Facial aging doesn’t happen all at once. It begins with subtle lines, small shifts in facial contours, and early softening around the jawline. Over time, these changes become more noticeable and may no longer respond to the same treatments that once worked well. At Dr. Andres Bustillo’s Miami practice, many patients want to understand when non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures are enough—and when a deep plane face lift may provide a more meaningful, long-lasting improvement.
Knowing the difference between these approaches can help you choose the option that aligns with your anatomy, stage of facial aging, lifestyle, and goals. Dr. Bustillo specializes exclusively in facial plastic surgery and offers both non-surgical treatments and advanced facelift procedures, including the Miami deep plane facial rejuvenation technique. His goal is to guide each patient toward the most appropriate and natural path forward.
What You’ll Learn in This Comparison
- Non-surgical treatments can refresh the face but cannot correct deeper facial ligaments or significant sagging.
- The deep plane facelift procedure addresses deeper structures for comprehensive rejuvenation.
- Results and recovery differ greatly depending on whether facial volume loss or structural descent is the primary concern.
- Some facial changes are better treated with fillers or neuromodulators, while others need surgical procedures.
- Consulting with the right surgeon helps clarify when a transition from non-surgical to surgical treatment makes sense.
Understanding Non-Surgical vs. Surgical Facial Rejuvenation
Non-surgical treatments can soften wrinkles, restore facial volume, and refine certain facial contours. They are ideal for patients with mild to moderate changes related to facial aging. However, they cannot reposition the deeper layers of the face responsible for jowls, neck laxity, or significant sagging. The difference between non-surgical procedures and facelift surgery ultimately comes down to what is being corrected: surface lines and volume loss versus deeper structural support.
What Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation Can Improve
At Dr. Bustillo’s practice, non-surgical options are deliberate, subtle, and tailored to the patient. They may include:
Neuromodulators
Injectables like Botox soften dynamic wrinkles—the lines created by repeated facial muscles contracting. These treatments work well for crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines.
Facial Fillers
Fillers are used to address volume loss in the cheeks, nasolabial folds, lips, and under-eye area. They can provide natural contour and restore youthful appearance but do not lift sagging tissues.
Kybella
Kybella can help reduce small pockets of fat under the chin for improved neck contouring. While it can refine the jawline in carefully selected patients, it does not tighten loose skin or correct deeper laxity.
These facial rejuvenation procedures work best for patients with:
- Mild facial aging
- Early descent of facial contours
- Wrinkles caused by muscle movement
- Small areas of submental fullness
- Preference for minimal downtime
For patients in this stage, non-surgical care can offer meaningful benefits without the commitment of surgery.
Where Non-Surgical Options Have Limitations
Non-surgical treatments cannot reposition deeper facial structures or correct the descent of facial ligaments, fat pads, or the SMAS layer. They cannot refine the deeper neck tissues, correct significant sagging, or restore the youthful structure of the midface.
If more filler is required each year to achieve the same effect—or if filler begins to obscure natural facial anatomy rather than enhance it—this is often a sign that surgical procedures may create a better, more balanced outcome.
The Deep Plane Facelift Surgery
The deep plane facelift is one of the most advanced facelift techniques available. Unlike a traditional facelift or SMAS facelift procedure, which primarily tightens the skin or superficial tissues, the deep plane facelift technique works beneath the SMAS layer. This approach addresses the deeper facial anatomy involved in aging.
By releasing select facial ligaments and repositioning the deeper layers of the face—including fat pads, muscle, and connective tissues—the deep plane lift restores the face and neck from within. This leads to more natural facial contours, improved cheek elevation, softened nasolabial folds, and better definition along the jawline.
How the Deep Plane Facelift Procedure Works
The deep plane facelift procedure involves:
- Careful placement of incisions around the ear and hairline
- Releasing deeper facial ligaments that have loosened with age
- Elevating the midface and cheeks as a single structural unit
- Repositioning the deeper tissues without placing tension on the skin
- Refining the jawline and improving the contour of the face and neck
Because the deeper layers—not the skin—hold the lift, the result is stable and avoids the tight or pulled appearance associated with outdated techniques.
What the Deep Plane Technique Improves
This type of facelift is ideal for patients with:
- Midface descent
- Significant sagging
- Deep nasolabial folds
- Visible jowls
- Loss of jawline definition
- Fullness or banding in the neck
- Deep wrinkles and folds
- Structural aging rather than simple volume loss
Patients seeking comprehensive rejuvenation often find this approach more fulfilling than temporary non-surgical treatments.
Deep Plane Facelift Results and Recovery
Deep plane facelift results are known for appearing natural, refreshed, and balanced. Because the deeper facial structures are repositioned, patients often look like a younger version of themselves rather than “different.”
Expected Results and Benefits
Patients typically notice:
- Restored cheek position
- Softer nasolabial folds
- Smooth, defined jawline
- Improved neck contour
- Balanced, youthful appearance across the face and neck
As swelling subsides, the facial structure becomes clearer, revealing refined, elegant contours consistent with natural anatomy.
Deep Plane Facelift Recovery
Deep plane facelift recovery is generally similar to that of a SMAS facelift or traditional facelift, even though deeper tissues are addressed.
Most patients experience:
- Swelling and bruising that gradually improve over the first two to three weeks
- Gradual improvement in facial contours over several weeks
- Ability to resume light activities after about 10–14 days
- Full refinement over several months
Because Dr. Bustillo is a skilled surgeon
Key Differences Between Deep Plane and Traditional Facelift Techniques
Understanding the key differences between these two facelift procedures can help you determine which option may better align with your goals.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Deep Plane Facelift
Non-Surgical Treatments Lifting Ability
Add volume or reduce wrinkles but cannot lift descended tissues or reposition deeper facial structures.
Deep Plane Facelift Lifting Ability
Repositions underlying muscles, ligaments, and fat pads, providing true lifting and correction of facial descent.
Non-Surgical Treatments Longevity of Results
Offer temporary improvement and require ongoing maintenance with repeated injections or sessions.
Deep Plane Facelift Longevity of Results
Delivers long-lasting rejuvenation, with deeper tissue repositioning that holds for many years.
Questions about your procedure?
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Andres Bustillo.
Non-Surgical Treatments Facial Contour Enhancement
Enhance surface appearance and can subtly sculpt the face but cannot restore structural midface support.
Deep Plane Facelift Facial Contour Enhancement
Rebuilds natural contour by elevating deeper tissues, restoring youthful cheek shape and midface definition.
Non-Surgical Treatments Recovery Time
Involve little to no downtime, allowing patients to resume activities immediately.
Deep Plane Facelift Recovery Time
Requires a more extended recovery period but provides significantly more dramatic and enduring improvement.
Non-Surgical Treatments Overall Results
Best for early aging changes and subtle enhancement, with results that are modest and temporary.
Deep Plane Facelift Overall Results
Ideal for those seeking noticeable, comprehensive, and structural rejuvenation with long-term stability.
Signs Non-Surgical Treatment May No Longer Be Enough
You may be ready to consider facelift surgery if you notice:
- Needing more filler to maintain results
- Sagging in the midface or jawline
- Deep wrinkles or folds that no longer respond to injectables
- Heaviness in the lower face
- Softening of the neck or loss of definition
- Volume loss that no longer improves facial anatomy
If treatments feel less effective—or begin to distort natural contours—surgery often becomes the more appropriate next step.
When It’s Time to Consider Surgery
A deep plane lift may be the right option when:
- Structural changes outweigh volume-related changes
- The midface or cheeks have descended
- Facial ligaments have weakened
- The face and neck show visible sagging
- There is interest in long-term, predictable results
Planning facelift procedures involves understanding your goals, daily life, career, and recovery timeline. During consultation, Dr. Bustillo evaluates the facial structure and anatomy to determine whether the deep plane facelift procedure or another type of facelift is the right choice.
Choosing the Right Facelift Surgeon for Your Aesthetic Goals
Choosing the right surgeon is essential when considering advanced facelift procedures. A fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon with extensive experience in the deep plane facelift technique can help ensure safe outcomes, balanced results, and minimal visible signs of surgery.
Dr. Bustillo’s practice focuses exclusively on the face. His approach emphasizes natural enhancement, precise technique, and respect for facial anatomy. His goal is to create results that look refreshed and harmonious—not altered.
Schedule a Consultation in Miami
If you’re wondering whether non-surgical options are still the best fit—or if it may be time to consider the deep plane facelift—Dr. Bustillo can help guide you. Patients come to his Miami practice seeking an honest, skilled evaluation and a treatment plan tailored to their goals, anatomy, and lifestyle.
Schedule a consultation to explore whether non-surgical treatments, surgical procedures, or a combination of both can help you achieve natural, long-lasting rejuvenation.
