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What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?

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Posted October 24, 2025 in Facelift

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Our face is powerfully linked to our identity—when you look in the mirror, you want to recognize and feel confident about the reflection looking back at you. However, aging, weight loss, and lifestyle habits like smoking and sunbathing can all take a toll on the face, making you look less youthful and vibrant than you actually feel. The facelift is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries for improving signs of aging and refreshing the face, but there are so many types of facelifts out there—how do you know which one to choose? This blog will discuss the deep plane facelift, what it is, and how it differs from traditional facelifts.

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All About Deep Plane Facelifts

The deep plane facelift is an advanced technique in facial plastic surgery. In recent years, it has become something of a buzzword in the plastic surgery community, and many consider it to be the gold standard of facelifts.

In short, the deep plane facelift accesses deeper layers of tissue than other facelift techniques do. This results in more profound and dramatic results, and they tend to last longer. However, the best way to understand the deep plane facelift is to compare it to “traditional” facelift techniques, so you can fully comprehend the difference between techniques and what results they provide.

Deep Plane Facelift vs. Facelift

When you hear the term “standard” or “traditional” facelift, what people usually mean is a SMAS facelift. The superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) is a layer of connective tissue, muscle, and fat that lies deep under the skin and acts as a mask for your inner face. It is responsible for your expressions and facial structure. 

SMAS Facelifts

A standard rhytidectomy (facelift) is usually some variation of a SMAS technique. Surgeons manipulate the SMAS using a few different methods:

  • SMAS plication involves folding and restitching the SMAS in a higher position. This technique is good for moderate sagging and has the added benefit of increasing volume at the site of plication, usually high on the cheekbone or near the temple.
  • SMAS imbrication involves cutting and overlapping the SMAS layer to create a more dramatic suspension. This technique tends to be more effective for significant facial sagging as it allows for more extensive tightening.
  • A SMASectomy involves cutting and removing a part of the SMAS tissue, shortening the SMAS to lift and tighten the lower face and neck.

The chosen technique depends on your surgeon’s skill as well as the patient’s goals. SMAS facelifts can be suitable for patients who want to address moderate facial sagging and signs of aging with a more conservative lift. However, many surgeons, including Dr. Heath Charvet of Magnolia Plastic Surgery & MedSpa in New Orleans, favor deep plane techniques over a SMAS-only approach for superior results.

Deep Plane Facelift

The deep plane facelift is not a one-size-fits-all procedure—many surgeons take their own approach to this technique. Still, it has two main elements that differentiate it from a more standard facelift:

  1. The deep plane facelift access is below the SMAS, elevating the SMAS, muscles, and skin as a single unit and repositioning them to a more youthful orientation. Working at this deeper layer provides stronger structural support to the facelift, resulting in less tension on the skin and incision sites, and therefore improving recovery and results.
  2. Most importantly, the deep plane facelift involves the release of facial retaining ligaments, which anchor the skin to the muscle and deeper facial structures. Cutting these ligaments allows for more extensive manipulation of the SMAS layer and has additional advantages, such as elevating facial fat pads and erasing or significantly reducing nasolabial folds.

Ultimately, the deep plane facelift allows for more transformative facial rejuvenation. Patients often report that they look like a younger version of themselves. Results are still natural-looking, and because this procedure goes deeper than other techniques, the results are long-lasting.

Am I a Candidate for a Deep Plane Facelift?

You may be a good candidate for a deep plane facelift if you:

  • Are experiencing moderate to severe sagging
  • Wish to address wrinkles, jowling, and prominent nasolabial folds
  • Want a more defined jawline and a smoother neck
  • Are looking for long-lasting results and a dramatic facial refresh

The best way to determine your candidacy is to consult with a highly qualified surgeon. 

At his practice in New Orleans, award-winning, double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Heath Charvet, affectionately known to his patients as Dr. Heath, offers attentive care, high-caliber training, and consistently outstanding results. He performs deep plane facelifts in conjunction with neck lifts, facial nano fat grafting, and CO2 laser resurfacing for the most comprehensive results. There is no shortcut to perfection, and Dr. Heath offers his patients nothing less than the most effective treatments.

Learn More About the Deep Plane Facelift in New Orleans, LA

This highly specialized technique requires the expertise of an exceptionally skilled surgeon. Dr. Heath Charvet is a double board-certified plastic surgeon with advanced training and a unique, intimate understanding of facial anatomy. To schedule your private consultation, call Magnolia Plastic Surgery & MedSpa at (504) 571-5908 or complete our online form today.