Deep Plane Facelift

Genetics, sun exposure, stress, and even disease can take a toll on your face. Facelift surgery was once only accessible to the rich and famous, but today patients from all walks of life who are tired of looking tired have the opportunity to benefit from the same procedures. We are pleased to offer you many different technologies, procedures, and products to help you reach your facial aesthetic goals. In fact, PSS is the only practice in the Bay Area to offer the 360-degree facelift.

To benefit from the dedication and expertise of the Plastic Surgery Specialist (PSS) team, please contact our Greenbrae office. We proudly serve the needs of San Francisco, the Bay Area, Northern California, and beyond. If you prefer to consult with us remotely, we also offer virtual consultations.

What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?

A facelift, known clinically as rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to improve the look of your face and neck by lifting the skin and repositioning the underlying tissue and muscle that support it. A deep plane facelift involves repositioning the deeper layers of facial muscle and tissue, specifically the submuscular layer known as the “deep plane.” By addressing this layer, the deep plane facelift provides more comprehensive and long-lasting results compared to other techniques. A facelift procedure is often combined with surgery to refresh the eye area (blepharoplasty).

The facelift procedure has come a long way since the wind tunnel look of years ago, and the experts at Plastic Surgery Specialists are known for their beautiful and natural-looking results. Old techniques addressed facial sagging by repositioning and tightening only the skin; the foundation of muscle beneath the skin must be repositioned for a longer-lasting, more natural look. Jowls and lax skin under the chin are tightened, truly transforming the look of the neck, which can be a telltale indicator of age.

What Does a 360 Degree Facelift Mean? 

Simply put. it means addressing all aspects of a youthful-looking face. When you decide to refresh your look in a big way, we start with six weeks of preparation. Why? Our surgeons understand that facial surgery starts with the look of the skin. With their years of experience, they’ve developed a truly thorough, in-depth approach to facial rejuvenation. Six weeks prior to your procedure, you begin a skincare regimen to improve the texture, hydration, and pigmentation of the skin. This preparation becomes a foundation to build upon. Next, we combine the facelift surgical procedure with deep resurfacing to further improve the skin and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles.

For a great example of the critical nature of this step, consider the area around your mouth. With aging many people can develop “smokers lines” around the lips, and a facelift can’t improve that area. Untreated the lips lines will look incongruous with a younger-looking face, which is a prime example of why we are so thorough in building a proper foundation.

The last step as you recover is to offer excellent post-operative care and include products to heal the resurfaced skin quickly and comfortably. In addition, we offer magnet treatments to reduce swelling and improve and hasten healing.

Before and After Photos

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Why Should You Get a Deep Plane Facelift?

If you’ve led a healthy life and taken care of your skin with sunscreen, we’re so proud of you! None of us, however, escape aging. The startling fact about facial structure is fat and bone loss occur as we age and reduce by as much as 30% the underlying structure of the face by the time you reach your 50s. Volume loss contributes to the appearance of skin laxity and sunken eyes and cheeks.

At PSS, we offer a “Liquid Lift” with injectable fillers to help restore volume loss and delay surgical intervention. This technique can help up to a certain point, but can’t fully correct overall facial sagging. 

When non-invasive options are no longer enough, surgical intervention via facelift is the next step. Call Plastic Surgery Specialists to set up a complimentary consultation with one of our experienced board-certified plastic surgeons. It’s common for patients from all over the Bay Area including Napa, Sonoma, and Marin Counties to travel to our Greenbrae location. We also offer virtual consultations to make connecting with us and starting the process easier than ever.

Consultation

At the time of your private consultation, you will speak with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons about bothersome areas and your cosmetic goals. The doctor will thoroughly examine your face and neck, testing skin texture, observing facial contours, and outlining the best techniques to address your desired outcome. Remember to bring photos of an earlier version of you, so that the doctor has additional visual information about your individual aging process for best results. It is best to bring photos of yourself when you were younger so your surgeon will have accurate references for optimal results.

You will be given a list of preliminary steps to take and tasks to complete prior to your surgery, as well as an explanation of how to care for yourself after your procedure. Any questions or concerns regarding your facelift process will gladly be answered at this time. All pricing inquiries will also be addressed. We offer convenient financing plans and virtual consultations to make facelift surgery affordable.

Facelift Procedures

Facelift procedures are usually categorized by the area of the face to be addressed whether it is the lower face, mid-face, or both. Achieving facial harmony and balance may require a combination of procedures to obtain the best result. Often, a facelift is combined with a browlift or eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) to elevate a heavy brow or give the eye an awake and refreshed appearance. Facial rejuvenation involves many decisions, and consulting with our experienced surgeons can clarify your needs and provide a forum to discuss concerns about your appearance. 

The doctor will determine the overall plan for surgery based on an individual’s specific needs and goals. The extent of your treatment(s) will dictate the complexity and length of your surgery. Procedures are usually performed as outpatient surgery.

Traditional Facelift

Over the years there have been many iterations of the basic facelift surgery. Early procedures focused on tightening the skin by removing excess tissue and, although still a part of the modern facelift, a more natural-looking technique now focuses on resuspension or repositioning the superficial muscle layers of the face with its attached subcutaneous fat. The goal of all modern procedures is to create greater lower-face definition and upper-facial fullness by repositioning the soft tissue layers to their original position.

The traditional facelift involves a thin incision made from the temples, down in front of the ears, and up behind following the back of the ear until arching over and tapering off in the hairline. If the procedure includes a neck lift, the dissection is carried into the neck to allow excess skin to be removed and the neck contour to be tightened and smoothed. A facelift can include fat grafting, reshaping underlying muscles, redraping the skin, and removal of excess skin. At Plastic Surgery Specialists, we specialize in facelift procedures and are confident we will give you a youthful, vibrant appearance with tightened, smoother skin and fewer wrinkles.

QuickLift™ 

The QuickLift™ is a facelift procedure using a less invasive surgical technique, resulting in less downtime and a quicker return to your usual activities. The QuickLift involves tightening the skin on the face and neck using a minimally invasive technique. With a special suturing technique, small incisions are made along the sideburn and behind the ear, resulting in minimal scarring. Facial implants for the cheeks or chin can be inserted at the same time as this procedure and can enhance final results when recommended by your surgeon.

It is vital to have an in-depth discussion with your PSS surgeon, who can outline the risks and benefits and develop a treatment plan that is customized to your individual features, cosmetic goals, budget, and lifestyle. Everyone’s face ages differently and there are many factors to consider; health habits, including smoking, have a deleterious effect on the skin, and sun damage will speed collagen breakdown and accelerate the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. The underlying facial structure is taken into account, including the amount of fat and bone loss acquired over time. Talking to an experienced plastic surgeon is key to getting thorough answers.

Neck Lift

Some individuals develop neck laxity without significant loss of upper face fullness, and for these individuals, surgery can be limited to the neck or lower face only. This may allow shorter incisions and a faster recovery. This procedure involves the removal of fat as necessary and the tightening of excess skin around the jawline and neck. Patients who find they need a neck lift may have experienced significant weight loss causing exaggerated skin laxity.

Recovery

Each patient is provided with a personalized recovery plan. Typically after a facelift, it will take about three weeks to return to your normal activities. You will begin to see the results as soon as the swelling and bruising go down. Elevating the face and using ice packs will help reduce swelling. Avoiding anti-inflammatory medications for a specific amount of time determined by your doctor will help alleviate bruising and reduce the risk of bleeding after surgery.

Plastic Surgery Specialists uses Venus radio frequency technology to speed recovery and help dissipate bruising after your procedure. We offer Alastin and SkinMedica products specifically designed to be used post-operatively with skin resurfacing procedures

Procedures Often Combined with a Facelift

The following is a list of procedures that are often combined with a facelift to fully address all areas of the face and renew the skin. We include a discount on laser resurfacing in our facelift quotes because it is such an important part of the final result and satisfaction after surgery. Recovery times may increase with the addition of skin resurfacing but the results are so remarkable, patients often choose “one and done” rather than risk regret after surgery.

Eyelid Surgery

If a patient does not need a full facelift but is unhappy with drooping lids and tired-looking eyes, blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is a fantastic solution. This procedure focuses on removing the excess skin from either the upper or lower eyelids, or both. Skin is excised and fat contoured to refresh the eyes and give a more youthful appearance, getting rid of tired-looking eyes. Eyelid surgery is customized to your individual features and may include skin excision, fat transfer, or redraping lower eyelid fat over the cheekbone to get rid of lower eyelid bags and leave a smooth and youthful under-eye appearance.

Brow Lift Surgery

Also known as a Forehead Lift, Brow Lift surgery raises the eyebrows to a more youthful position. This in turn lifts drooping upper eyelids to give your eyes a wider, more awake look. Wrinkles between the brows or on the forehead can be softened with a Brow Lift. This is a minimally invasive procedure that can reverse inevitable signs of aging for a number of years to come.

Brows can be temporarily “lifted” with the strategic use of Botox if a patient is looking for an alternative to surgery. This is a more subtle improvement and won’t address a brow that has lowered significantly due to skin laxity and aging.

Botox

If you are looking to get rid of facial wrinkles but don’t want to undergo a surgical procedure, Botox is a great alternative. Botox is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved treatment that temporarily blocks the nerves connected to specific, wrinkle-causing facial muscles. When specific facial muscles are relaxed, the lines formed by those constant contractions disappear. A great example is the smile lines around the eyes. When Botox relaxes those small muscles, the lines around the eyes can be greatly reduced. Botox results are not permanent; you will need additional injections every 3-4 months to maintain results.

Fat Transfer

As we age, we lose fat from certain areas of the face. With today’s techniques, your own fat can be collected with liposuction, prepared, and transplanted from one area of the body to the face. This procedure will add volume to areas such as the cheek or under-eye hollow and has the added benefit of long-lasting results, unlike some injectable fillers. Another benefit is addressing other fat deposits you would like to get rid of while enhancing your face. Our surgeons may in some cases advise the use of facial implants to the cheeks or chin to optimize bony contour.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

It makes little sense to undergo surgery to create a more youthful contour of the face and neck and leave an aged or pigmented complexion behind. Laser treatments can remove brown or red spots and fine lines, or treat enlarged pores.

The experienced team at Plastic Surgery Specialists uses state-of-the-art laser skin resurfacing treatment to rejuvenate facial skin. This laser has three benefits in one, offering ProFractional, Broad Band Light, and Erbium Micro Laser Peel options. The laser evens skin tone, improves skin texture, and treats age spots, broken capillaries, and wrinkles. We take great care to treat each patient with the appropriate laser for their individual skin tone. We recommend an ongoing skin care regime of medical-grade products to maintain the results.

FAQ

References 

1. Hamra, S. T. (1992). Composite rhytidectomy. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 90(1):1-13. DOI: 10.1097/00006534-199207000-00001.
2. Rohrich, R. J., Coberly, D. M., Fagien, S., Stuzin, J. M. (2004). Current Concepts in Aesthetic Upper Blepharoplasty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 113(3)32e-42e. doi: 10.1097/01.PRS.0000105684.06281.32

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