How would I know if my doctor performed a deep plane or SMAS facelift? How long should I expect my results to last?

Hi there! Great question. A deep-plane facelift involves more work and often takes longer than other short-SMAS and limited-incision facelifts. The deep-plane moves the deeper layers into a new position with many sutures. The skin is then re-draped accordingly to create a youthful appearance. One would hope that the surgeon is performing the procedure he or she is claiming to. Without actually being there, it may be hard to entirely know. Though, there are telltale signs like the improvement seen at the jowls and longevity (10+ years) with a deep-plane that can't be achieved other routes. If the results only lasted 2 years, chances are you didn't have a deep-plane approach. Hope that helps!

Thank you for your question. You can ask the office for the operative note. Every time that a surgeon does an operation they are supposed to dictate an operative note. The note describes what transpired during the procedure. In Nevada, the office has to keep records for 5 years. I would also ask the surgeon. They should be able to describe what they did as well. Tissue will descend over time. The tissue left is not better than the tissue removed. Each individual is different, so I would visit your surgeon and tell them your thoughts.

Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Las Vegas Plastic Surgery

Deep plane facelift means different things to different surgeons. If you are happy with your results that’s really all that matters

The easiest way for you to check would be to ask the doctor for his operative notes and the operative record. In the operative notes, the doctor should’ve dictated what was done. If it was a light SMAS lift, the operative time would be relatively short, perhaps 2-3 hours. If it was a deep plane facelift, the operative time would’ve been longer because the dissection takes longer. Check both of those and you should be able to get a reasonable idea about what was performed. The longevity of the result of anyone’s face lift depends upon many factors including skin quality, sun exposure, weight gain or loss and several other factors. Without knowing these I can’t give an educated response about how long your individual facelift should’ve lasted. Best wishes.

Ask your plastic surgeon which technique they did, or ask for the operative report. They should tell you this and explain why they used a particular technique over another. If you're concerned about your results, the first step should be to go back to your surgeon and discuss it. If you're not satisfied with their explanation or plan, then a second opinion may be warranted. For what it's worth, there is also no reason to believe that a deep plane facelift produces a better aesthetic result or lasts longer than a SMAS facelift. Facelifts set the clock back around 10 or more years, but the aging process continues, so returning back to where you were before after two years does sound a little premature. Photographs or examination would be helpful to discuss exactly the areas of your concern and the appropriate plan of action.