Best Extended Deep Plane Face Lift in Turkey | 2025 Cost, Reviews and Before & After Results

The Extended Deep Plane Face Lift is a comprehensive surgical technique designed to rejuvenate the aging face by repositioning the deeper layers of muscle and fat rather than simply tightening the skin. Unlike traditional methods that rely on skin tension, this advanced procedure releases the retaining ligaments that anchor facial tissues, allowing for a vertical lift of the entire midface, jawline, and neck as a single composite unit. This structural approach addresses the root causes of aging—gravity, volume loss, and tissue descent—resulting in a natural, un-operated appearance and significantly longer-lasting outcomes compared to standard SMAS plication or cutaneous lifts.

What is the anatomy behind the Extended Deep Plane Face Lift?

To understand why this surgery is so effective, you have to visualize the face as a series of layers, much like a bed. You have the frame and mattress (the bone), the sheets and blankets (the muscles and fat), and the comforter on top (the skin). Traditional facelifts often tried to smooth out the wrinkles in the comforter without fixing the bunched-up sheets underneath. This usually led to unnatural results and scars that stretched over time because the skin was under too much pressure.

The “deep plane” refers to a natural anatomical space that exists between the superficial muscle layer, known as the SMAS, and the deeper muscles responsible for facial expression. This space is a glide plane that allows your skin and soft tissue to move freely when you talk or smile.

By surgically entering this specific layer, we can lift the muscle, fat, and skin together as one composite flap. Because we are moving the heavy lifting layers of the face, the skin simply rides along for the journey. This means there is absolutely no tension on the skin at the incision points, which is the secret to invisible scarring and a completely natural appearance.

Why are retaining ligaments important in a Deep Plane Face Lift?

The primary reason our faces sag is not just loose skin, but the interaction between gravity and specific anchors called retaining ligaments. Think of these ligaments as sturdy tree roots or tough rubber bands that attach your soft facial tissues directly to the bone.

When we are young, these ligaments are tight and hold our cheeks high. As we age, gravity pulls the soft fat and skin downward, but the ligaments hold fast at their attachment points. This resistance creates the characteristic hills and valleys of an aging face. The tissue bulges over the ligament to form a jowl or a deep groove, while the ligament itself creates a hollow depression.

In a standard facelift, if these ligaments are not released, the surgeon is essentially fighting against them. Pulling the tissue back without cutting these tethers is like trying to smooth a tablecloth that is nailed to the dining table. You might get it flat for a moment, but it will distort or snap back. The extended deep plane face lift focuses on meticulously releasing these ligaments. Once they are untethered, the entire facial structure becomes mobile and can be gently repositioned vertically to where it was ten or fifteen years ago.

Which signs indicate you need an Extended Deep Plane Face Lift?

While age is a factor, the condition of your tissue is the real guide. We are seeing a shift where patients in their forties are choosing this procedure to maintain their looks, while patients in their sixties and seventies use it for restoration. This technique is versatile and can be adapted for different stages of aging.

Common physical signs that suggest this approach is necessary include:

• Deep nasolabial folds
• Visible jowls
• Marionette lines
• Midface flattening
• Loose neck skin
• Blunted jawline definition
• Cheek volume loss
• Double chin appearance

How does the Extended Deep Plane Face Lift restore the neck?

The term “extended” specifically refers to continuing the release of tissues down into the neck and jawline. This is critical because the face and neck age together. A smooth cheek looks out of place if it sits above a sagging, aged neck.

The deep plane approach allows us to separate the jawline from the neck, creating a sharp, distinct border. We address the platysma muscle, which is the thin sheet of muscle covering the neck. Over time, this muscle loosens and creates vertical bands.

In this procedure, we create a “hammock” effect. We release the platysma and anchor it upward and backward behind the ear. This tightening acts like a sling that supports the glands and deep structures under the jaw, creating a crisp right angle under the chin. For patients with a “heavy” neck, we can also perform deep neck sculpting, which involves gently reducing deep fat or reshaping the digastric muscles that contribute to bulkiness.

What is the recovery timeline for a Deep Plane Face Lift?

Recovery is a process, but it is often faster and less painful than patients anticipate. Because the technique involves less trauma to the skin itself and avoids tension, the “tight” feeling is minimal. Most of the work is done internally.

The general healing milestones are as follows:

• Day one
• Day three
• Day seven
• Day ten
• Day fourteen
• One month
• Three months
• Six months

During the first week, resting is the priority. You will likely look “puffy” rather than having a “pulled” look. By the second week, most bruising has faded enough to be covered with light makeup, and many people feel comfortable running errands or doing light desk work. By one month, the majority of the swelling has resolved, and you are largely “camera ready,” though subtle refinement continues for several months as the tissues settle completely.

Is a Deep Plane Face Lift better than fillers?

We often see patients who have spent years trying to combat gravity with injectable fillers. While fillers are excellent for minor volume adjustments, they cannot lift sagging tissue.

When you try to lift a falling face with filler, you have to inject a significant amount of product. This often leads to an “overfilled” or “pillow face” appearance, where the features look puffy and distorted rather than youthful. You are essentially adding weight to a structure that is already sliding down.

The deep plane face lift is a subtractive and repositioning procedure. We restore the natural volume of the cheek not by adding foreign material, but by moving your own falling malar fat pad back to its original high position. This restores the beautiful “Ogee curve”—the S-shaped curve of a youthful cheek—naturally.

What are the risks associated with a Deep Plane Face Lift?

Every surgical procedure carries some degree of risk, and open communication about these possibilities is essential for safety and peace of mind. Because we are working in deeper anatomical layers, detailed knowledge of the facial structures is mandatory.

Potential complications include:

• Hematoma
• Infection
• Seroma
• Nerve weakness
• Poor scarring
• Asymmetry
• Hairline distortion
• Skin healing issues
• Sensory changes

Nerve safety is a common concern. In the deep plane technique, we actually work under direct visualization. This means we can see the anatomy clearly, which allows us to safely navigate around the branches of the facial nerve. Temporary weakness can occur due to swelling, but permanent injury is exceptionally rare in the hands of a specialist.

How long do Extended Deep Plane Face Lift results last?

This is one of the most significant advantages of this technique. Because the lift is structural and does not rely on skin tension, the results are incredibly durable.

When we release the ligaments and anchor the heavy tissues to the fixed fascia of the face, we are resetting the clock. The face will not “snap back” like a rubber band. You will continue to age from this new, rejuvenated starting point.

Most patients enjoy the full benefits of the procedure for over a decade. Even fifteen years later, a patient who has undergone this surgery will look better and more refreshed than if they had never had the procedure at all. It provides a lasting foundation of youthfulness that non-surgical methods simply cannot match.