditional facelift.
Initially, facelifts involved removing only skin with no work on the deep layers. This often resulted in a pulled appearance and a short lived result. Now, most surgeons perform some sort of procedure on the structural SMAS layer to sculpt the underlying structure of the face. Popular options include SMAS plication, SMASectomy, or subSMAS (SMAS flap and deep plane). In the hands of a skilled surgeon, all of these techniques can be effective for some patients, especially younger patients with less significant sagging. For others, the deep plane approach is a better choice.
In the deep plane facelift, the surgeon releases retaining ligaments and uses the anatomical glide plane to reposition the deeper support system of the face. When performed correctly, patients see a smoother transition around the cheeks, eyes, and jawline, with less risk of unnatural tightness. Deep plane facelift results often last a decade or more and tend to be more durable than those from a mini facelift or non-surgical treatments like dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxers.
The deep plane facelift seeks to restore balance and natural structure at the foundational level. Patients often describe feeling as if they’ve regained youthful radiance without looking “done.”
Deep plane facelift benefits include
Ideal deep plane facelift candidates are healthy individuals with realistic expectations who want to correct significant signs of aging, such as sagging skin, deep wrinkles, or loss of definition along the jawline. Most Pittsburgh deep plane facelift patients seeking facelift are in their 40s to 70s, though younger patients with early signs of laxity may also benefit.
Factors like smoking, uncontrolled medical conditions, or poor healing history may affect candidacy. During your consultation, our surgeons will review your medical history, assess your skin quality, and recommend the safest, most effective plan for your goals.
Gravity and time can cause the midface to deflate and droop. This procedure repositions the cheek fat pads, restoring volume and a lifted contour.
As your bone and soft tissues shrink and the skin loses elasticity, folds from the nose to mouth deepen. By powerfully repositioning the SMAS, a deep plane facelift can improve the nasolabial fold area in a natural way without relying on skin tension.
A defined jawline can blur as tissues sag. Jowling also makes the lower face look more square and is a telltale sign of facial aging. The deep plane facelift tightens and lifts the underlying tissues to bring back sharper definition and to reposition the jowl soft tissues back to a more youthful location.
As the corners of the mouth sag into the characteristic marionette appearance, it can make you appear angry or unhappy when your face is at rest. This can be quite bothersome when it doesn’t match how you feel. Our facelift and fat grafting techniques can improve this, giving the lower face a more open, happier, and lifted expression.
Your Deep plane facelift consultation is an opportunity to talk about your goals and concerns in detail. Our team of Pittsburgh plastic surgeons will examine your face, evaluate your facial tissue, and review your medical history.
Preparation may include pausing certain medications, quitting smoking, and arranging for a friend or family member to help during the early recovery period. Following these steps supports optimal healing and better outcomes.
The deep plane facelift is performed under general anesthesia and usually lasts four to five hours. Our surgeons create small incisions hidden in natural creases around the ears and sometimes beneath the chin. Through these openings, they carefully release ligaments, lift the underlying muscles, and reposition the deeper layers of the face. It is often combined with fat grafting, brow lifting, eyelid surgery, and/or deep neck contouring for added refinement.
Following a deep plane facelift Pittsburgh patients typically begin to notice visible improvement within the first few weeks, while some swelling and bruising are normal during the early stages of recovery as the tissues heal and settle. By six weeks, the new facial contours have mostly revealed themselves, with final refinement occurring over the next six to twelve months.
The recovery process is about supporting healing, controlling swelling, and giving your body time to recover. Using gentle cold therapy to reduce swelling, avoiding strenuous activity, and protecting the skin from sun exposure all encourage a smoother recovery. Incision care is important for minimizing visible scarring, and attending follow-up appointments ensures everything is progressing as it should. With proper care and a healthy lifestyle, results can last a decade or more, offering youthful contours that look like you and feel authentically yours.
Deep Plane Facelift pricing is personalized based on surgical complexity, anesthesia, and whether complementary treatments, like brow lift, blepharoplasty, skin resurfacing, or a neck lift, are included for comprehensive rejuvenation.
Your detailed quote will include surgery fees, anesthesia fees, facility costs, and aftercare. We also offer flexible payment plans through CareCredit to make facial rejuvenation more accessible.
Pitt Aesthetic Surgery is part of the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Plastic Surgery, consistently ranked among the best in the nation. Our practice brings together a team of highly trained ABPS Board Certified plastic surgeons in Pittsburgh who are recognized for their expertise in both aesthetic facial plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery.
Our board-certified plastic surgeons use advanced techniques in facelift surgery to deliver results that look refreshed, balanced, and natural. Patients choose us not only for technical skill, but also for our focus on patient satisfaction, safety, and individualized care.
If you’re considering a deep facelift surgery in Pittsburgh, our team is here to guide you. A deep plane facelift can restore youthful radiance and long-lasting definition to your features. Schedule your private consultation today by calling our office or requesting online.
Yes. Our focus is always to create safe, natural looking Deep Plane Facelift results. The deep plane facelift uses an anatomic glide plane to reposition your soft tissues back toward where they used to be. This anatomical approach creates a powerful, but very natural looking result.
The typical recovery period is two to three weeks of social downtime, with improvements continuing for up to six months.
Risks include swelling, bruising, or temporary changes in sensation. Serious complications are rare. Less common risks include hematoma, temporary facial weakness, and asymmetry, which we discuss in detail during Deep Plane Facelift consultation.
Deep Plane Facelift results often last a decade or longer, depending on your skin quality, genetics, and lifestyle.
Incisions are discreetly placed and designed to minimize visible scarring. Because of the placement of the scars, most patients are not bothered by them even in the early postoperative period when they are most visible. With proper care, scars fade well over time and are often difficult to find once they have fully matured.
