Deep Plane Facelift Perth

Question 1

What is a deep plane facelift?

Accepted Answer

A deep plane facelift is facelift surgery in which the dissection is carried out beneath the SMAS layer, so that skin, fat and the underlying muscle sheet are lifted and repositioned together as a single unit. The technique was first described by Sam Hamra in 1990.

The aim is to reposition tissue that has descended rather than to pull skin tight. Dr Anh Nguyen performs deep plane facelift surgery in Perth under general anaesthesia, generally with an overnight stay in hospital. It is a longer and more technically demanding operation than a skin only or SMAS only lift.

Question 2

What does deep plane mean, and what is released during surgery?

Accepted Answer

The dissection travels beneath the SMAS, lifting skin, fat and SMAS as one composite flap. Three sets of retaining ligaments are typically released: the masseteric ligaments along the jaw, the zygomatic ligaments over the cheekbone, and the maxillary ligaments near the nasolabial fold.

Releasing those ligaments is what allows the midface to move as a unit rather than staying tethered in place. The tissue is then repositioned upwards and secured with sutures. Because the flap carries its own blood supply rather than relying on thin skin alone, the technique is generally described as having favourable blood flow to the healing flap.

Question 3

Will a deep plane facelift improve my nasolabial folds and midface?

Accepted Answer

It can soften them, though how much varies from one person to the next, and it will not erase them. The fold is a normal feature of facial anatomy rather than a wrinkle. Usually more than one thing is deepening it: the cheek has descended, some volume has been lost, the skin itself has changed, and the crease sits in a fixed position. Surgery works on the descent.

If the main driver in your case is descended cheek tissue, releasing the midface ligaments and repositioning that tissue can make a meaningful difference. If the fold is mostly volume related or structural, expect less change from surgery alone, and fat transfer or other approaches may be worth discussing. Working out which factor dominates is the useful part of the consultation.

Question 4

Does a deep plane facelift also address the neck?

Accepted Answer

Partly. Releasing the tissues along the jaw improves the jawline and upper neck, and many patients have a neck lift performed at the same time to address banding, loose skin or fullness under the chin. A facelift on its own does not fully treat the neck.

Whether you need a separate neck component depends on how much laxity sits below the jawline and whether the platysma muscle has separated. Dr Anh assesses the neck alongside the face at consultation, because treating one and not the other can leave a result looking uneven. The neck lift page covers that procedure in more detail.

Question 5

How is a deep plane facelift different from a SMAS facelift, and is one better?

Accepted Answer

In a SMAS facelift the surgeon works on the SMAS layer from above, folding or trimming it to tighten it. A deep plane facelift goes underneath that layer and releases the retaining ligaments first. Which of the two gives a better result is still an open question. A prospective study published in 2026 found satisfaction, recovery and complication rates were much the same either way.

One pooled review did report better aesthetic outcomes with deep plane surgery, while noting that the assessment methods used were subjective. A separate review of SMAS techniques concluded that deeper dissection has not been shown to improve midface appearance or the longevity of results. Dr Anh performs both, and the SMAS facelift page covers that technique. The choice comes down to your anatomy rather than which term sounds more advanced.

Question 6

What do mini deep plane and extended deep plane mean?

Accepted Answer

These terms are not standardised, which is worth knowing when you compare information between clinics. Broadly, an extended deep plane includes release and elevation of the midface as well as the lower face and neck, while a mini deep plane addresses the cheek and jawline without substantially lifting the midface.

Because surgeons use the labels differently, the more useful question is what will actually be released and repositioned in your operation, and which areas will and will not be treated. It is reasonable to ask for that in plain terms. Dr Anh will explain what her plan involves for your face rather than relying on a procedure name to describe it.

Question 7

Is the risk of facial nerve injury higher with a deep plane facelift?

Accepted Answer

The dissection does take the surgeon closer to the branches of the facial nerve, so it is a fair thing to ask about. A 2026 review pooled 45 studies covering 10,784 patients. Complications of any sort turned up in 6.6% of them. Temporary weakness of the facial nerve was reported in about 1.2%. No permanent facial nerve injuries were recorded anywhere in that group.

Permanent injury remains a recognised risk of any facelift and forms part of the consent discussion. Published series also show complication rates falling as a surgeon’s experience with the technique grows, with one single surgeon study reporting 16.7% across the first sixty cases compared with 8.3% across the most recent sixty. Asking any surgeon how often they perform this operation is a fair question. Where temporary weakness does occur, it usually settles over weeks rather than months.

Question 8

How long is recovery, and is the swelling worse than other facelifts?

Accepted Answer

Recovery runs longer than it does after a skin only or SMAS only lift. Swelling and bruising are usually at their worst on day three or four. By around three weeks most people feel comfortable enough for quiet outings, though this differs from person to person. The deeper swelling is the slow part and can take three to six months to settle.

Most patients stay in hospital overnight. For the first fortnight you sleep on your back with your head raised, and sutures come out somewhere between the first and third week. Numbness around the ears and jawline is part of it, and it fades over two to six months while the nerves recover. Hold off on vigorous exercise for six to eight weeks, since raised blood pressure early on makes bleeding under the skin more likely.

Question 9

How long do deep plane facelift results last?

Accepted Answer

Commonly quoted figures start at around ten years, but the honest position is that long term comparative evidence is limited. The authors of the largest pooled review of deep plane outcomes specifically noted that longer follow up is still needed to establish how durable the technique is.

A facelift repositions tissue at one point in time and does not stop your face ageing, so change continues afterwards. Skin quality, sun exposure, smoking and significant weight change all influence how long a result holds. The confident year ranges you will see quoted online, particularly those comparing one technique against another, are worth treating with some caution.

Question 10

Will I need fat transfer as well?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. A deep plane facelift repositions tissue you already have and does not add volume. If your face has lost volume as well as position, Dr Anh may suggest fat transfer during the same operation to restore fullness in areas such as the cheeks or temples.

Whether it is worth combining depends on how much of your concern comes from descent as opposed to deflation, and for most people there is some of both. Fat transfer adds time to the operation and a proportion of the transferred fat is reabsorbed, so it is less predictable than repositioning tissue. Dr Anh will talk through what each part would contribute in your case.

Question 11

Can I have a deep plane facelift if I have already had a facelift?

Accepted Answer

Often yes. A deep plane approach can be used in secondary facelift surgery, and working in the deeper plane may allow tissue to be repositioned that an earlier, more superficial lift did not reach. Scar tissue from previous surgery does make the dissection less predictable.

Bring whatever information you have about your earlier operation, including which technique was used, when it was performed and by whom. Dr Anh will assess your existing scars, your skin quality and how much movement remains in the tissues. In some cases she may recommend a more limited procedure than you were expecting, or advise against further surgery altogether.

Question 12

Does Medicare or private health insurance cover it, and what does it cost?

Accepted Answer

A deep plane facelift performed for cosmetic reasons does not attract a Medicare rebate, and private health funds generally will not contribute. Where surgery is reconstructive, for example after skin cancer removal or for facial nerve problems, different arrangements can apply and eligibility is assessed individually.

Deep plane surgery takes longer in theatre than a SMAS only lift, which affects surgeon, anaesthetic and hospital fees. You will receive a written quote after your consultation covering each of those along with your follow up care. A referral from your GP is required before surgery in any case.

Reasons for a Deep Plane Facelift (Deep Plane Rhytidectomy)

Dr Anh Nguyen’s Philosophy on Deep Plane Facelift Surgery