Restore youthful facial harmony with a deep plane facelift in Palo Alto. At Leader Plastic Surgery, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Brittany Leader offers this advanced technique to address sagging cheeks, deep nasolabial folds, jowls, and neck laxity. She offers thoughtful, personalized care to ensure you look like the best version of yourself.
What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?
Lift Deeper Facial Structures Naturally
As we age, the deeper support structures of the face shift. The superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), ligaments, and fat pads that once held the cheeks and jawline in a youthful position gradually descend. This leads to the flattening of the midface, deepening nasolabial folds, jowls along the jawline, and laxity extending into the neck. A deep plane facelift addresses these changes by releasing key retaining ligaments and repositioning the deeper facial layers as a single unit.
Rather than simply tightening skin, the technique lifts the SMAS and underlying tissue to restore natural facial contours. Incisions are typically placed around the ears and hidden within the hairline. Excess skin is then carefully redraped and trimmed. By lifting the midface and jawline at a structural level, Dr. Leader repositions tissues more comprehensively than other facelift techniques.
Quick Glance
Treatment Time
4 - 5 Hours
Patient Downtime
10 - 14 Days
Treatment Series
Single Surgical Procedure
Procedure Type
Outpatient Facial Surgery
Concerns Treated
- Sagging cheeks and midface descent
- Deep nasolabial folds
- Jowls along the jawline
- Loss of facial definition
- Neck laxity and early banding
- Hollowing and descent of midface fat pads
Dr. Leader’s Approach
Beverly Hills Mastery. Midwestern Care.
Dr. Leader approaches facial rejuvenation with the mindset of a surgeon and an artist. Every face has its own balance of structure, movement, and personality. During your consultation, she takes time to truly understand what you see in the mirror and what feels most important to you. From there, she carefully designs a plan that respects your natural features while restoring harmony to areas where time has altered the underlying anatomy.
Dr. Leader’s surgical technique reflects years of advanced training and an eye for detail shaped by a lifelong appreciation for art. As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who trained with leading surgeons in Beverly Hills, she focuses on meticulous, thoughtful refinement. The goal is simple and meaningful: when you look in the mirror, you still recognize yourself, but you appear more refreshed, balanced, and confident.
Benefits of Deep Plane Facelift:
- Comprehensive lift of the midface, jawline, and neck
- Repositioning of deeper facial structures rather than skin tightening alone
- Softening of deep nasolabial folds and midface creases
- Restoration of youthful cheek projection and facial contours
- Longer-lasting rejuvenation compared with superficial techniques
- Reduced tension on the skin for refined, natural-looking results
- Harmonious improvement across the midface and lower face
- More complete correction of structural facial aging
Deep Plane Facelift FAQs
What Makes a Deep Plane Facelift Different From a Traditional Facelift?
A deep plane facelift focuses on lifting the deeper structural layers of the face rather than tightening skin alone. In this technique, the underlying tissue layer (the SMAS) and the attached fat pads are released and repositioned together. This allows the cheeks, jawline, and midface to be lifted more naturally. Because the deeper structures are moved as a unit, the results tend to look softer and more integrated with your natural facial movement.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Deep Plane Facelift?
Most patients who consider this procedure are noticing more advanced signs of facial aging, including sagging cheeks, deeper smile lines, jowls along the jawline, and loose skin extending into the neck. During your consultation, Dr. Leader carefully evaluates your anatomy, skin quality, and facial structure to determine whether this approach is the right fit for you.
Will My Results Look Natural?
This is one of the most common concerns patients bring to their consultation. The goal of a deep plane facelift is to restore the structure that time has gradually softened. Because the deeper tissues are repositioned rather than stretched, the results achieve a natural result and avoid a tight or pulled appearance.
What Is Recovery Like After Surgery?
Most patients plan for about 10 to 14 days of downtime. Swelling and bruising are expected during the healing period, but these improve over the first couple of weeks. Many patients feel comfortable returning to social activities after this time, though subtle healing continues behind the scenes. Dr. Leader and her team guide you through every step of recovery.
Schedule Your Consultation
Dr. Brittany Leader is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who brings Beverly Hills-trained surgical expertise and thoughtful, personalized care to every patient she sees at Leader Plastic Surgery. She takes time to understand your goals and design a treatment plan that feels natural to you. If you’re considering facial rejuvenation, schedule a consultation for a deep plane facelift in Palo Alto today.
