Modern facelift techniques give natural and long-lasting results. A facelift at the Coppergate Clinic will transform your face by addressing skin laxity, lifting features, and smoothing away

deep wrinkles. Your youthful appearance will be restored, and your confidence in your beauty will be boosted. 

Patients at the Coppergate Clinic can choose from several facelift procedures, with two of the most popular being the deep plane facelift and the mini facelift surgery or Vr facelift (vertical restore ). 

Everyone’s face and ageing process is unique, and your facial plastic surgeon will encourage you to consider which facial procedure is best for your face rather than which is better between the deep plane facelift and the mini facelift procedure. 

Which facelift surgery is best for me?

The best facelift technique for you will depend on the results you want from your surgery. The deep plane lift and the mini facelift are useful at different points in the ageing process. 

The deep plane facelift is a more extensive procedure than mini facelift surgery. It is helpful to treat moderate signs of ageing and is especially successful for drooping cheeks and sagging skin in the mid and lower face, the jawline, and neck. 

The mini facelift or VR facelift is a less invasive procedure designed to treat the early signs of ageing and sagging skin in the lower face, specifically the jowls. This procedure gives the jawline a sharper and more youthful appearance.It can be done in the deep plane or superficial to SMAS but does not involve the neck directly.§ 

All our patients consult a consultant plastic surgeon before committing to any procedure. 

Your face will be examined, and your surgeon will advise you on the best way to address your concerns about ageing and which type of facelift would give you the desired results. 

Is the deep plane facelift the same as a traditional facelift?

Unlike traditional facelifts, which only address the superficial facial tissues by stretching the skin, the deep plane facelift focuses on the deeper tissues and lifts the skin and neck in multiple vectors not just vertically. 

Lifting and remodelling the skin and SMAS — the superficial musculoaponeurotic system — ensures natural and long-lasting facial rejuvenation without the taut skin associated with traditional facelifts. 

The excellent results from deep plane or SMAS facelifts have made this technique the gold standard for full facelift procedures.

Deep plane facelift surgery

The underlying structures of the face, such as the facial muscles and ligaments, are just as crucial for a youthful appearance as the skin, and they also weaken with age. 

During your deep plane facelift, your consultant plastic surgeon will access the deeper facial structures of the SMAS layer via incisions around the ears and down into the neck . The SMAS is mobilised by releasing the ligaments repositioned and sutured in its new position before the excess skin is removed and re draped over the newly positioned deep layers of the face. 

The deep plane lift takes place under general anaesthetic and lasts between 4 and 6 hours and is often done in tandem with eyelid surgery ,lip lift and CO2 laser resurfacing. 

The recovery period after a deep plane facelift procedure

Your face will be bruised and swollen after your surgical procedure, but this will soon subside, and you should be able to return to work after 2 or 3 weeks depending on your profession.Although individual recovery times can vary. 

The healing process is usually complete by week twelve. 

The mini facelift procedure

The surgical team at our York clinic have designed an innovative mini facelift surgery called the VR facelift. 

This procedure is designed to subtly improve the contours of the jawline area by lifting sagging skin in a vertical direction. 

It is not the same as a neck lift, but many patients notice an improvement in their neck skin after the procedure. 

You can find some before-and-after surgery photographs here. 

What does mini facelift surgery involve?

A small incision is made in the skin around the hairline above the ears, or where it is deemed best for the individual patient. The skin and muscles are lifted, and sutures are placed to hold the tissues elevated. Excess skin and tissue are trimmed, and the cut edges are carefully closed for minimal scarring. 

The recovery period after a VR facelift procedure

Recovery time is short as this cosmetic procedure uses a local anaesthetic. You should expect some tenderness and bruising, which will soon subside, and stitches will be removed after a week. 

Can I combine a facelift with another cosmetic surgical procedure?

Many patients combine their deep plane or mini facelift with other cosmetic procedures to achieve more comprehensive facial rejuvenation. 

Eyelid surgery

Neither facelift addresses the issue of skin laxity around the eye. However, a straightforward eyelid procedure can refresh the eye area by correcting hooded eyes or removing under eye bags. 

Dermal fillers/Fat transfer

The ageing process often causes the cheeks to become hollow or flat as the skin loses elasticity. 

This change cannot be corrected with facelift surgery, so many patients choose to have dermal fillers or fat transfer to restore youthful contours to the face. 

Next Steps

You can book a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon by phoning 01904 675 222 or emailing us at [email protected]