Deep Plane Facelift in Turkey

A deep plane facelift rejuvenates the face by lifting and repositioning the deeper facial tissues beneath the SMAS layer, restoring youthful contours to the cheeks, jawline, and neck while preserving natural facial expressions.

Compared with a standard SMAS facelift, a deep plane facelift releases and repositions deeper supporting structures rather than simply tightening them. This allows for a more comprehensive, longer-lasting lift with less tension on the skin, making it particularly suitable for patients with moderate to advanced facial ageing who want the most natural-looking results.

At Revitalize in Turkey, every deep plane facelift is tailored to your facial anatomy and aesthetic goals. Our experienced plastic surgeons use advanced techniques to deliver natural, balanced rejuvenation, supported by comprehensive support and exceptional value.

In the press. Two of our deep plane facelift patients told their stories to the UK national press in 2025, and both named Professor Ahmet Seyhan as their surgeon: Jacqueline Warren in the Daily Mail on 15 July 2025, and Leanne Wilson in Need To Know, Essex Live and Surrey Live in March 2025. Both accounts, with dates, procedures and prices paid, are on our press page.

Who the deep plane facelift suits

The deep plane technique is usually recommended for patients in their late forties and above who have descent of the mid-face and jawline rather than surface skin ageing alone. It is also the technique we most often use after significant weight loss, where the fat pads of the cheek have dropped and the neck has lost definition. Patients whose main concern is fine lines or skin texture are better served by resurfacing than by a lift, and we say so at consultation.

How it differs from a standard SMAS facelift

In a conventional SMAS facelift the skin is lifted separately from the muscle layer beneath it and the two are tightened in different directions. In a deep plane facelift the surgeon releases the ligaments that tether the mid-face and lifts the skin and the SMAS layer together as a single unit. Because nothing is pulled against anything else, the result sits vertically rather than sideways, which is why deep plane results tend to look composed rather than tightened. The trade-off is that it is a longer and more demanding operation, carried out close to the branches of the facial nerve, and it requires a surgeon who performs it regularly.

What the operation involves

• General anaesthetic, typically four to six hours depending on whether a neck lift, temporal lift or fat transfer is carried out at the same time.
• Incisions follow the hairline and the natural creases in front of and behind the ear.
• One or two nights in hospital, then rest at the recovery accommodation.
• Dressings and any drains are removed before discharge; sutures come out between day seven and day ten.

Recovery, week by week

• Days 1 to 3: swelling and bruising peak. Head elevated, cold compresses, soft diet.
• Days 4 to 7: bruising moves downwards and begins to fade. Most patients are walking and eating normally.
• Week 2: sutures out. Bruising is usually coverable with make-up.
• Weeks 3 to 6: tightness and numbness around the ears and neck are normal and settle gradually.
• Months 3 to 6: residual swelling resolves and the final contour appears. Scars continue to fade for up to a year.

When surgery is declined

Smoking substantially increases the risk of skin healing problems after a deep plane lift, and we ask patients to stop well before the operation. Pre-operative blood tests and blood pressure readings have to be within a safe range on the day, and if they are not, the procedure is postponed or reduced in scope. One of our patients described exactly this in the Mirror in August 2025: her implants were declined on the day because her blood count was too low, and only the procedures that were safe went ahead.

Common questions

How long do the results last? A deep plane facelift does not stop ageing, but because the deeper layer is repositioned rather than the skin alone, the correction is commonly described as holding for ten years or longer.

Will the scars be visible? Incisions are placed in the hairline and in the natural folds around the ear. They are pink at first and fade over six to twelve months.

Can it be combined with other procedures? Yes. Neck lift, temporal lift, upper or lower eyelid surgery and fat transfer are routinely carried out in the same operation, which is what both of the patients featured in the UK national press chose to do.

How soon can I fly home? Most patients stay in Izmir for seven to fourteen days after surgery, depending on the combination of procedures, so that sutures can be removed and early healing checked before travelling.