Choosing the Right Plane
Deep Plane Facelift vs. Traditional SMAS Facelift
Deep plane and traditional SMAS facelifts are both open surgical procedures performed through carefully placed incisions around your hairline and ears. Each technique restores support beneath your skin, although the depth of dissection and the way your facial tissues are repositioned differ.
During a traditional SMAS facelift, your skin is elevated separately so the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or SMAS, can be tightened, folded, or partially removed. This well-established technique gives your surgeon considerable control over the lower face and jawline and can create beautiful, long-lasting results when it suits your pattern of aging.
A deep plane facelift works beneath the SMAS and releases selected retaining ligaments, allowing your skin, connective tissue, and facial fat to move together as a unified layer. This broader release can be especially helpful when your cheeks have descended, folds around your mouth have deepened, and jowls are affecting your lower face.
Neither technique holds a universal advantage for every face. Dr. Santosa considers your facial structure, tissue quality, previous procedures, neck involvement, and desired degree of correction before recommending the surgical plane most likely to create a balanced result.
