In the very early days of facelift surgery, it was often quite easy to spot that someone had undergone the procedure.

 Traditional facial plastic surgery procedures would result in taut skin and stretched features that make the patient look different rather than more youthful.

Facelift patients at Coppergate Clinic need not have such concerns, as we are among the few UK clinics with consultant plastic surgeons who are skilled and experienced in performing facelift surgery using advanced techniques such as the deep plane facelift procedure.

Read on to discover how we address facial aging and restore a youthful appearance with natural-looking facelift results that make you look like a refreshed, rejuvenated version of yourself.

Unintended consequences of traditional facelift techniques

Traditional facelift techniques focus on stretching the skin to lift the features and smooth the skin. If there is excessive skin tension or the lift direction does not complement the face’s natural contours, this approach can lead to the following unintended consequences.

• Taut skin over the cheeks and around the jaw — the ‘wind tunnel’ effect
• Skin that has been pulled into an unnatural direction — often seen as visible tension at the sides of the face and around the mouth
• A widening of small facial scars
• Pixie ear deformity – the earlobe is pulled down or becomes pointed due to excess skin tension or the removal of too much skin around the ear area during the facelift surgery
• A marked contrast between the skin on the face and neck as the two areas are addressed with separate procedures

In extreme cases, the character of the face can be affected, making the results look unnatural, and the patient look very different than before their facelift procedure.

What do deep plane facelift surgery results look like?

The deep plane facelift treats the face and neck. It yields far superior results than traditional facelifts and is now regarded as the gold standard in natural facelift surgery.

You can expect the following after your deep plane procedure:

• To look like a more refreshed and relaxed version of yourself, as the deep plane does not erase the character of the face
• Smoother skin and a significant reduction in the appearance of deep wrinkles like the nasolabial folds
• More defined and lifted facial contours
• A smoother neck with more youthful contours on the neck and jawline

The deep plane facelift resets facial aging, and most patients find that the procedure restores the youthful appearance that they had 7 to 15 years earlier. We find that patients aged 40 to 60 experience the most natural and long-lasting results.

Why do deep-plane facelift results look so natural?

The difference between traditional facelift surgery and the deep plane facelift is that the latter addresses deeper facial structures within the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) of the face and neck using advanced surgical techniques.

Rather than lifting and stretching the superficial layers of the skin and tightening lax facial muscles alone, the deep plane surgeon releases the deep retaining ligaments of the face, allowing both the muscles and skin to be lifted and repositioned as a single unit.

This more sophisticated technique works with the facial anatomy and avoids creating tension between the skin, deeper facial tissues, and underlying muscles, avoiding the distorted, unnatural effect that other procedures can cause.

YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE DEEP PLANE FACELIFT HERE

What happens during deep plane facelift surgery?

Firstly, your surgeon will make discreet incisions along your hairline and at the front of your ears. The incisions will be deep enough to provide access to the SMAS, deeper tissues, and underlying structures. of the face.

The surgeon will release the deep retaining ligaments, then lift and reposition the skin and deeper structures as a unit. Excess fat and skin will be removed, facial muscles tightened, and loose skin trimmed. The incisions will be closed with sutures.

Typically, deep plane facelift surgery is performed under general anaesthetic, but our surgeon may offer you the option of having your surgery under sedation with local anaesthetic. 

The whole procedure takes around 4 hours.

Does the deep plane facelift provide meaningful improvement for the neck?

The deeper tissues of the face and neck are interconnected, so they cannot be treated separately if natural-looking results are to be achieved.

The procedure will give you a neck lift and restore a more contoured, youthful profile to your neck and jawline.

The recovery period after a deep plane facelift

You should expect bruising and swelling that will resolve in 1 to 2 weeks, after which most patients return to work. It will take a while for the final result to be visible, but after 3 to 6 months you will be able to see the results of your facial rejuvenation clearly.

How long do the benefits of deep plane facelift last?

The results of your facial surgery could last up to 10 years, but your face will continue to age. The absolute longevity of the results varies among individuals and typically depends on factors such as skin elasticity, bone structure, and genetics. Maintaining a stable weight, limiting sun exposure, and refraining from smoking will help to preserve the benefits of your procedure.

Additional facial rejuvenation procedures

The removal of skin laxity, lines, and wrinkles will make a meaningful improvement to your appearance, but additional aesthetic treatments can elevate your appearance to even higher levels of facial rejuvenation.

Many patients combine their deep plane facelift with the following cosmetic procedures to achieve their aesthetic goals.

Eyelid surgery

Facelift surgery does not address skin and muscle aging around the eyes, which often causes hooded eyes and under-eye bags.

Blepharoplasty is an eyelid procedure that rejuvenates the eye area by correcting hooded eyes or removing under-eye bags.

Dermal fillers/Fat transfer

Even the deep plane facelift cannot restore volume to the cheeks that often lose their youthful fullness with age. Many patients choose dermal fillers or fat transfer to restore youthful contours to the cheeks and mid-face.

Treatments to improve skin quality

Smooth skin and lifted facial features can appear even more youthful when age spots, enlarged pores, and dull skin tone are treated with our CO2 laser resurfacing.

YOU CAN FIND A FULL LIST OF ALL OUR PROCEDURES HERE

Next Steps

You can book a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon by emailing us [email protected] or using our online portal here.