Traditional Facelift vs. Deep Plane Facelift: Which One Is Right for You?

September 28, 2026 - By Dr. Jules Feledy

At Belmont Plastic Surgery, we believe the best result is the one nobody can point to. They won't see the work. They will only see you. Plastic surgery shouldn't change who you are, and choosing the right facelift technique is a big part of making that true.

"Facelift" covers more than one operation. The two you'll hear about most are the traditional facelift and the deep plane facelift. The difference comes down to which layers of the face are moved and how.

What's happening as your face ages

Aging happens in layers. Skin loses elasticity, fat drifts downward, and the deeper support tissue loosens. That support layer is called the SMAS, and it sits just beneath the skin. How Dr. Jules Feledy works with the skin and the SMAS is what separates these two techniques.

The traditional facelift

In a traditional facelift, the surgeon lifts the skin away from the SMAS and treats the two layers separately. The SMAS is tightened with stitches, folded on itself, or trimmed. Then the skin is laid back into place and the excess is removed.

This approach works well for jowls, early sagging along the jawline, and loose skin in the neck. It involves less dissection and a shorter operation. Because the skin and the deeper layer are treated separately, the skin can carry some of the tension of the repair, and for some patients that shortens how long the result lasts.

The deep plane facelift

In a deep plane facelift, the surgeon works beneath the SMAS and releases the ligaments that anchor the cheek and jaw to the bone. Once those ligaments are freed, the SMAS and the skin move together as one unit and are repositioned.

That is what lets the technique reach the midface. Cheek fullness can be returned to where it used to be, which softens the deep fold between the nose and mouth in a way a traditional lift often can't. Because the tissue moves as a single layer, there is less pull on the skin surface. The goal is a face that looks rested and like yours, not tight or pulled.

The tradeoffs

The deep plane is a more demanding operation. It takes longer, involves more dissection, and often brings more swelling in the first weeks. It also runs close to the branches of the facial nerve, so a surgeon's training and experience matter a great deal. The traditional facelift is more limited in what it can correct, but it is also less extensive surgery.

Which one is right for you

Patients with mild to moderate sagging, mostly in the jawline and neck, often do very well with a traditional facelift. The deep plane is more often recommended for heavier jowls, midface descent, deeper folds around the mouth, or for patients who have had a facelift before and need a more thorough correction. Deep plane results are also often reported to last longer.

Neither procedure stops aging. Your results depend on your skin, your anatomy, and how you care for yourself afterward. Recovery is similar in outline for both. Most patients plan on about two weeks away from work and social events, with swelling continuing to settle over several weeks to months.

Protect your investment

A facelift is an investment in yourself, and at Belmont Plastic Surgery we want you to get the most from it. Surgery repositions the tissue beneath your skin, but it doesn't change how your skin itself ages. That's where a steady skin care routine comes in.

Once you're fully healed and Dr. Feledy has cleared you, we encourage a regular regimen that includes microneedling and deep cleaning. Microneedling uses very fine needles to prompt your skin to renew itself, which can improve texture, tone, and firmness over time. Deep cleaning clears out pores and buildup so your skin stays healthy and fresh. The goal is for the surface of your skin to look as good as the work beneath it, and for your results to last.

It starts with your goals

Before anything else, Dr. Feledy wants to know what you want. What do you see when you look in the mirror? What bothers you, and what do you hope will feel different? We will always listen. There is no single right answer for every face, so the recommendation follows from your goals, not the other way around.

During your consultation, Dr. Feledy will look at how you move, how you age, and how your features fit together. Then he will explain which technique he recommends for you and why. Dr. Feledy will always take the time for you to visualize your results. He will show you scar placement, explain the healing process and make sure you are fully confident in your decision to restore who you are.

If you're curious whether a traditional or deep plane facelift is right for you, we'd love to meet you. Contact Belmont Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.