Have you ever felt the same way? Are you bursting with freshness and vitality on the inside, but discover that your outer appearance no longer matches your inner self?
Your facial contours have changed due to age and have sagged. You have already undergone minimally invasive treatments, but you are no longer satisfied with the results.
In this situation, a surgical facelift may be a sensible solution for you.
Depending on your individual findings, various facelift procedures can be considered for treatment. One in-depth surgical method in particular should be mentioned here: the deep plane facelift (DPF). This creates a long-lasting, natural rejuvenation of the face with impressive results.
Your plastic surgeon Dr. Schumann has many years of experience in various forms of facelift surgery. Our competent anesthesia team at the Yuveo Clinic in Düsseldorf also guarantees gentle anesthesia during the operation.
Contents
Yuveo Clinic
Special features of the deep plane facelift
The deep plane facelift is a particularly deep procedure that has a lasting rejuvenating effect on the face.
Deep Plane Facelift
Deep plane facelift - treatment procedure
This facelift technique loosens, lifts and repositions deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue on the face. The aim is to achieve a natural rejuvenation of the face.
The surgeon and anesthesia team work closely together during this procedure and look after you together.
Preparation
Our team will provide you with detailed advice and information in a personal consultation beforehand.
Note on behavior before the operation:
If you are taking blood thinners, you should stop taking them at least 14 days before the operation. Please refrain from consuming alcohol and nicotine.
Operation
The procedure is complex in nature and is therefore performed under general anesthesia.
We use skin incisions to gain access to the deep layers of muscle and connective tissue, whereby these are detached from the ligaments.
The mobilized tissues are lifted, repositioned and fixed.
Finally, we suture the wounds and apply a bandage.
Depending on your individual situation, the operation may take place on an outpatient basis, or we may recommend that you stay in the clinic overnight for monitoring.
Differences between SMAS and deep plane facelifting
The difference between a deep plane facelift and an SMAS facelift lies mainly in the depth and technique of the tissue layers that are moved and tightened during the operation.
Both methods aim to rejuvenate the face, particularly the cheeks, jawline and neck area, but they do so in different ways.
Below you will find the most important differences:
Deep Plane Facelift
What is it?
Here, not only the SMAS layer, but also the underlying tissue including the deeper fat pads and muscles are loosened and repositioned as a single unit.
Technology:
- The surgeon does not detach the skin separately, but works in a deeper layer under the SMAS.
- The tissue unit (skin + SMAS + muscles + fat pads) is lifted together.
Advantages:
- Very natural result, as the facial features are lifted as a whole.
- Particularly effective for the mid-face (cheeks, nasolabial folds).
- Longer lasting results.
Disadvantages:
- Technically more demanding and not every surgeon masters this method.
- Longer healing time.
- Higher risk of nerve injury if not performed correctly.
SMAS facelift (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System)
What is it?
In the SMAS facelift, the SMAS layer – a layer of connective tissue and muscle under the skin – is lifted and repositioned.
Technology:
- The skin is separated from the SMAS layer.
- The SMAS layer is either tightened (plication) or partially removed and re-anchored (excision).
- The skin is then placed over the newly tightened tissue.
Advantages:
- Less invasive than Deep Plane.
- Good effect with moderate skin sagging.
Disadvantages:
- Less effective for severe sagging in the mid-face (cheek area).
- Risk that the result will look unnatural if only the skin is stretched tightly.
Summarized comparison
| Feature | SMAS facelift | Deep Plane Facelift |
| Layer | SMAS only | SMAS + deeper tissue as a unit |
| Naturalness | Good | Very high |
| Medium face effect | Mediocre | Very good |
| Healing time | Shorter | Longer |
| Technical effort | Moderate | High |
| Risk | Lower | Higher (only for inexperienced surgeons) |
Frequently asked questions about the deep plane facelift
Who is a deep plane facelift suitable for?
Here we take into account the patient’s individual situation and check the indication.
The procedure is certainly very suitable for people whose deeper tissue layers of the face have sagged.
These are loosened, lifted and repositioned using this technique – with a significant tightening effect.
Which areas of the face can be tightened with this technique?
This type of facelift has positive effects on:
- deep facial wrinkles
- Sagging cheeks
- a blurred chin line
- Lowering the center of gravity
- a sagging neck
- a blurred transition between face and neck
What is the difference to the SMAS lift?
SMAS-Lift: The muscle and connective tissue is lifted and repositioned.
DPF: The muscle and connective tissue is loosened, lifted and repositioned.
What are the advantages of this facelift technique?
With this method, we can effectively lift age-related sagging areas of the face and achieve a significant rejuvenating effect.
Your face is given a fresh, natural look with a long-lasting effect.
We go deep so that the superficial areas of skin remain untouched (apart from the inconspicuous incisions).
What can be said about scarring?
During a deep plane facelift, we do everything we can to conceal the course of the scar as far as possible. Incisions are therefore made around the hairline and ears, among other areas.
How much time off should you take after this facelift?
You should take it easy physically for several weeks after this facelift.
For you, this means not doing any sport or strenuous work for about six weeks.
Also avoid heat and intense sunlight: sunbathing, solariums and saunas are taboo during this time.
How is the follow-up treatment carried out?
Our surgeons monitor the healing success of the facelift after the procedure. The stitches are removed approx. 10 days after the operation.
How long will the results of this facelift last?
Thanks to the Deep Plane Facelift, we can perform a comprehensive, deep tightening of the tissue layers, achieving a long-lasting tightening effect on the face.
What are the risks and side effects of this operation?
Our plastic and aesthetic surgery team will inform you thoroughly about the possible risks of a deep plane facelift. These include the general risks of a surgical procedure, but also the specific risks of this lift.
Side effects may include bruising, swelling or numbness. These usually disappear on their own.
You will go into the treatment fully informed. If you have any questions, please contact our team.
Facts
- Duration of surgery:
about 3-5 hours - Anesthesia:
General anesthesia - Clinic stay:
outpatient or 1 night inpatient in the clinic - Aftercare:
Remove stitches after approx. 7 to 10 days - Social skills:
after approx. 10 to 14 days - Sport:
abstain from sport for approx. 6 weeks
