‘Turn back the clock’ with this natural, durable facelift technique
Facelift address jowls, crepe-like skin in the neck, and wrinkles in the lower face to restore a refined jawline (and turn back the clock about 10 years).
As a nationally-renowned deep plane facelift expert, Dr. Claytor is uniquely equipped to provide you with natural-looking results.
A facelift removes wrinkles, sagging and skin laxity for a younger, more refreshed appearance for men and women. A facelift procedure reverses the signs of aging by tightening muscles, removing fat, and trimming excess skin, rejuvenating the mid- to lower face, including the cheeks, mouth, chin, and neck.
Unlike traditional facelifts that are performed using the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) method, deep plane facelifts allow Dr. Claytor to treat the skin as well as underlying muscles and tissue. Shaping deeper facial tissues as part of your facelift can help you avoid the windswept look that can occur if sagging surface skin alone is overly tightened.
Meet Dr. R. Brannon Claytor
Dr. Claytor is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and holds over 20 years of experience as a cosmetic plastic surgeon. An innovator and teacher in the field of plastic surgery, he uses advanced techniques like the drain-free tummy tuck and deep plane facelift to streamline recovery and provide natural-looking, durable results.
Award-Winning, Nationally-Recognized Aesthetic Surgery Expert
Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Over 20 Years of Experience
Chief of Plastic Surgery, Main Line Health
Board Member, The Aesthetic Society
9x Top Doctor Winner, Philadelphia Magazine
America’s Best Plastic Surgeons, Newsweek
Over 1,000 5-Star Reviews, Verified by RealPatientRatings
What do facelifts treat?
Deep plane facelifts are most effective for patients who are seeking treatment to the following areas of their face:
Midface sagging
Wrinkles and lines of the face
Deep creases under the eyes
Deep creases between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds)
Jowls due to loss of muscle tone
Sagging areas of skin or fat
Loose skin and fat under the chin and neck
The signs of aging can be reduced by a face-lift as it removes excess fat, tightens the underlying muscles, and redrapes the skin around the neck and face.
“Highly recommend Dr Claytor! He is brilliant and the most personable and caring surgeon I have ever met! I met with 4 doctors before going to him and my search ended as soon as I consulted with him. His expertise with deep plane facelifts is well known and I knew that was what I wanted. My results are fabulous…I’m told I look 10-15 yrs younger! I’m only 2 months PO and have been going out in public since day 10! My scars are hard to see and are healing so well. I teach fitness classes 3-4 days a week and was back at the gym 1 month PO. I am having a bit of a tough recovery (I always do with surgery). Dr Claytor and his team have been by my side the entire time! They are easily reached and truly care about my issues. Thank you so much Dr. Claytor, Debbie, Emily, Julie, Dani and Sarah!”
—5-Star Google Review*
The Procedure
The deep plane facelift technique relies on small incisions within the hairline (along the sideburns), which allow access to the deeper facial ligaments tethering the SMAS to the underlying tissue. This requires extensive knowledge of facial nerves, which are quite delicate and run very close to the retaining ligaments; thus Dr. Claytor will immediately identify the patient’s facial nerve pathways and maintain their integrity throughout the process.
Continuing the deep plane facelift process, Dr. Claytor will manipulate the SMAS and skin as a unit, lifting, tightening, and anchoring the temporal fascia (deep connective tissues) higher up on the mid-face. Once facial tissues are in a lifted position, excess skin may be excised to create a more defined jawline and profile.
Excess fat removal is also a part of a deep plane facelift, and in many cases, fat pads can be redistributed to achieve a youthful, volumized appearance. As tension is not placed singularly on the skin, with a deep plane facelift Dr. Claytor is able to create exceptionally natural-looking, long-lasting facial rejuvenation results.
Before & After: Deep Plane Facelift
Frequently Asked Questions
Similar to a SMAS facelift, deep plane facelift incisions are strategically placed along the front and back curvatures of the ears. An additional incision is placed in the sideburn hairline. This allows scarring to be very inconspicuous—especially with Dr. Claytor’s meticulous surgical precision and proper scar care after surgery.
Dr. Claytor offers IV sedation (general anesthesia) but this procedure can be safely and comfortably performed under local anesthesia. Patients experience “conscious sedation,” meaning they are technically awake but are completely relaxed and remain comfortable during surgery, avoiding the “hangover” that is experienced with IV sedation. Deep plane facelifts are performed in our Quad A-accredited surgery center, which has hospital-grade safety features while offering the convenience and luxury of a private facility.
If expertly performed, a deep plane facelift can set the clock back on your appearance by 10+ years with results lasting 10-15 years. Deep plane facelift results last longer than those of a SMAS facelift because the underlying musculature is also treated, not just the SMAS and superficial skin.
Routine facial injectables, IPL skin revitalization, RF microneedling, CO2 laser, or laser skin tightening treatments will complement deep plane facelift results. Some patients may desire a touch-up surgical procedure to further extend the longevity of their deep plane facelift as they continue to age over time.
The optimal age for a deep plane facelift isn’t set in stone, and patients may benefit from this procedure at any age. The right time for you largely on individual factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and personal aesthetic goals. Typically, patients considering this procedure range from their mid-40s and beyond. Patients seek a facelift when noticeable signs of aging, such as sagging skin, deep lines and wrinkles, and loss of volume often become more apparent.
Generally speaking, the best time to consider a deep plane facelift is when non-surgical treatments are no longer providing the results you desire, and you are noticing significant sagging of the midface and neck. A board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Claytor can assess your unique anatomy to help you determine the best course of action.
SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System) is the scaffolding on which the skin resides. It is a layer of fibrous tissue and muscle that exists from just in front of the ear and extends to the neck. During the SMAS plication facelift procedure, the SMAS is plicated upward and laterally. This is performed with a running layer of sutures which lifts a layer of SMAS at the level of the cheekbones. This plication elevates the underlying facial structures and tightens the skin. Once the SMAS is plicated, the excess skin is trimmed. During a SMAS facelift, there is little disruption of the underlying ligaments which act as sturdy pillars from the bone to the SMAS. This procedure gives the patient a defined jawline, tighter neck, and a more youthful cheek volume.
The Deep Plane Face Lift allows the skin, SMAS, and muscle to remain attached as a composite unit allowing for a more natural youthful positioning. Dr. Claytor will make a small incision in the sideburn hairline through which he releases the ligaments that tether the SMAS to the underlying fascia. He will then manipulate the SMAS and muscle together, pulling the SMAS tight and anchoring it to the temporal fascia. He then trims the excess skin to achieve a natural repositioning and a more youthful, volumizing result. A Deep Plane Face Lift does not put tension on the skin and enables Dr. Claytor to achieve a natural, long-lasting result. This facelift is particularly suitable for older patients who desire to remove jowls, loose neck, and drooping cheeks. Because the surgery can be done safely and comfortably under local anesthesia, patients experience a faster recovery and less bruising. Dr. Claytor will often combine the Deep Plane lift with a blepharoplasty, a neck lift, and/or a lip lift to achieve the full rejuvenating effect a patient is looking for.
In sum, the SMAS facelift focuses on tightening and lifting skin and muscle, while the deep plane technique adjusts ligaments and deeper structures for more comprehensive and natural-looking results.
While results will vary based on the technique used, your concerns, and your goals, most patients find that a facelift “turns back the clock” about 10 years.
Before and After: 360° View
We’re Here For You!
If you are considering plastic surgery, we encourage you to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Brannon Claytor today. He’ll provide you with a personalized surgical plan based on your goals, answer your questions, and help you understand everything that the surgery will entail.
