Deep Plane Facelift Redefined for the Most Natural Look
Discover how a deep plane facelift restores cheek height, refines the jawline, and preserves natural expression for results that look like you.
A youthful face is not created by pulling the skin tighter. It is restored by lifting the deeper support that once held the cheeks high, kept the jawline clean, and shaped a graceful neck. That is the promise of a deep plane facelift. It works where aging begins so expressions stay relaxed and results look like you on your best day.
At Balikian Plastic Surgery, Dr. Richard V. Balikian refines these principles with a preservation approach that protects healthy tissue and focuses on harmony. The goal is soft movement, balanced contours, and a finish that feels authentic in photos, in motion and up close.
What a Deep Plane Facelift Really Does
A deep plane facelift addresses the true source of facial aging by working in the layer beneath the SMAS, where the cheek fat pads and retaining ligaments live.
Instead of tightening skin, it releases specific points of tether and repositions the descended tissues as a single unit. This restores youthful cheek height, softens the nasolabial area, defines the jawline and improves the transition into the neck.
How It Works, Step By Step
A deep plane facelift follows a precise sequence that restores support from within while protecting healthy tissue.
- Incisions are placed around the ear and within natural creases.
- The surgeon enters the deep plane between the SMAS and the muscles of facial expression.
- Strategic releases are made where ligaments hold tissue down along the cheek and jawline.
- The cheek and lower face are lifted in a vertical and slightly lateral direction to recreate youthful contours.
- Skin is redraped with minimal tension so scars can remain thin and expressions stay relaxed.
Together, these steps lift what has descended and let the skin lie softly, so results look natural at rest and in motion.
Why Patients Choose the Deep Plane Approach
Patients choose this technique for results that look like them, move naturally, and last.
- Natural movement because the lift comes from deeper support, not surface tension.
- Midface improvement that skin only methods struggle to achieve.
- A cleaner jawline with less heaviness at the jowls.
- Refinement designed to last longer than more superficial techniques.
In short, it refreshes the face from its foundation, creating balanced contours without a pulled look.
Deep Plane Facelift Before and After Gallery
Preservation Techniques: Gentle by Design
Preservation facelift principles protect healthy anatomy while delivering meaningful change. Rather than wide undermining, the focus is on targeted release and limited dissection to maintain blood supply, reduce swelling, and support smooth recovery.
Core preservation ideas
- Limited dissection to protect the skin’s blood flow and reduce bruising.
- Targeted releases only where aging patterns demand it.
- Vertical vector planning to lift cheeks and soften folds without a pulled look.
- Minimal skin tension during closure to encourage thin, quiet scars.
- Thoughtful aftercare using cooling, light compression, and modern recovery support.
The preservation mindset complements deep plane lifting by prioritizing tissue health and subtlety. The result is refined change that looks like you, only refreshed.
Preservation Deep Plane Facelift and Neck Lift
The Artiste Lift™ is Dr. Balikian’s preservation deep plane facelift combined with a deep vertical neck lift.
It blends structural repositioning in the face with precise work in the neck to sharpen the angle under the chin and create a harmonious jawline.
What Makes the Artiste Lift™ Different
The Artiste Lift™ blends deep plane precision with preservation techniques to create balanced, natural rejuvenation from cheek to neck.
- Three pocket, preservation plan that lifts where it counts and protects what is already youthful.
- Midface elevation to restore soft cheek fullness and a smoother lid to cheek junction.
- Jawline definition by releasing tethering and lifting the lower face as a unit.
- Vertical neck refinement addressing platysmal bands and excess fullness to lengthen and slim the neckline.
- Skin closure with minimal tension so incisions rest quietly along natural lines.
Together, these details deliver a refined result that looks authentic at rest and in motion and ages gracefully over time.
Candidate Profile
The Artiste Lift™ is for people who want friends to recognize them, only refreshed.
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She Wanted to Look Younger Without Looking “Done”
No One Believes I Had a Facelift and That’s the Best Part
She Wanted Natural Results - Her Deep Plane Facelift Before and After at 57 Years Old #Facelift
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It is not about pulling skin tighter. It is about restoring your natural harmony.
- Cheeks that have slipped and a jawline that looks softer, with early to moderate jowling.
- A heavier or banded neck that would benefit from structural support and a longer, cleaner neckline.
- Prior fillers or threads that no longer deliver the look or longevity you want.
- A preference for results that move naturally and look effortless up close.
In consultation, Dr. Balikian studies your features and even old photos, then designs a preservation deep plane and neck plan that brings your own balance back.
Recovery and Results
Recovery follows the preservation mindset. Tissue is protected, blood supply is maintained, and modern aftercare supports comfort and a smooth return to normal life.
- The first days bring expected swelling and a feeling of tightness that settles as bruising fades.
- Many patients feel presentable in one to two weeks, depending on the extent of neck work and individual healing.
- Over the next several weeks, swelling softens, contours refine, and scars rest quietly along natural lines.
Because deeper support is repositioned and the skin is allowed to heal with minimal tension, results look natural in motion and age gracefully, often with fewer touch ups in the future.
Artiste Lift™ Before and After Gallery
What the Science Says…
Recent PubMed research shows that deep plane facelift techniques lift the face by releasing and repositioning deeper support layers with minimal skin tension, which helps preserve natural movement and improve midface and jawline contour.
- Deep plane facelifts work below the SMAS to release retaining ligaments and lift the face as a unit. Reviews describe releasing key ligaments (zygomatic, masseteric, mandibular, cervical) and redraping skin with minimal tension, which supports natural movement and midface rejuvenation.
- Understanding the face’s “glideplanes” explains why targeted release can improve efficacy and longevity. An anatomic study outlines how soft-tissue mobility and selective vs extensive release influence redraping and long-term results in facelift surgery.
- Modern variations of the deep plane approach show safety and targeted benefits. A 2024 PRS study combining deep-plane lifting with deep fat compartment mobilization and zygomaticus major plication reported direct improvement of the nasolabial fold with a favorable safety profile.
- Objective outcomes after extended deep-plane rhytidectomy show sustained lower-face and neck improvement through one year. A 50-patient series used standardized photography at multiple time points to document changes across 12 months.
- Neck refinement can be integrated with deep plane lifting. An extended deep-plane facelift using a “platysma hammock” flap demonstrated significant, durable improvements in platysma banding and submandibular gland visibility at 18–21 months.
- Endoscopic and limited-scar deep plane variants are being reported with high patient satisfaction. Large series and technique papers describe “scar-concealing” composite or ponytail-style deep plane lifts that aim to preserve blood supply and reduce visible scarring while achieving deep structural repositioning.
- Comparative evidence suggests strong results across techniques, with some differences in risks. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews report high satisfaction for both deep plane and SMAS facelifts; some analyses note slightly higher hematoma rates with deep plane, while midface rejuvenation may favor deeper approaches in limited direct comparisons. Technique selection should be individualized to patient anatomy and surgeon expertise.
- Technology is refining how outcomes are measured. An AI-based study objectively quantified “years regained” after facelifts and found multiple techniques effective, underscoring that results depend on execution and patient selection rather than any single method alone.
Overall, the evidence supports a preservation deep plane approach with planned neck refinement as a safe, anatomically sound method that delivers balanced, long-lasting results.
A New You Starts Here
Preservation Deep Plane Facelift FAQs
What is the Artiste Lift™?
The Artiste Lift™ is a preservation deep plane facelift and neck lift that restores deeper facial support, then redrapes skin with minimal tension so expressions stay natural.
How is the Artiste Lift™ different from a skin-only or mini lift?
Skin-only and many mini lifts tighten surface tissue. The Artiste Lift™ repositions deeper structures first so the skin can lie softly, often looking more natural and lasting longer.
How does the Artiste Lift™ compare with SMAS plication or imbrication?
SMAS methods reinforce the superficial layer. The Artiste Lift™ works beneath the SMAS to release tethering and lift the cheek and lower face as a unit, addressing midface descent and jawline heaviness.
How does the Artiste Lift™ compare with high-SMAS or extended SMAS?
High-SMAS lifts move more support than skin-only lifts but focus on the SMAS plane. The Artiste Lift™ adds targeted deep plane release and preservation principles to protect blood supply and reduce skin tension.
How does the Artiste Lift™ compare with ponytail or short-scar lifts?
Ponytail and short-scar lifts can help early laxity. The Artiste Lift™ is designed for broader face and neck rejuvenation when cheeks have dropped, jowls show, or the neck is heavier.
How does the Artiste Lift™ differ from thread lifts?
Thread lifts give a quick, subtle lift that is temporary. The Artiste Lift™ repositions deeper support for a more comprehensive and durable change.
Who is a good candidate for the Artiste Lift™?
People who want to look like themselves, only refreshed, with signs such as flattened cheeks, early to moderate jowling, or a heavier or banded neck. It also suits those whose fillers or threads no longer give the desired look or duration.
What results can I expect with the Artiste Lift™?
Cheeks sit higher with gentle fullness, the jawline looks cleaner, and the neck is more defined. The goal is an effortless, natural look in person and in motion.
Will I look natural with the Artiste Lift™ compared with other lifts?
Yes. Because the lift comes from deeper support rather than skin tension, expressions tend to remain relaxed and balanced.
How long do Artiste Lift™ results last compared with other techniques?
Longevity varies by anatomy and lifestyle. Deep plane and preservation approaches, including the Artiste Lift™, are designed for durable change since structure is repositioned rather than skin tightened alone.
What is recovery like with the Artiste Lift™ compared with other lifts?
Most patients feel presentable in one to two weeks, depending on neck work and individual healing. Preservation methods aim to protect blood supply and reduce tension, which can support a smoother recovery.
What do scars look like after the Artiste Lift™?
Incisions are placed in natural creases around the ear and hairline. Because skin is closed with minimal tension, scars are planned to rest quietly over time.
Is the Artiste Lift™ suitable for different skin types and ages?
Yes, with individualized planning. Technique and aftercare are tailored to skin quality, age, and anatomy to support even healing and natural movement.
Can men have the Artiste Lift™?
Yes. Planning accounts for beard patterns, hairlines, and a typically heavier neck to maintain a clean, masculine jawline.
Explore Facial Plastic Surgery Options
Richard V. Balikian, MD, FACS
Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Balikian Facial Plastic Surgery: Richard V. Balikian, MD, FACS
Tyler Frew, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
