Demystifying the Deep Plane Facelift: What It Means Anatomically and Why It Works

Abstract

Rhytidectomy is a common procedure performed by facial plastic surgeons. On well-selected patients, rhytidectomy rejuvenates the aging face by repositioning soft tissues and improving facial shape. The fundamental goal of rhytidectomy, or facelift surgery, is to provide a more youthful facial appearance by elevating soft tissues that often descend with aging. The success and longevity of any rhytidectomy procedure are based on the individual patient's anatomy and aging and on the mobilization, elevation, and fixation of the soft tissues during the facelift procedure. Although surgeons often use many terms to describe a given facelift technique, anatomical terms are best used to name the facelift procedure, as the plane of dissection and the vector of elevation are what determines the end result. This paper attempts to simplify and demystify the deep plane facelift procedure and to describe the anatomy that makes this technique successful.

Fat Augmentation as Adjunct to CORE Facelift Surgery

“…20 CORE facelift techniques have evolved into the golden standard in facelift surgery, as they promise to reposition the sagged tissues, the superficial medial cheek fat pad, and the deep medial cheek fat pad (DMCF) perhaps most importantly, into a more youthful position, in addition to improving the jawline. [38][39][40] This standard is advocated both "bottom-up" as well as "topdown. "…”

Shortened Infrabrow Excision Blepharoplasty Combined with the Removal of Orbicularis Oculi Muscle for Dermatochalasis in Asians

“…However, these 2 approaches require an extension of the incision into the brow, resulting in apparent scars and postoperative changes in the eyebrow shape. Correlating facial rhytidectomy with upper eyelid excision blepharoplasty, 12 it may be noted that a procedure involving only the skin layer but not the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) layer tends to result in unsatisfactory and unsustainable effects.…”