A deep plane facelift repositions the skin, muscle, and connective tissue of the face as one connected unit, while a SMAS facelift tightens that same muscular layer through a more limited, layered approach. The distinction matters because it determines whether your results look lifted and rested, or visibly pulled. In this blog, Dr. Sarmela Sunder, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills trained at Johns Hopkins, Cornell Weill, and Stanford, breaks down how each technique works and why muscle-level anchoring is often the difference between a refreshed face and an obviously "done" one.
Facial aging isn't just loose skin settling downward. Skin, muscle, and the connective tissue beneath it, known as the SMAS, all descend together. A facelift that only addresses the skin will always fight gravity with tension, which is exactly what produces the tight, wind-swept look many Beverly Hills patients want to avoid.
What Is a SMAS Facelift?
A SMAS facelift lifts and tightens the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the layer of connective tissue that sits over the facial muscles, without fully releasing the ligaments that anchor it to deeper structures. The surgeon folds, plicates, or trims this layer to smooth jowls and improve neck and lower-face laxity.
- Addresses moderate sagging in the lower face, jawline, and neck
- Involves a shorter dissection than deep plane techniques, often with quicker initial recovery
- Best suited to patients in their 40s to early 50s with mild to moderate descent
- Tends to lift tissue in a more lateral, or sideways, direction
Because the lift direction is lateral, a SMAS facelift can, in inexperienced hands, create the flattened, pulled-back appearance that makes a facelift obvious rather than invisible.
What Is a Deep Plane Facelift? How Muscle-Level Anchoring Works
A deep plane facelift works underneath the SMAS layer, releasing the retaining ligaments that hold the cheeks and jowls in their descended position. Skin, fat, and muscle are then repositioned together as a single composite unit, rather than being separated and tightened in stages.
Because the tissue moves as one connected layer, there is no isolated tension pulling on the skin alone. The lift direction is vertical, following the natural path facial tissue takes when it was younger and higher, rather than pulling sideways toward the ears. This composite movement is what allows a deep plane facelift in Beverly Hills to correct the midface, jawline, and neck in a single, cohesive motion.
Deep Plane vs. SMAS: Key Differences in Technique and Results
Choosing between a deep plane facelift and a SMAS facelift comes down to how much structural descent needs correcting and how long you want results to last.
- Layer addressed: SMAS facelifts tighten the connective tissue layer; deep plane facelifts release and reposition tissue beneath it, including the ligaments anchoring the cheek.
- Lift direction: SMAS techniques generally pull laterally; deep plane techniques reposition tissue vertically, mirroring how the face ages.
- Best candidates: SMAS suits earlier, milder aging; deep plane suits moderate to advanced descent, particularly in the midface.
- Longevity: Deep plane results tend to hold longer because the underlying structural support, not just the skin, has been repositioned.
- Recovery: SMAS facelifts often involve a shorter initial recovery given the more limited dissection.
Every face is different, and the right approach depends on your anatomy, skin quality, and aesthetic goals rather than a one-size-fits-all rule.
Why Does a Deep Plane Facelift Avoid the "Pulled" or "Windswept" Look?
A pulled appearance happens when skin carries the tension of a lift on its own. Because a deep plane facelift moves skin, fat, and muscle together, the skin itself stays relatively tension-free, which allows the face to move, smile, and express emotion naturally after healing.
Repositioning tissue vertically, rather than stretching it sideways, also respects the way the face naturally ages and settles. The result is a face that looks like a rested, younger version of itself rather than a visibly altered one.
Am I a Candidate for a Deep Plane Facelift?
You may be a strong candidate for a deep plane facelift if you have moderate to advanced sagging in the midface, jowls, or neck, and you're looking for a longer-lasting, more comprehensive correction than a SMAS or mini facelift can provide. Good skin elasticity and overall health also support a smoother recovery.
Patients with earlier, milder signs of aging, or those seeking a shorter procedure and recovery window, may be better suited to a SMAS facelift or a more limited lift. A consultation with Dr. Sunder allows for an honest assessment of which approach matches your anatomy and goals.
It's also worth noting that a deep plane facelift is not exclusively for older patients. Some patients in their late 40s and early 50s with significant midface descent, often influenced by genetics or sun exposure, benefit more from the comprehensive correction of a deep plane approach than from a more conservative technique that may need to be repeated sooner.
Why Choose Dr. Sunder for a Deep Plane Facelift in Beverly Hills?
Dr. Sarmela Sunder is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and one of the few female facial plastic surgeons practicing in Beverly Hills. Her training includes Johns Hopkins, Cornell Weill, and a chief residency at Stanford, giving her deep, muscle-level expertise in the anatomy that makes or breaks a natural facelift result.
Dr. Sunder approaches every face as its own canvas, with an artistic vision guided by surgical precision. Rather than applying the same technique to every patient, she customizes her approach, often favoring deep plane facelift techniques for patients seeking harmony between a refreshed appearance and results that still look like themselves. Her practice at Sunder Plastic Surgery on Rodeo Drive combines this artistry with the compassionate, detail-oriented care Beverly Hills patients expect from a facelift specialist.
What Is Recovery Like After a Deep Plane Facelift?
Initial swelling and bruising after a deep plane facelift typically peak within the first few days and improve significantly over the first one to two weeks. Most patients feel comfortable returning to non-strenuous activities and light social settings within two to three weeks, though full settling of results continues over several months.
Because the deep plane technique repositions tissue rather than relying on skin tension, results tend to look natural even in the earlier stages of healing. Dr. Sunder provides a personalized recovery plan for every patient, since healing timelines vary based on individual anatomy and health.
This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Outcomes, risks, and suitability vary from patient to patient.
Ready to Explore a Deep Plane Facelift? Dr. Sunder Is Here to Help
Whether a deep plane facelift, a SMAS facelift, or a more conservative approach is right for you depends entirely on your unique facial anatomy and goals. Dr. Sarmela Sunder brings decades of Beverly Hills facial plastic surgery expertise to every consultation, helping you choose the technique that will radiate the most natural, elevated version of yourself.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Sunder to discuss whether a deep plane facelift is right for you.
Sources
- Sand JP, Amodeo CA, Nabili V, Keller GS. "Deep Plane Facelift: An Evaluation of the High-SMAS Versus Standard Incision Points." Facial Plastic Surgery, 2018. PMC
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "Lift Procedures Led Growth as Demand for Restoration Drove Plastic Surgery in 2025." plasticsurgery.org
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Plastic Surgery Statistics. plasticsurgery.org/plastic-surgery-statistics
