Your face can easily give away your age because signs of aging tend to be most visible there. Fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin do not have to be a problem when you undergo a facelift at Carp Cosmetic Surgery Center. Headed by Dr. Steven Carp, this Uniontown and Beachwood, OH clinics is proud to offer facelifts, including the deep plane facelift, to residents of Canton, Akron, Cleveland, and the surrounding areas.
What is a Facelift?
Sun damage, stress, and heredity all affect the way you age, especially in your face. You may notice that your cheeks are not as full, and your jawline now appears puffy. Tiny lines and wrinkles appear almost overnight around your eyes, and you now have deep creases from your nose to your lips. Many signs of aging are caused by sagging skin, lax muscles, and fat that moves to other areas of your face. Facelift surgery addresses all of these problems to give you a natural and refreshed appearance.
Understanding how a facelift will improve your appearance is an important part of your decision to undergo surgery. The following information provides some general insight about the procedure. The best way to learn if a facelift is right for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Steven Carp of Carp Cosmetic Surgery Center.
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Who is the Best Candidate for a Facelift?
The goal of facelift surgery is to enhance your appearance by reducing lines, wrinkles, and creases. You will look refreshed and rejuvenated, but your appearance will not be completely different. You will still look like yourself, only younger, healthier, and more vibrant. Men and women who undergo facelift surgery often feel a heightened sense of self-confidence because they feel better about their appearance. Being realistic about the physical and emotional improvements of your facelift surgery is of utmost importance.
Facelifts are ideal for men and women who are between the ages of 40 and 60, but the surgery is also beneficial for patients up to 80 years old. For optimum results, you should have a well-defined bone structure. Skin elasticity is another key factor in determining if you are a good candidate for the procedure. Elasticity ensures that your skin re-shapes around your facial structure. Without good elasticity, your skin is likely to sag and crease, thereby reducing the anti-aging effects of facelift surgery.
Planning Your Facelift
The surgical plan begins during the consultation. Dr. Carp examines your bone structure, skin health, and effects of aging. Your consultation is also when you should have a candid and open discussion about what you like and dislike about your appearance.
Your consultation also includes a complete medical evaluation to determine your overall health. Dr. Carp will ask about your medical history, current medical conditions, and any medications you are taking. Providing negative information will not necessarily prohibit you from having facelift surgery, as each case is different. Some medical conditions may increase your risk of surgery, such as the following:
- Blood clotting disorders
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Excessive scarring on your face and neck
Dr. Carp may also speak with your primary care physician about the surgery and your medical status to determine your individual risks for surgery.
Preparing for Your Facelift
Based upon the information gathered during your consultation, Dr. Carp will define a treatment plan that includes the anticipated results, techniques, anesthesia, recovery, and other details. The information is shared with you to help you prepare for your surgery. You may also be advised to stop taking certain supplements and medications. If you smoke, you should stop at least two weeks before your procedure to promote proper post-surgical healing.
You will be given detailed instructions for recovery during the consultation. Having someone with you when you are released ensures that all instructions are understood, and any questions are addressed. You will need to have someone drive you to your surgical appointment and take you home. We also highly recommend that a friend or family member stay with you for three to seven days after the surgery.
Some symptoms after the surgery may limit your ability to speak, eat, and drink. You may need to follow a diet of soft foods and liquids for two or three days after surgery, so purchasing special foods and ingredients before the day of your surgery is recommended.
Your Facelift Surgery
Facelifts may be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures, such as a neck lift. A facelift generally takes at least three hours, and the procedure may be longer if other procedures are performed at the same time. Dr. Carp may also determine that two separate surgeries are needed to complete your treatment plan.
A Natural Result Requires More Than Skin Tightening
The most natural-looking facelift results come not from simply pulling skin tighter, but from addressing the deeper structural layer of the face — the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system). By repositioning this underlying tissue, Dr. Carp restores the facial architecture that has descended with age, creating a refreshed appearance without the telltale "pulled" look associated with older techniques. This approach — treating the face as a three-dimensional structure rather than a surface — is what separates a natural result from one that is obviously surgical.
Dr. Carp is an expert in the most advanced facelift techniques, and each surgery is customized to the patient’s individual needs. As such, no two facelift procedures are alike. Dr. Carp may correct one side of the face before working on the other side, or surgery may involve working on both sides simultaneously. Other factors that vary are the specific technique and incision placement.
For most patients, the overall approach to a facelift is consistent. The appearance of the face is improved by doing the following:
- Removing excess skin and fat
- Re-positioning fat to add fullness and enhance natural contours
- Suturing underlying muscles to give the face a smooth and defined appearance
- Using liposuction to remove small fatty deposits
Incisions are made in areas where the scars are less noticeable and well hidden, such as along the hairline, natural crease at the bottom of the ear, and back of the ear. If applicable, an incision may be placed under your chin to enhance the neck area.
Deep Plane Facelift
A deep plane facelift is an advanced facial rejuvenation technique designed to restore a more youthful, natural-looking appearance by lifting and repositioning deeper facial tissues, not just tightening the skin. This approach addresses facial aging at its structural level, helping improve the jawline, soften deep nasolabial folds, elevate the midface, and reduce jowling with elegant, longer-lasting results.
At Carp Cosmetic Surgery Center, a facelift is never about creating a pulled or overdone look. The goal is to restore youthful facial definition while preserving your natural character and expression.
What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?
Unlike a traditional skin-only lift, a deep plane facelift works beneath the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or SMAS, to release and reposition deeper facial support structures as one unit. By lifting the muscle, fascia, and skin together, a deep plane facelift can create smoother, more natural contours with less tension on the skin.
This technique is especially effective for patients who want improvement in:
- Sagging cheeks and midface descent
- Deep smile lines and folds around the mouth
- Jowling along the jawline
- Loss of definition in the lower face
- Early to moderate neck laxity
Benefits of a Deep Plane Facelift
A deep plane facelift may offer several advantages for appropriately selected patients:
- More natural facial rejuvenation
- Better improvement in the midface and nasolabial folds
- Reduced tension on the skin
- Elegant jawline definition
- Longer-lasting structural improvement
- A refreshed appearance without looking “tight”
Because deeper tissues are repositioned, the result is often softer and more harmonious than procedures that rely primarily on skin tightening alone.
Deep Plane Facelift vs Traditional Facelift
Not every facelift is the same. A traditional facelift may improve laxity in the lower face and neck, but a deep plane facelift is often chosen when a more comprehensive lift of the cheeks, jawline, and deeper facial support structures is desired.
In simple terms:
- A traditional facelift often focuses more on tightening and redraping
- A deep plane facelift focuses more on releasing and repositioning deeper structures for a more anatomical lift
The right approach depends on your anatomy, degree of aging, skin quality, and goals. During your consultation, Dr. Carp will determine whether a deep plane facelift, SMAS facelift, mini facelift, or combined facial procedure is the best fit for you.
Natural Results, Customized to You
Facial rejuvenation should look refined, not obvious. Deep plane facelift surgery can be combined with other procedures to create a balanced result, such as:
- Neck lift
- Eyelid surgery
- Brow lift
- Facial fat grafting
- Skin resurfacing or laser treatments
Combining procedures often allows for a more complete rejuvenation of the face while maintaining facial harmony.
REAL PATIENT REVIEW
“This is the Mrs who goes to Dr Carp. Staff is super friendly and appointments to fit your needed. Love the services I receive from Dr Carp. I don’t just trust anyone with face. Very skilled and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.” – Leo C.
After Your Facelift
Most patients tolerate post-surgical symptoms very well after a facelift. If the discomfort is difficult for you, Dr. Carp may prescribe medications. Antibiotics may also be prescribed. You should rest and keep your head elevated to help your body heal.
The most common symptoms after facelift surgery are the following:
- Bruising, especially around the eyes
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Numbness
- Tightness
Most symptoms last only a few days, and others may take a few weeks to resolve.
Approximately five days after your surgery, you will return to our office for a follow-up appointment. Dr. Carp will then remove the bandages and sutures. You will also have the chance to see the initial results of your surgery, but you may still have some residual swelling and bruising.
Getting Back to Normal
The first day or two after surgery, you will be tired. On day three, your energy returns. You can get out of bed, but you should limit the intensity, frequency, and length of your activities. When you feel tired, return to bed, and elevate your head. Talking, chewing, and drinking may be challenging, so be patient with yourself.
Healing from a facelift can take several months, and the length of your recovery is based on how well you give your face time to heal. You can slowly resume your normal activities in stages. Light activities can resume after two weeks, including returning to work. More strenuous activities should be avoided for up to three months.
Your New Look
When the bandages are removed during your follow-up appointment, remember that your face will appear swollen and bruised. Once the swelling goes down, you are able to better see the results of the surgery. Bruising can be covered with make-up. If incisions were made along your hairline, you might notice small areas where the hair is thin. Your hair will grow back after a few months. The skin on your face and neck may feel dry, and Dr. Carp can recommend skin care products to help hydrate your skin. Men who undergo plastic surgery may need to be more diligent when shaving, as the skin is re-positioned during a facelift.
Once you are fully healed, you will be amazed at the refreshed appearance of your face. The lines, wrinkles, and creases are diminished, and you have fuller, natural contours on your cheeks and other areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a deep plane facelift improve?
A deep plane facelift is designed to improve jowls, midface descent, deep nasolabial folds, jawline laxity, and certain signs of neck aging.
Does a deep plane facelift look natural?
When performed appropriately, this technique is known for producing a natural, less pulled appearance because it repositions deeper tissues instead of simply tightening the skin.
Is a deep plane facelift better than a regular facelift?
It is not automatically better for everyone. It is a more advanced technique that may be ideal for patients who need deeper structural lifting, especially in the cheeks and lower face.
How long does a deep plane facelift last?
Results are long-lasting, although the face continues to age naturally over time. Technique, anatomy, lifestyle, and skin quality all affect longevity.
Can a deep plane facelift be combined with a neck lift?
Yes. Many patients benefit from combining facelift surgery with neck contouring for more complete lower face and neck rejuvenation.
A facelift is one of the most commonly performed procedures at Carp Cosmetic Surgery Center in Uniontown and Beachwood, OH. Dr. Steven Carp would be glad to discuss the possible benefits of a facelift with patients from Akron, Canton, Cleveland or the surrounding areas. Contact us today!