As we get older, we inevitably experience the negative effects of aging. Loss of skin elasticity, firmness, and volume can significantly change the contours of the face. A facelift is the most common and effective cosmetic surgery that is performed to address these problems while removing wrinkles, creases, and excess skin on the neck.
What is a Facelift?
Facelifts are comprehensive cosmetic procedures designed to reduce signs of aging on the face. Both surgical and non-surgical techniques can be used to improve the look of wrinkles and tighten the skin of the face and neck.
Non-surgical facelifts, also known as liquid facelifts, use injectables like Botox and dermal fillers to rejuvenate the face. The downside of this treatment option is that it does not treat the loose skin on the aging neck or heavy jowls. Non-surgical treatments are also temporary and must be repeated periodically for long-term results.
Surgical facelift options include mini facelifts and deep plane facelifts. Mini facelifts are less invasive surgical procedures that usually address the jowls and sagging skin of the upper neck. While non-surgical and mini facelifts are less extensive procedures, they often do not meet patients’ expectations and many will return for a full facelift later on.
The Deep Plane Facelift
Dr. Bustillo has been performing the deep plane facelift for over fifteen years. The deep plane facelift addresses the entire face including the midface, nasolabial folds, jowls, and the neck.
In a deep plane facelift, the surgeon releases all of the facial ligaments to elevate and reposition the fatty midface layer and muscle layer of the face.
They will also lift the cheek fat back to its natural position, elevate and soften the jowls, and tighten the neck muscles. This facial surgery procedure is essential to creating a well-defined neck.
Dr. Bustillo often combines the facelift operation with additional procedures as needed. For example, because the face loses volume with age, a fat transfer procedure is often performed at the same time.
Facelift Benefits
The results of a facelift operation usually turn back the clock approximately ten years and the results last about that long. A properly executed full facelift procedure will elevate the cheeks, improve jowls, tighten the skin of the neck, and restore lost volume.
The majority of patients who choose to have a facelift do so in their fifties. Occasionally, patients with premature facial aging or weight loss will undergo plastic surgery at an earlier age.
The four visible transformations that the face goes through as a result of the aging process are facial soft tissue descent, facial deflation, radial expansion of the soft facial tissues, and loss of skin quality. A properly planned and executed facelift should address these in order to fully rejuvenate the face and neck.
Deep Plane Facelift Consultation
The facelift consultation begins with a discussion about specific concerns that the patient has regarding signs of aging. Dr. Bustillo will perform a thorough physical examination of the face and neck, noting the midface, jowls, and neck laxity. The eyes and eyebrows are also evaluated to see if the patient is a candidate for any other adjunctive procedure, such as a blepharoplasty or a brow lift.
Dr. Bustillo will then discuss the possible outcome of a deep plane facelift. The patient should understand exactly what the facelift procedure will achieve for them so that an informed decision can be made. The consultation is a great time to ask any questions or address any concerns you might have leading up to the procedure.
Oblique view of a female before a Facelift in Miami. Notice the descent of the midface (cheek). Hollowness can be seen in the area between the lower eyelid and cheek.
Oblique view of the same patient after having a facial lifting and eyelid lift by Dr. Bustillo. The midface has been elevated and a youthful contour has been re-established.
Questions about your procedure?
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Andres Bustillo.
Diagram demonstrating the repositioning and elevation of the muscles of the face during the deep plane facelift as performed by Dr. Bustillo.
Facelift Preparation
Any plans for weight loss should occur before you schedule your facelift. Dr. Bustillo requires that all patients undergoing a facelift procedure obtain pre-operative labs and medical clearance from their primary care physician.
Patients should stop taking all aspirin, anti-inflammatory products (including naproxen and ibuprofen), and vitamins ten days before surgery. Dr. Bustillo recommends that patients start high doses of vitamin C (2000mg/day) one week before and two weeks after facial surgery, to help with healing and reduce bruising. Patients should also abstain from alcohol five days before facelift surgery to decrease swelling and bruising.
The Deep Plane Facelift Procedure
During a deep plane facelift, small, curved incisions are made starting at the temple, extending behind the ear, and ending in the hair behind the ear. The surgeon then separates the skin from the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) which is a thin layer of facial tissue between the skin and the muscles beneath. The deep plane technique includes a midface lift, lower facelift, and neck lift by releasing all of the facial retaining ligaments, elevating and repositioning the fatty midface layer, and tightening the muscle layer of the face.
Dr. Bustillo performs deep plane facelift surgery on an outpatient basis in his Miami-based AAAASF-certified surgical facility. All surgeries are attended by board-certified anesthesiologists (MD), who are part of the Baptist Hospital Anesthesiology Department.
The deep plane facelift procedure can be performed under either general anesthesia or IV sedation anesthesia, depending on the patient. The facial surgery takes about three to four hours to perform.
Recovering From a Facelift
Following the procedure, activity should be kept to a minimum. The surgeon will wrap the face with a bandage initially to keep the skin flat.
Pain should be minimal. Tylenol is usually enough to control any minor discomfort. Any significant pain should be reported to Dr. Bustillo immediately, as this may signal bleeding under the skin.
The patient is seen the morning after the surgery. The bandage is removed one day after surgery. A small bandage is then worn for one more day.
Most facelift patients can return to work in 14 days. Dr. Bustillo will remove the stitches underneath the chin and in front of the ears five days after surgery and those behind the ears ten days after the facelift.
Patients can usually shower and wash their hair five days after the procedure. Any physical activity, such as running or lifting, can be resumed three weeks after the surgery.
The final facelift results may not be completely evident until several months after the procedure. The majority of patients are extremely satisfied with the results of their deep plane facelift.
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Facelift FAQs
According to CareCredit, the national average cost of a facelift procedure is $8,000. But the cost of a facelift varies from patient to patient, from doctor to doctor, and from city to city.
A deep plane facelift is one of the more comprehensive surgical techniques available today. Traditionally, the skin was pulled and/or removed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The deep plane facelift goes beneath the facial muscle layer to elevate the entire face as one to achieve a more natural, longer-lasting result.
70% of the swelling resolves in the first three weeks during the facelift recovery time. The patient should keep their head elevated using two pillows to help reduce swelling of the face and neck. The patient should also place small bags of frozen peas wrapped in a towel on the face every fifteen minutes for the first two days. We recommend eating fresh pineapple after surgery to help reduce swelling.
Dr. Bustillo takes about three to four hours to perform the deep plane facelift procedure.
You will always look younger after your facelift than if you had never had one. The results of a deep plane facelift will stay with you forever. However, the signs of aging will not stop after a facelift. On average, the results of a deep plane facelift last about 10 years.
During a deep plane facelift, the surgeon manipulates the muscles, fat, and ligaments beneath the SMAS layer of tissue. The procedure lifts the cheek fat back to its natural position, elevates and softens the jowls, and tightens the neck muscles. This plastic surgery procedure is essential to creating a well-defined neck.
The deep plane facelift is the only technique that can accomplish a satisfactory midface or cheek elevation. The result is a comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
The fundamental difference between the extended deep plane facelift and traditional facelifts is that traditional facelift fails to release all the ligaments of the muscular layer. The deep plane facelift severs all of the retaining ligaments, thereby allowing for a complete lift.
The deep plane facelift technique also improves the jowls in a way that other SMAS facelifts cannot by the severing of all of the retaining ligaments that anchor the platysma muscle down.
Why Choose plastic surgeon Dr. Bustillo?
- Castle Connolly Top Doctor for more than 10 years
- American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
- Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at The New York University
- Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery Residency at The University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital
- General Surgery Internship at The University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital
