Deep Plane Facelift

Deep plane facelift performed by Dr. David Hill MD to address facial aging in the mid-face, jowls, and neck. $13,300–$24,700. Four to six hour surgery repositions the SMAS layer and facial retaining ligaments for natural-appearing, long-lasting rejuvenation. Most comprehensive surgical approach to facial aging, associated with results lasting ten or more years. Lakeview Chicago.

Fulcrum Aesthetics offers the deep plane facelift as its primary surgical facial rejuvenation procedure, performed by Medical Director Dr. David Hill MD. The deep plane facelift is considered among the most sophisticated and durable facelift techniques, addressing the anatomical root cause of facial aging rather than simply repositioning the skin envelope as earlier generations of facelifts did. The technique releases and repositions the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) — the fibromuscular layer below the facial fat compartments — along with the retaining ligaments that tether facial fat pads to the underlying bone and muscle. As aging loosens these ligaments and causes ptosis (descent) of the mid-face fat, jowling, deepening nasolabial folds, and neck laxity, the deep plane technique releases these ligaments under direct vision and re-drapes the SMAS and overlying fat compartments back to their anatomically youthful position. Because the repositioning is of the deeper structural layers rather than the skin, the skin closure requires minimal tension — a key characteristic that produces the natural, non-pulled appearance that distinguishes deep plane results from older, tighter-appearing techniques. Dr. Hill performs the surgery under general anaesthesia in a four to six hour operating session. The recovery period typically involves initial swelling and bruising for two to three weeks, with social presentability for most patients at four to six weeks. Results are associated with lasting ten or more years, with the retained SMAS position slowing the re-descent of soft tissues compared to skin-only or SMAS-plication techniques. Pricing ranges from $13,300 to $24,700 depending on the complexity of the procedure and the areas addressed, which may include the neck. The deep plane facelift can be combined with blepharoplasty, brow lift, fat grafting, or other complementary procedures at the same operative session.