A deep plane facelift lifts the face beneath its muscle and supporting layer rather than above it, releasing the ligaments that hold sagging tissue down so the cheek, jawline and neck move back as one unit.
It is the most thorough form of facelift and demands a surgeon who performs it regularly. In experienced hands it gives a natural result in the mid-face, where other techniques are weakest, and tends to last longer.
What Deep Plane Facelift involves
Incisions run in front of and behind the ear and into the hairline. The surgeon enters the plane under the SMAS layer, releases the retaining ligaments of the cheek and jaw, and repositions the whole flap upwards. Because skin and deep tissue stay attached, the skin is closed without tension. The neck is usually treated in the same operation through a small incision under the chin, where the platysma muscle is tightened.
Who is a good candidate for Deep Plane Facelift?
This is surgery for established ageing of the face and neck, judged on examination rather than age.
- Moderate to marked jowls, deep folds beside the nose and mouth, and a lax neck
- Flattened or descended cheeks
- Good general health and a stable weight
- Able to set aside two to three weeks for recovery
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Only early changes, which a smaller operation can address
- Smoking that cannot be stopped, because deep dissection depends on good blood supply
- Medical conditions that make a long general anaesthetic unsafe
Technique options
- Deep plane: dissection under the SMAS with ligament release
- Extended deep plane: continues into the neck to release the ligaments along the jaw and improve the jawline angle
- Deep neck work: reduction of fat or gland beneath the platysma when the neck is heavy
- Often combined: with eyelid surgery, brow lift or fat transfer to the cheeks and temples
What happens during your treatment
Surgery takes three to five hours under general anaesthesia. Drains are common for the first night. You stay one or two nights in hospital, then move to your hotel with daily or alternate-day checks in the first week.
Preparing for your trip
Plan for 10 to 12 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
Recovery and results
Expect more swelling than with a mini lift, especially in the second week. Bruising fades by two to three weeks and most people are comfortable in company by week three. Tightness, numbness and firmness under the skin take three to six months to resolve, which is when the result is judged.
- Back to everyday activity: 2 to 3 weeks
- When results show: Presentable at 3 weeks, final at 3 to 6 months
- How long they last: Around 10 to 15 years
Safety, risks and revision policy
Because the dissection runs close to the facial nerve branches, experience matters more here than in any other facelift. Risks to discuss:
- Haematoma needing drainage, most often in the first 24 hours and more common in men and in high blood pressure
- Temporary facial nerve weakness; lasting weakness is rare in experienced hands
- Prolonged swelling, numbness or firmness
- Visible or widened scars, hair loss along the incision, earlobe distortion
- Skin loss behind the ear, mostly in smokers
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Deep Plane Facelift in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Deep Plane Facelift, because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- The surgeon's experience and the technique your anatomy needs
- Type of anaesthesia and the length of the operation
- Nights in hospital and whether another procedure is combined
- What the package includes: tests, garments, medication, hotel, transfers, interpreter and follow-up
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a deep plane facelift better than a SMAS facelift?
It treats the mid-face more effectively and avoids skin tension, but outcome depends more on the surgeon than on the name of the technique. Ask how many they perform each month and ask to see healed results at one year.
How long should I stay in Istanbul?
Plan ten to twelve days. Drains and first dressings come off early, stitches between days five and ten, and the surgeon wants a final check before you fly.
Does it treat the neck?
Usually yes. Most deep plane facelifts include tightening of the platysma and contouring under the chin, because a lifted face above an untreated neck looks mismatched.