5.0(14)
Op. Dr. Murat Yaman
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 11+years exp.
- 5,000+surgeries
- 6Treatments
Turkish · English
From€2,890
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Facial Surgery
Deep plane facelift Turkey
A focused guide to the deep plane facelift in Turkey: what the surgeon does beneath the SMAS layer, how it compares with SMAS, mini and endoscopic lifts, who benefits most, approximate prices against the UK, the US and Germany, recovery, what studies say about nerve injury and haematoma, and how to test a surgeon's deep plane experience.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
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Verified surgeons for Deep Plane Facelift
4 doctors Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Numanoğlu
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 56+years exp.
English · Turkish
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Dr. Erdem Tezel
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 37+years exp.
English · Turkish
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Prof. Dr. Özhan Çelebiler
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 44+years exp.
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Deep plane facelift in Turkey: what makes it different
A deep plane facelift is one technique within the facelift family. Instead of tightening the skin, or folding the firm layer beneath it, the surgeon works underneath that layer — the SMAS (superficial musculo-aponeurotic system) — and releases the small ligaments that tie the cheek and jowl to the bone. Once released, skin, fat and SMAS move upwards together as one unit. Because the skin is not pulled on its own, the result tends to look less tight, and the cheek and the fold beside the mouth can be lifted more than with most other techniques.
This page is only about the deep plane technique. For the full guide to a facelift in Turkey — all techniques, the day-by-day trip, the package and how to choose a hospital — see facelift in Turkey. Here you will find what a deep plane facelift can and cannot do, whom it suits, why it costs more, what the recovery and risks look like, and how to check whether a surgeon really performs it.
Many clinics now call any facelift "deep plane". The name tells you little; the operation report and the surgeon's answers tell you much more. A quote through this page is free, and the surgeon names the technique in writing after seeing your photos.
How the deep plane facelift works, step by step
The incisions are much the same as in other full facelifts: from the temple along or inside the hairline, in the crease in front of the ear or just inside its edge, around the earlobe and behind the ear. The difference is what happens beneath them.
- Short skin flap: the skin is lifted from the deeper layer only over a short distance in front of the ear. In SMAS techniques the skin is usually separated much further, which is why those faces can look pulled if the skin carries the tension.
- Entering the deep plane: the surgeon cuts through the SMAS and enters the space beneath it, over the cheekbone and towards the mouth.
- Releasing the ligaments: the zygomatic and masseteric retaining ligaments — the fibrous ties that hold the cheek and jowl down as the face ages — are released. This is the step that allows the mid-face to move.
- Lifting as one unit: skin, fat and SMAS are moved upwards, usually more vertically than in a classic lift, and fixed with deep stitches. The skin is then trimmed and closed without tension.
- Neck: most deep plane facelifts include a neck lift; some surgeons also treat deeper neck fat or the platysma muscle through a short incision under the chin (often called a deep neck lift).
The operation usually takes four to six hours under general anaesthesia, longer with eyelid surgery or fat transfer, followed by one or two nights in hospital. "Extended deep plane" and "composite" facelift are names for variations that carry the release further towards the eye or the mouth.
Deep plane vs SMAS facelift and other techniques
The question patients ask most is whether a deep plane lift is better than a SMAS lift. Both lift the deeper layer and both can look natural. The table shows where they differ; the SMAS facelift and mini facelift pages explain those operations in detail.
| Question | Deep plane facelift | SMAS facelift | Mini facelift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer that is lifted | Skin, fat and SMAS together, after the ligaments are released | SMAS folded or trimmed, skin lifted separately | Limited SMAS lift through shorter incisions |
| Cheek and nose-to-mouth fold | Moved most | Moved moderately | Little change |
| Jowls and jaw line | Strong correction | Strong correction | Early jowls only |
| Risk of a pulled look | Low, because the skin is not under tension | Low to moderate, depending on how the skin is handled | Low |
| Operating time | About 4–6 hours | About 3–5 hours | About 2 hours |
| Surgeon experience needed | High: works near facial nerve branches | Moderate to high | Moderate |
| Approximate price in Turkey | About €5,000–€10,000 | About €3,500–€7,000 | About €2,500–€4,500 |
Comparative studies, including reviews in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, have not shown one technique to be clearly superior for every face, and photo studies show that experienced surgeons get good results with both. In practice, the deep plane technique has an advantage where the mid-face has fallen and the folds beside the mouth are deep; a SMAS lift is often enough where the jowls are the main problem. An endoscopic facelift treats the mid-face and brow of younger patients through small incisions and is not an alternative for a heavy jowl or a loose neck.
Who is a deep plane facelift in Turkey for?
You are most likely to benefit if you have:
- a flattened, descended cheek and a deep fold between the nose and the mouth, not only jowls;
- heavier facial tissue, where a skin or SMAS lift tends to relax sooner;
- a previous facelift that has relaxed — a secondary facelift is often done in the deep plane, though scar tissue makes it more demanding;
- a wish to avoid a tight, windswept look and a willingness to accept a longer operation and recovery for it.
It is less suitable when the changes are mild — a mini facelift or a non-surgical facelift may be enough — or when the main problem is lost volume or skin quality, which a lift does not fix; facial fat transfer is then often added. General reasons to wait apply as for any facelift: nicotine, uncontrolled blood pressure, blood thinners that cannot be paused, and an unstable weight.
Deep plane facelift Turkey cost compared with the UK and US
A deep plane facelift costs more than other facelifts in every country, because it takes longer and fewer surgeons perform it routinely. On our site a facelift starts at €5,410; deep plane packages are higher and are quoted individually after the surgeon has seen your photos. The figures below are approximate, for the face and neck together, and are confirmed in a written quote.
| Country | Approximate price of a deep plane facelift with neck lift | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | about €5,000–€10,000 | Hospital package: surgeon, anaesthesia, one or two nights in hospital, tests, garment, medication, check-ups, transfers; hotel nights often included |
| United Kingdom | about £12,000–£20,000 or more | Surgeon, anaesthesia and hospital; consultations and follow-up sometimes extra |
| United States | about $20,000–$40,000 or more | Surgeons who specialise in deep plane lifts often charge well above the national facelift average; anaesthesia and facility fees are added |
| Germany | about €10,000–€18,000 | Surgeon, anaesthesia and hospital stay |
The price rises with an extended release towards the eye, a deep neck lift, fat transfer, eyelid surgery or a brow lift in the same session, and with a secondary (revision) facelift. A "deep plane" quote at the price of a mini facelift deserves a direct question: which ligaments will be released, and will that be written in the operation report? What a package includes and how payment works are explained on the main facelift page.
Deep plane facelift recovery and time in Turkey
Plan 10–12 days in Turkey: arrival and consultation, surgery the next day, one or two nights in hospital, then hotel recovery until the stitches are out and the surgeon has checked the face. The general trip plan is on the facelift page; what is specific to the deep plane technique:
- Swelling: because the dissection is deeper, the cheeks and the area beside the mouth can swell more in the first two weeks, and the smile may feel stiff for a few weeks.
- Bruising: often less on the skin surface than after a wide skin lift, because the skin flap is short; it is usually coverable with make-up from about day 10–14.
- Going out: most patients feel comfortable being seen socially after about three weeks, sometimes four with a deep neck lift.
- Exercise: light activity after about four weeks, the gym after about six.
- Final result: the jaw line is clear after two to three months; the cheeks and the neck settle over six to twelve months.
Flying home is usually allowed around day 10. Our guide to flying after surgery explains how to lower the risk of blood clots on the way.
Risks of a deep plane facelift: nerves, haematoma and healing
The deep plane technique works close to the branches of the facial nerve that move the cheek, mouth and brow. This is the main reason it requires an experienced surgeon, and also the reason many patients worry about it. What published studies show:
- Facial nerve weakness: temporary weakness of a branch — an uneven smile or lip — is reported in roughly 1–2 in 100 facelifts in most series and usually recovers within weeks to months. Systematic reviews in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Aesthetic Surgery Journal have not found clearly higher rates of permanent nerve injury with deep plane than with SMAS techniques in experienced hands; permanent weakness is rare, well under 1 in 100.
- Haematoma: bleeding under the skin remains the most common significant complication of any facelift, reported in roughly 1–4 in 100 women and more often in men; high blood pressure is the main risk factor. Some studies suggest the shorter skin flap of the deep plane lift may lower the risk of skin problems, but evidence is limited.
- Numbness: the cheeks and ears are numb at first; feeling returns over months. The great auricular nerve to the ear can be injured in any facelift.
- Other: scars, a pulled-down earlobe, hair loss near the temple, asymmetry, infection and the general risks of a long anaesthetic.
Stopping nicotine, controlling blood pressure, pausing blood-thinning medicines and supplements and staying the full time in Turkey lower these risks. See also is plastic surgery in Turkey safe?
How to check a deep plane facelift surgeon in Turkey
People search for the "best deep plane facelift surgeon in Turkey", but no surgeon is best for every face. The general criteria — specialty, hospital, anaesthesiologist, registration — are on the facelift page and in our guide on choosing a safe surgeon in Turkey. For the deep plane technique, ask these questions:
- Which facelift technique do you use most often, and how many deep plane lifts do you perform each year?
- Which ligaments will you release in my face, and will the operation report name the technique?
- Will you treat my neck in the same operation, and how — skin, fat, muscle or deeper structures?
- Can I see before-and-after photos of patients like me, taken from the side and at 45 degrees, at least six months after surgery?
- How often have your patients had temporary nerve weakness, and how is a haematoma treated during my stay?
A surgeon who explains clearly why the deep plane is or is not right for your face is more reassuring than one who offers it to everyone. You can compare surgeons and hospitals on our site.
Deep plane facelift results and how long they last
A good deep plane result shows a higher cheek, a softer fold beside the mouth, a clean jaw line and a smoother neck, without the stretched look around the mouth or the swept-back skin that older techniques were known for. Judge the profile and the neck as much as the front view, and judge only after six to twelve months.
How long does a deep plane facelift last? Ageing continues, but from a younger starting point. Surgeons often say a deep plane lift relaxes more slowly than a skin or limited SMAS lift because the ligaments have been released and the tissue moved as a unit; long-term studies of facelifts in general show that most patients still look younger than they otherwise would ten years later. Sun protection, a stable weight and not smoking help the result last. If you are younger, with early changes only, compare the mini facelift; if the neck is your main concern, read about the neck lift in Turkey.
Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
A deep plane facelift with a neck lift in Turkey is typically quoted between about €5,000 and €10,000, depending on the surgeon and on added procedures such as fat transfer or eyelid surgery. These are approximate figures; your exact price is confirmed in a written quote after the surgeon has seen your photos.
A SMAS facelift tightens the deeper layer of the face by folding or trimming it and lifts the skin separately. A deep plane facelift goes beneath that layer, releases the retaining ligaments and lifts skin, fat and SMAS together, which moves the cheek and the fold beside the mouth more. Both can look natural in experienced hands.
Not for every face. Studies have not shown one technique to be clearly superior overall. A deep plane lift has an advantage when the cheek has fallen and the folds beside the mouth are deep; a SMAS lift is often enough when the jowls are the main problem.
It works closer to branches of the facial nerve, so it needs a surgeon who performs it often. Systematic reviews have not found clearly higher rates of permanent nerve injury than with SMAS techniques in experienced hands; temporary weakness occurs in roughly 1–2 in 100 facelifts and usually recovers.
Most patients feel comfortable being seen socially after about three weeks, sometimes four with a deep neck lift. The cheeks may be swollen and the smile stiff for a few weeks. Light exercise is allowed after about four weeks and the final result shows after six to twelve months.
Plan 10–12 days, so the stitches can be removed and the surgeon can check your face before you fly home.
Many years. The face keeps ageing, but from a younger starting point, and many surgeons find a deep plane lift relaxes more slowly than a skin or limited SMAS lift. Long-term studies of facelifts show most patients still look younger than they otherwise would ten years later.
Usually, yes. Most deep plane facelifts are combined with a neck lift, and some surgeons also treat deeper neck fat or the platysma muscle through a short incision under the chin. Ask your surgeon to write down exactly what will be done to your neck.
Yes, a secondary facelift is often done in the deep plane. Scar tissue makes it more demanding, so it costs more and needs a surgeon with experience in revision facelifts.
Ask which ligaments will be released, how many deep plane lifts the surgeon performs each year, and whether the operation report will name the technique. A deep plane quote at the price of a mini facelift is a reason to ask more questions.
Look for a plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon who performs deep plane lifts regularly, explains why the technique does or does not suit your face, and shows side and 45-degree before-and-after photos of patients like you at least six months after surgery, operating in a licensed hospital.
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