Deep Plane Facelift

Sagging jowls, wrinkles, and sunken cheeks can distract from your natural beauty as time passes. At Houston Cosmetic Surgery Center, board-certified cosmetic and plastic surgeon David Davila, DO, FACOS, and the team perform deep plane facelifts to dramatically smooth, firm, and contour the face, jawline, and neck. Nobody wants to look overdone or “pulled” after a facelift, and Dr. Davila has the surgical expertise to ensure more natural-looking results. Call the Houston, Texas, office or book an appointment online to learn more about this effective cosmetic option.

What is a deep plane facelift?

A traditional facelift strategically tightens the layer of fibrous connective tissue beneath the skin, known as the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS). Dr. Davila may recommend a SMAS facelift if your areas of concern are in the lower two-thirds of your face.

A deep plane facelift takes a different approach for different results. It relies on “lifting” instead of pulling by elevating the fibrous SMAS from the underlying muscles and gently releasing anchoring ligaments near the mouth. The results are natural-looking and longer-lasting than a traditional facelift, and the process carries no additional risks.

What benefits are there with a deep plane facelift?

A deep plane facelift doesn’t just smooth fine lines and wrinkles. It addresses the underlying tissues and repositions them, reversing the marks of time.

Other significant benefits include:

• Firmer skin
• More refined facial features
• Better facial symmetry and balance
• A more youthful, “awake” appearance
• Longer-lasting results

Dr. Davila can also use this procedure to provide a neck lift to reduce sagging and wrinkling, eliminate jowls, and give you a more defined jawline.

What happens during a deep plane facelift?

You are typically under general anesthesia for this procedure. Dr. Davila makes small incisions to hide the scars, such as in the skin crease in front of your ear. He carefully adjusts and lifts the SMAS before meticulously suturing all incisions closed.

The process may take 3-5 hours or longer, depending on how complex your procedure is and if you have any additional procedures done, such as a brow lift or blepharoplasty (eyelid lift).

What does a deep plane facelift recovery process entail?

While many patients experience minimal discomfort after surgery, others require some pain medication for discomfort. You can also expect swelling and bruising, which should subside after a few weeks. During the early stages of your recovery, be sure to:

• Start with soft foods requiring minimal chewing
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Avoid strenuous exercise for about three weeks
• Take medications as advised
• Sleep with your head propped up

After a week or so, you feel more like yourself. Most patients can return to socializing after three weeks, and Dr. Davila can remove the sutures around this time. Your beautiful results appear over 6-12 months.

To learn more about the facelift process and the personalized care available, call the Houston Cosmetic Surgery Center office today or book a consultation online.