A facelift is a surgical procedure designed to address the visible signs of facial aging. Unlike injectable treatments, which may sometimes create an overfilled or unnatural appearance a well executed facelift does not fill the face up or plump the cheeks. A well executed facelift makes the jawline more defined and sharpens the cervicomentohyoid angle.

Indications

About the aging face

One of the key principles of facelift surgery is understanding what changes occur in the face as we age. Aging effects on the face are due to gravity as well as a reduction in volume in some areas and laxity of the skin in other areas. As gravity causes the suspensory ligaments of the face to stretch, the skin over the top of these ligaments can stretch. This stretching then causes an appearance of volume loss in areas of the face.

Classic Signs

The classic signs of aging of the face include developing jowls, increased wrinkles over the cheek, formation of a tear trough deformity on the inner aspect of the eye and a bulge of fat below the eye. Some people go through these changes much earlier than others and unfortunately may have the appearance of being grumpy or tired all of the time.

Solutions

The best solution to an aging face is to resuspend the ligaments which have become lax with age. The best way to do this is to perform a deep plane facelift, resuspending the ligaments of the face without putting undue stress on the skin and avoiding the unnatural pulled look which can be associated with other forms of facelift. This is far superior to any other alternative, including injecting fillers.

Deep Plane Facelift

A deep plane facelift can reverse the changes of an aging face with long-lasting effects. Facelift surgery has evolved significantly over the last 2 decades changing from a procedure that would cause problems with looking like you were in a wind tunnel to a procedure that makes you look more refreshed and youthful. Patient satisfaction is usually very high with the patient attaining a look that is more like their younger self. It is usual for patients to feel that they look 10 years younger after having a deep plane facelift.

Dr Dan Robinson is one of only 8 surgeons in Australia and the only surgeon in Queensland who has undergone fellowship training in deep plane facelift, being taught by an expert for a whole year. Following this year of training in facial plastic surgery Dr Dan Robinson then sat and passed the American Facial Plastics Board Exam which was an intensive two-day exam held in Washington DC examining facial plastic surgery.

Dr Dan Robinson stays up to date with his training in facial plastic surgery through the Australian Association of Facial Plastic Surgeons. Dr Dan Robinson currently sits on the board of the Australian Association of Facial Plastic Surgeons.

The deep plane facelift technique is unique in that it places minimal tension on the skin, allowing for a natural look to the face without having the windswept look associated with facelifts historically. A deep plane facelift also lasts longer than other forms, such as the S Lift or MAC lift. As a rule of thumb, a deep plane facelift will reverse approximately 10 years of aging. After the operation, most patients can return to normal socialising within 2-3 weeks.

Unlike other methods of facelift, a deep plane facelift allows the surgeon to rejuvenate the face without giving any signs of a “pulled” or “wind tunnel” look. A deep plane facelift involves dissection of the ligaments of the face, releasing them and then repositioning the SMAS layer of the face in a vector that is appropriate to the patient.

Procedure – Deep Plane Facelift

The deep plane facelift requires a significant understanding of the anatomy of the face as well as skill by the surgeon. The incisions are hidden around the ear and hairline. The skin is elevated for a few centimetres then the sub-SMAS plane (deep plane of the face) is elevated. The lift is completed by resuspending the SMAS without putting any tension on the skin. The skin is then re-draped and trimmed appropriately. The procedure requires a general anaesthetic and an overnight stay in the hospital.

The vector in which the patient’s face is advanced is different for each patient. Most patients have their face and neck advanced at a 45-degree angle – running at the same angle as their jaw. Dr Robinson finds that most people get the biggest improvement in the lower third of their face when they have a facelift advancing in this direction. Some patients require the angle to be more vertical, which Dr Robinson can do because of the power of the deep plane facelift allowing for the tissues to be repositioned wherever they need to be.

Reasons most surgeons don’t perform deep plane facelift

There are two reasons, firstly a deep plane facelift takes a lot of time – much more time than a subcutaneous facelift, and secondly a deep plane facelift is normally performed by surgeons who have done advanced fellowship training in facial plastic surgery.

Dr Robinson has performed a full year of a facial plastics fellowship as well as passed the International Board of Facial Plastics Surgeons exam which is held in the United States each year. This examination is only available to surgeons who have done a full-year fellowship in facial plastic surgery on top of their specialty training.

During Dr Robinson’s time doing extra training as a facial plastic surgeon, he gained experience performing deep plane facelift – which is why he performs this technique on his patients. A deep plane facelift does make for a more natural, youthful appearance when compared to other techniques.

Deep Plane Facelift plus Necklift

When a facelift is done, it is commonly performed with a neck lift as well. The neck lift is performed to get rid of the sagging which can occur in the neck and redefine the cervico-mento hyoid angle (angle under the chin as the chin transitions to the neck). At the same time as performing a neck lift some sub-mental fat (commonly known as turkey gobbler fat) is removed and the muscles under the chin are tightened creating a corset effect to improve the youthful appearance of the face.

Dr Dan Robinson’s experience

The best surgeon to perform your facelift is the surgeon you feel comfortable with. Many plastic surgeons have been self-taught in facelift – without doing a year-long fellowship in facial plastic surgery. Dr Dan Robinson has completed a year-long fellowship in facial plastic surgery and was specifically trained in deep plane facelift. Another consideration in choosing your surgeon is that Dr Dan Robinson performs the deep plane facelift as opposed to other lifts and threads, which may not give the same long-term result.

Gallery

You can view before and after patient photos in the Facelift Gallery.

Related Information

Aging Brow
Aging Face
Aging Neck
Necklift

To discuss if facelift is recommended for you, please make an appointment with Dr Dan Robinson.