What is difference between cutting ligament and releasing ligament in deep plane face lift?

Hello.  Thank you for your question.  Cutting and releasing the ligaments during deep plane facelift mean exactly the same thing.  The ligaments that attach the skin and soft tissues of the face to the underling skeleton are released ("cut" or "divided"), allowing the SMAS to be mobilized, elevated, and secured in a more youthful position.  I would advise that you concern yourself less with the technical aspects of how your surgeon performs the surgery.  There are many technical nuances that distinguishes various facelift techniques, and every surgeon employs the techniques that work best in their hands.  The most important things for a patient to consider are the experience and expertise of the surgeon, the results that they achieve as demonstrated by a review of their before and after pictures, and the satisfaction of their patients as demonstrated in patient reviews.  I would encourage you to seek a consultation with a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience and expertise in facial rejuvenation and allow them to assess your individual anatomy, concerns and goals, in order to determine the best treatment plan for you.  I wish you the best in achieving your aesthetic goals.

Thank you for the great question. This is quite technical, so kudos to you for doing your homework! There are a few places in the face and neck where "retaining ligaments" exist. These are essentially areas where there are connective tissue fibers between the dermis and the underlying bone or skeletal muscle. A true deep-plane facelift will "release" the retaining ligaments in the cheek region, and many surgeons who are trained in this technique will also do so at the chin (mandible) and lateral neck (cervical). The term "release" implies that they are dissected and divided; this is mostly done bluntly, with spreading of a facelift scissor; however, for dense patches, a blade may be required. So, to answer your question, it is really both; seems like a miscommunication or just a semantics problem with the staff member who spoke to you. Best of luck and take care!

Effectively they are the same thing, though most patients fee "release" is a nicer word than "cut."  Be sure to discuss your goals and concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon and consider the pros and the cons. Be certain your surgeon is properly certified.  I've attached a link where you can start your search. Here's my advice:  The word choice and technical aspects are the domain of the surgeons.  In my experience it's better for patients to choose a qualified surgeon they like to take care of them based on his/her experience, reputation, and personality, not based on the minute details of how the surgeon has learned over their long career to deliver good results.  When you hire a lawyer, you don't ask what brand of laptop they use to write their legal briefs, and when you hire an architect, you don't ask if he/she uses a pen or a pencil to make drafts.  Surgeons are professionals, and it's their experience and professionalism that distinguishes one from another, not the minute details of how they get the job done.