Achieve transformative and lasting facial rejuvenation with a deep plane facelift in Denver. There are a number of variations of the traditional facelift procedure, and the deep plane facelift is one of the most intricate.
Because of the technique’s complexity, many plastic surgeons are unable to perform it. At Smith Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Aesthetic Center, Dr. Cory Bovenzi performs this facelift technique with exceptional precision and skill, giving patients the results they deserve.
The deep plane facelift focuses on the sagging midface, lower face, and neck. It reduces the appearance of the nasolabial folds and corrects signs of aging on the jawline, chin, and neck.
Deep plane facelifting reaches deep into the tissues of the face to create long-lasting and natural-looking improvements. It lifts from below the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) layer, a fibromuscular network of tissues. The deep plane refers to the tissue plane below this SMAS muscle and requires intricate facial anatomy knowledge and experience which is the core of Dr. Bovenzi’s training and surgical skill.
The lifting process involves releasing ligaments and then lifting the skin and the SMAS layer as a single unit. Facial ligaments are released, and the cheek fat pads and muscles are lifted. Sagging skin, muscle tissue, and excess fat are repositioned to give a more youthful appearance and can often make patients look and feel 10-15 years younger.
Dr. Bovenzi is a highly experienced and respected facial plastic surgeon who has specific sub-specialization training in facelift surgery, which is his most common and popular procedure.. His experience and training in facial plastic surgery gives him an edge over other plastic surgeons when it comes to facial procedures. He will often perform 3 to 5 facelift surgeries per week. Compared to many other plastic surgeons, Dr. Bovenzi performs more facelifts in a month than many other surgeons perform in a year.
At Smith Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetic Center, Dr. Bovenzi relies on his extensive experience when performing numerous facelift variations, including the deep plane facelift. His advanced techniques result in very natural-looking results that patients love. He often pairs this procedure with other aging face procedures including blepharoplasty, browlift, laser resurfacing, fat transfer, and non-surgical cosmetic treatments for enhanced benefits.
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The deep plane facelift offers numerous benefits. It effectively reduces the appearance of deep nasolabial folds and marionette lines in the face. It also lifts sagging skin on the jawline, neck, and cheeks. These changes work in concert to restore a more youthful look.
By lifting from below the SMAS layer, the deep plane facelift allows for long-lasting natural results that corrects the root causes of facial aging. Through refining this technique Dr. Bovenzi has been able to perform these facelifts safely without the need for drains, and with less downtime than you may see elsewhere. As a result, patients experience a quicker and more comfortable recovery period.
The procedure’s incisions are well-camouflaged and discrete, ensuring that they are very hard to notice. The goal is that everyone can notice you look better, but you get the option of whether you want people to know you had a facelift or not. You will not look like those windswept overdone faces commonly seen in Hollywood, but instead look like a rejuvenated, energetic, and youthful version of yourself. Depending on where you are in the aging process, these results can be tailored to be more dramatic or subtle. Whether you are looking for a tune-up or require more extensive changes, Dr. Bovenzi ensures with these advanced techniques that your results are optimized to give you long-lasting and life-changing improvements.
The results are extremely natural-looking, much more than skin-only facelifts and even more than SMAS lifts. Deep plane facelift results also last longer than the results of other facelift options.
Good candidates for a deep plane facelift are in their 40s, 50s, or 60s. However, facelift candidates are not candidates based solely on their age, but more by their anatomy. Patients with significantly drooping skin in the midface region and harsh nasolabial folds are excellent candidates. Additionally, patients who have moderately or deeply sagging skin beneath the chin, on the neck, and on the jawline are good candidates. Even slightly younger patients who are showing beginning signs of aging in the midface, lower face, and neck can be excellent candidates for this procedure so they can maintain their youthful appearance.
Ideal candidates for this facelift variation are in good overall health and are non-smokers. Smokers will be required to quit for several weeks before the procedure date, since this will allow their skin health to improve. Poor skin health (and poor health in general) can increase the risk of proper wound healing after a procedure.
People who have bleeding-related health conditions, who struggle with uncontrolled high blood pressure, or who are prone to keloid scarring are not ideal candidates for a deep plane facelift.
At Smith Cosmetic Surgery, a deep plane facelift operation takes around three hours. This ensures proper time to address both sides of the face and the neck, which is essentially 3 surgeries in addition to the time to go to sleep, have the surgery performed, dressing applied, and wake up from surgery. At the same time, Dr. Bovenzi uses his efficient and well-practiced techniques to keep your anesthesia to a minimum without compromising the precision and perfection-oriented techniques. At the start, anesthesia will typically be administered through an IV, which provides a deep sedation where you do not require a ventilator or breathing tube, but ensures you are asleep and pain-free through the duration of surgery.
The surgeon will then create well-camouflaged incisions around the natural contours of the ear, including going into the inside of the ear canal to keep things as invisible as possible. The incisions are also designed to go into the hair rather than what some techniques do going along the hairline. This design allows you to have well-hidden incisions whether you decide to hear your hair up, or decide on a short hair length. Dr. Bovenzi has performed these procedures on men and women of all hair lengths from completely bald to long and thick hair. In all circumstances, you do not have your hair cut or shaved in surgery. In fact, Dr. Bovenzi’s assistant will braid your hair out of the way if needed to allow him access to the incisions while keeping them well-disguised from early on.
Through these incisions, the surgeon will carefully lift the deep facial tissues beneath the SMAS layer. This will elevate both the SMAS layer and the skin layers. Additionally, he will release certain cheek, neck, and jaw ligaments. The specific ligament release necessary is dependent on your specific anatomy. Dr. Bovenzi customizes this technique to each individual to balance between most effective results and minimal recovery. Each individual face is unique, which is what makes this surgery an art. The artistic process involves individualization and custom design which Dr. Bovenzi ensures is tailored to your specific needs and goals.
After the deep facial muscle is repositioned back to its youthful location, the surgeon will remove excess sagging facial skin, further tightening and firming the face. He will close incisions meticulously with stitches and then dress them appropriately. In fact, Dr. Bovenzi uses sutures so small they are finer than a human hair and are placed under the use of magnifying lenses. Through the use of cutting-edge technology and technique, Dr. Bovenzi does not need to use drains, allowing you to have a quicker and smoother recovery.
Deep plane facelift recovery can be relatively easy due to the preservation techniques Dr. Bovenzi employs to minimize the trauma to your skin and allow you to heal with as much comfort and as little downtime as possible, without sacrificing any of your results.
A degree of swelling, numbness, and bruising will be present after this facelift; these will fade gradually. Ice packs can be used to reduce bruising and swelling, and you must keep your head elevated at all times. Pain medication and antibiotics will also be prescribed. The standard recovery time from this bruising and swelling is stated to be about 2 weeks, but many patients heal in a shorter timeframe.
Dr. Bovenzi will see you the day after surgery and your surgical wrap will be removed. Some patients require a light ACE wrap dressing to be used to hold gentle pressure during the first week after surgery. If needed, this dressing is still able to be removed and replaced as tolerated during this time, and should not be required after the first week.
During a follow-up appointment a week after the surgery, stitches will be removed, and Dr. Bovenzi will check on your healing process. He may clear you to return to various activities. Typically, strenuous exercise is prohibited for 3 weeks after surgery to ensure proper wound healing and prevent risks of bleeding.
Once all healing is complete, you will be able to see the final results of your deep plane facelift procedure. Patients report they no longer have jowls, have an improved jawline, have an improved neckline and no longer have the neck laxity they had previously. They mention their nasolabial folds, facial wrinkles, and overall signs of face and neck aging improve to an appearance they had 10 to 15 years ago. In many cases, results can be achieved that are an improvement to the patient’s baseline anatomy and allow an improvement to your appearance that you never saw even in your youth. This type of result is most common when this procedure is combined with a Deep Neck Lift.
When determining the overall price of a deep plane facelift, many factors are taken into account. These include total surgical time, anesthesia fees, revision versus primary surgery, and specific techniques utilized. To make the deep plane facelift cost more affordable for a wider range of patients, financing is available through CareCredit.
Interested in learning more about undergoing a deep plane facelift in Denver? If so, call (303) 741-2211 or fill out our contact form to arrange your free and personalized consultation.
The average recovery time after a deep plane facelift is around two weeks. After this time, bruising and swelling will have improved, and you will most likely be able to go back to work and resume social events. If you have a high-profile event such as a wedding or an appearance on television, we recommend giving yourself 1 month between your surgical date and the event date. Following Dr. Bovenzi’s recovery directions is vital to ensuring proper healing results and proper healing time.
Dr. Bovenzi has many patients come from around the country and around the world to achieve these natural yet remarkable results. If you are coming from out of town, we have caregivers that have extensive experience in taking care of deep plane facelift patients. Many of them have had these procedures themselves with Dr. Bovenzi.
Flying restrictions are detailed in your postoperative instruction booklet, provided by our surgical team. Overall, flying itself does not pose you much risk. However, the stress of running through an airport, lifting your carry-on luggage, and being in a different location far from our office can be risky. This risk can be managed by staying in town at least a few days after surgery. If cleared by Dr. Bovenzi, it may be possible to go home after this time period and return for your suture removal visit at about 1 week after surgery. For more details, Dr. Bovenzi is happy to go over the restrictions required and considerations necessary when traveling for surgery.
After a deep plane facelift in Denver, patients are typically advised to try to sleep with their head elevated during the first 1 to 2 weeks after surgery to minimize swelling and allow for symmetric healing. Patients can typically go back to sleeping on their side after two to three weeks. This varies based on factors like the amount of bruising that is present, the healing rate of the skin, the amount of postoperative swelling, and the patient’s preferred sleeping style.
Once a deep plane facelift has been performed, patients will need to sleep on their back. This prevents pressure on the incisions; pressure can cause infections and discomfort, disrupt sutures, prolong the incision healing process, and even affect the results of the facelift.
Sleeping with one’s head elevated is also vital, since this can aid in reduction of swelling and inflammation. Use pillows to ensure proper elevation.
To prevent turning over onto your side in your sleep, patients find they can help achieve this by placing cushions or rolled-up towels around their sides. Another option is sleeping in a chair or recliner. In some circumstances, natural sleep aids such as melatonin may be used to help ensure you have proper healing with the sleep your body needs to recover.
