Extended Deep Plane Facelift
“What is the Extended Deep Plane Facelift? ”
Facelift has always been one of the most demanding surgeries in the plastic surgery field. We experience that our patients who have received successful anti-aging surgeries gain their confidence back in self-love, relationships, and business. A successful facelift gives a smooth jawline without hollow marks and a natural face shape as if you have time-traveled to 15 years ago.
However, it also has been a mystery as some people have artificial looks resulting in an unsatisfactory appearance, excessively tightened skin, and visible scarring. To understand why this happens, we must understand the process of aging on our face. Aged face results from not only the skin but also the subcutaneous fat layer and a special layer called SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System), which is located in between the skin and the muscle layer.
A traditional facelift only lifts the superficial skin flap which does not result in a long-lasting effect and does not give a lifting effect under the cheek area. Moreover, as time goes by, a traditional simple facelift causes secondary sagging skin due to unequal pull in the skin and SMAS layer with a weak facelift surgery fixation. This creates a separation in the layer between the superficial skin and SMAS layer which eventually leaves a large scar on the surgery incision line. The incision should be sutured to the deeper layer of the skin layer to prevent scarring.
Throughout 29 years of plastic surgery experiences, Dr. Lee Myung Ju has researched and witnessed the evolution of facelift history. To achieve a successful facelift, a deep understanding of a facial anatomy with advanced facial rejuvenation techniques are required as the aging process starts from deep down muscle tissues, not just from the superficial skin layer.
Through recent advancements in facelift techniques and facial anatomy, extended deep plane facelift has become a leading surgical method in the plastic surgery field as it provides a superior result in safety, naturality, and longevity compared to other facelifts. The extended deep plane facelift is different from a high-SMAS facelift as it allows greater mobility for surgeons to effectively lift both the deep SMAS and skin layer in the mid-face, resulting in natural and effective lifts in the jawline and mid-face area.
The Extended Deep Plane Facelift focuses on directly lifting and re-mobilizing the anterior loosened facial area by dissecting the important area that directly affects the result, a composite facial layer (skin, fat tissues, and SMAS layer), by cutting the retaining ligaments at the anterior face. This allows direct access to tighten the anterior sagging tissues to relocate the composite layer, thus resulting in a natural appearance, less swelling, less visible incision line, and long-lasting results.
Extended Deep Plane Facelift for Asians
While most of the worldly known facelift techniques focus on Western facial features, Dr.Lee introduces that Asians have different facial anatomy and characteristics requiring a different approach. Because many Asians have definite features as written below, Dr. Lee has found that an Extended Deep Plane Facelift is much more effective for Asians than traditional facelift methods.
- Wider distance between the cheekbones
- Flatter face with retrusion in the central face
- Thicker skin with more fibrous tissue adhesion
- Round and heavy face
For patients with above features, Dr. Lee may perform below additional procedures during the facelift. Out of these procedures, buccal fat lift is a key procedure to create a smooth and defined jawline. As Asians have distinctive facial anatomy features, extensive experiences and bespoke techniques tailored to these features are keys to having a successful facelift result.
- Superficial jowl line liposuction
- Buccal fat removal
- Buccal fat lift*
Doctor’s Message
The Extended Deep Plane Facelift is a challenging surgery and only top surgeons with excellent techniques and a comprehensive understanding of facial anatomy can perform it appropriately. Nonetheless, if performed successfully, this sophisticated facial rejuvenation surgery gives a superior result compared to other facelift techniques – thread lifts, mini lifts, and even high-SMAS facelifts. I would like to recommend extended deep plane facelift surgery to patients who are looking for long-lasting, natural, and effective results.
Operation Information
- Surgery Time: 4-5 hours
- Anesthesia Type: IV sedation (light sleep)
- Hospitalization: None
- Stitch Removal: 4-7 Days
- Recovery Time: 1-2 Weeks
Extended Deep Plane Facelift Technique Compared to Other Facelift Surgeries
Targeted areas: full face, mid-face, nasolabial folds (laugh lines), cheeks, jawline, neck (additional surgery)
STEP 01Create a small incision line starting from the hairline to either in front of the ear or behind the ear depending on a patient’s skin and aging condition. The scar lines will disappear as time goes by.
STEP 02Using the incision line, delaminate the SMAS layer under the subcutaneous tissues, release ligamentous tissues in the anterior part of the face, and create a natural and effective redraping result.
STEP 03Extended Deep Plane Facelift allows an elevation of soft tissues, a volume addition to the mid-face, and a definition to the jawline compared to High-SMAS facelifts and other traditional facelifts.
Targeted areas: loosened eyes, eyebrows
STEP 01Create a small incision inside the hairline.
STEP 02Using the incision line, delaminate the SMAS layer under the subcutaneous tissues and elevate the temple areas.
STEP 03Consider the patient’s condition in severity and complexity of the aging process and excise the excess skin and fats. Fix the suturing line inside the hairline where it is not visible.
Targeted areas: partial cheek areas, partial mid-face area, and partial jawline
STEP 01Make a minimum incision starting from the hairline, inner ears, and earlobes, to the back of the ear.
STEP 02Using the minimum incision line, delaminate the SMAS layer under the subcutaneous tissues and pull the skin layer and SMAS layer together.
STEP 03Consider the patient’s wrinkle lines and the complexity of the aging process and excise the excess skin and fat tissues. Tightly fix the skin and suture them together.
Comparison Between the Different Types of Facelift Surgeries
Extended Deep Plane FaceliftExtended Deep Plane Facelift is highly effective for a full face surgery, specifically front and middle part of the face, nasolabial folds (laugh lines), cheeks, jawline, and neck to treat skin laxity, wrinkles, and muscles.
Temple LiftThe Temple Lift focuses on the temple areas – eyes, eyebrows, and nasolabial folds by removing excess fats and skin and lifting.
Minimum Incision FaceliftMinimum incision facelift improves lifting in the areas near the cheeks and jawline rather unlike the Extended Deep Plane Facelift which is a full facelift.
Please note that Minimum Incision Facelift and Temple Lift have limitations in the result especially the laugh line areas when compared to the Extended Deep Plane Facelift. For patients looking for a full face-lifting effect, we highly recommend the Extended Deep Plane Facelift.
Why Is the Extended Deep Plane Facelift Better than Other Facelifts?
Compared to the Extended Deep Plane Facelift, the MACS lift peels only the skin and sutures the SMAS layer with thread; it does not separate the facial muscles and tightens the SMAS layer. As a result, facial expressions may look unnatural.
Before & After
Ideal Candidates for Extended Deep Plane Facelift
How to Maintain Extended Deep Plane Facelift Result
To maintain the result of a facelift procedure, an additional Volume Fat Grafting is recommended. Although patients have different methods to manage their facelift results, consecutive facial fat grafting from 1 to 3 years can be done to maintain the long-lasting results of the facelift procedure. Some minor treatments such as laser, skin treatments, and dermal injections can further help maintain the surgery result.
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