What Is the Difference Between a Deep Plane Facelift and Regular Facelift?

As we age, our faces naturally undergo changes that many seek to address through cosmetic procedures. Among the most effective surgical options are facelifts, but not all techniques are created equal. The deep plane facelift and regular (traditional) facelift represent two distinct approaches to facial rejuvenation, each with its methodology, recovery process, and results. Understanding these differences can help patients decide which procedure best addresses their aesthetic goals and concerns about facial aging.

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Regular Facelift Surgery

A traditional facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that addresses multiple signs of facial and neck aging. It typically involves making incisions along the hairline, around the ears, and sometimes into the lower scalp. The surgeon repositions underlying facial tissues through these access points, tightens muscles, and removes excess skin to create a smoother, more youthful appearance. This procedure effectively corrects sagging skin, deep creases, and jowls, providing dramatic and long-lasting results. The traditional facelift is ideal for individuals with moderate to advanced signs of aging who desire significant rejuvenation and a more defined jawline and neck.

Deep Plane Facelift Procedure

A deep plane facelift is an advanced surgical technique that targets the deeper layers of the face, addressing facial aging at its structural foundation. Unlike traditional facelifts, which focus mainly on tightening the skin and minor tissue manipulation, the deep plane approach lifts and repositions the muscles, fat, and other deep tissues as a single unit. By working beneath the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) layer, the surgeon can achieve more natural-looking, long-lasting results that better restore facial contours. This method is particularly effective for smoothing nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and sagging in the mid-face, providing a rejuvenated appearance without the “pulled” look that can result from more superficial techniques.

Key Differences Between the Facelift Techniques

Surgical Depth

The fundamental distinction between regular and deep plane facelifts lies in how deeply the surgeon works within facial tissues. A regular (or traditional) facelift primarily manipulates the SMAS and skin layers. In contrast, the deep plane approach goes beyond this, accessing and repositioning deeper facial structures, including the malar fat pads, platysma muscle, and other facial ligaments. This comprehensive manipulation of multiple tissue layers allows surgeons to address volume loss and structural changes that occur with aging rather than simply tightening surface tissues

Incisions

The incision patterns differ somewhat between the two techniques. A regular facelift typically requires incisions that begin in the temple area, extend around the ear, and may continue into the lower scalp. While the deep plane facelift carries similar incision patterns, the surgeon must create additional access points to reach and manipulate the deeper tissue planes. However, these surgical maneuvers occur beneath the skin surface and don’t necessarily translate to more visible external incisions for the patient.

Areas Addressed

In terms of treatment regions, both the deep plane and regular facelift address signs of aging in the mid to lower face and neck. However, due to its ability to release and reposition deeper tissue layers, the deep plane approach typically achieves more comprehensive rejuvenation of the midface, including the nasolabial folds and cheek areas. Regular facelifts excel at addressing jowling and neck laxity but may be less effective for significant midface aging or prominent nasolabial folds without additional procedures.

Longevity of Corrections

The durability of results represents another significant difference. While both procedures provide long-lasting rejuvenation, deep plane facelifts typically maintain their improvements for 10-15 years, compared to 7-10 years for traditional approaches. This extended longevity stems from the deep plane technique’s focus on repositioning underlying structural tissues rather than simply tightening facial skin. By addressing the foundational causes of aging rather than just surface manifestations, the deep plane approach creates more durable improvements that better resist the ongoing effects of gravity and aging.

Natural Appearance

The aesthetic outcome differs notably between techniques. Deep plane facelift surgery generally produces more natural-looking results because it repositions tissues in a more vertical direction that follows natural facial contours. This approach avoids the tight, windswept appearance sometimes associated with traditional facelifts. By preserving the natural relationship between different facial tissue layers while still providing significant lift, the deep plane technique creates rejuvenation that appears more organic and less surgically apparent.

Recovery Time

Recovery experiences vary between the procedures. Counterintuitively, despite being more invasive, the deep plane lift often involves less prolonged swelling and bruising than traditional techniques. This occurs because the deep plane approach preserves more of the skin’s blood supply and lymphatic drainage. However, initial recovery may involve more significant swelling in the first few days. Patients with significant skin laxity who undergo either procedure should expect several weeks before all evidence of surgery disappears, though many return to social activities within 2-3 weeks.

Scarring

Scarring outcomes deserve careful consideration. Both techniques create permanent scars, though these typically fade significantly and remain well-concealed in natural creases. The deep plane technique may offer slight advantages regarding scar visibility since it places less tension on skin closure. Because the lifting effect comes from deeper tissues rather than skin tension, incisions can heal under optimal conditions with minimal strain, potentially resulting in finer traces over time. However, scar quality ultimately depends on the surgeon’s closure technique and the patient’s natural healing tendencies.

Regular vs. Deep Plane Facelift Results

The outcome differences between regular and deep plane facelifts are significant and often observable even to the untrained eye. Traditional facelifts typically produce good improvements in jowling and neck contours but may create a somewhat flatter or more two-dimensional facial appearance, particularly in the midface region. In contrast, the deep plane facelift technique delivers more comprehensive rejuvenation with enhanced volume restoration in the cheeks and midface, creating a three-dimensional improvement that better mimics youthful facial architecture.

Patients who undergo deep plane procedures frequently report satisfaction with how their results balance significant improvement while maintaining their fundamental facial character and expressions. The technique’s ability to reposition deeper tissue layers means improvements appear less like skin has been pulled tight and more like the face has been structurally rejuvenated. Additionally, the deep plane approach avoids the telltale signs of facelift surgery, such as distortion of the earlobe position or visible tension lines. For patients with moderate to advanced facial aging, particularly those with pronounced nasolabial folds or midface descent, the deeper technique generally provides superior aesthetic outcomes that appear more natural and last longer.

Summary of Differences

Regular Facelift vs Deep Plane Facelift
Aspect	Regular Facelift	Deep Plane Facelift
Surgical Depth	Primarily targets SMAS and skin layers	Targets deeper facial tissues, including muscles and fat pads
Incisions	Around ear, temple, and lower scalp	Similar, with additional access points for deeper tissues
Areas Addressed	Jowls and neck laxity	Midface, nasolabial folds, and cheeks
Longevity of Results	7-10 years	10-15 years
Natural Appearance	May result in a tight, windswept look	More natural, follows facial contours
Recovery Time	Longer swelling and bruising	Less swelling, but initial swelling may be more noticeable
Scarring	Permanent scars, which typically fade over time	Finer scars, less tension on skin closure
Results	Improves jowls and neck, flatter midface	Restores volume and youthful contours, giving a more 3-dimensional look

Only Faces Is a Top Destination for Facial Plastic Surgery

Only Faces is Charlotte’s premier destination for specialized facial plastic surgery, under the leadership of Dr. Sean Freeman, North Carolina’s most distinguished specialist. As a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 30 years dedicated exclusively to facial procedures, Dr. Freeman has pioneered revolutionary techniques that have become industry standards. His Preservation Deep Plane Facelift represents the cutting edge of facial rejuvenation, a procedure few surgeons in America have mastered. Dr. Freeman’s innovations extend beyond facelifts — he invented the Segmental Endoscopic Brow Lift for more natural results and the SOOF Lift Blepharoplasty, now considered the gold standard for lower eyelid surgery. His expertise in rhinoplasty, emphasizing closed techniques without visible incisions, has made him one of America’s most sought-after nose surgeons

What sets Only Faces apart is technical excellence and Dr. Freeman’s personalized approach to each patient, tailoring procedures to individual facial architecture rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions. His commitment to optimizing post-operative recovery and natural-looking results has established him as a surgeon featured in prestigious medical journals and respected throughout the profession. Only Faces offers the rare combination of pioneering expertise, specialized focus, and proven excellence for those considering facial plastic surgery in North Carolina and other states.

before & after

Dr. Sean Freeman

january 28, 2025

When choosing between facelift techniques, understanding the fundamental differences can guide your decision toward the option that best addresses your specific concerns. The deep plane facelift lifts and repositions multiple tissue layers to achieve a natural-looking rejuvenation that stands the test of time. This advanced approach produces results that avoid the telltale signs of surgery while effectively addressing midface volume loss and structural aging by directly accessing and manipulating deeper facial tissues. Consulting with an experienced facial plastic surgeon specializing in both techniques will help determine which approach aligns with your aesthetic goals, facial anatomy, and desired recovery experience.