The Skin You See, and the Structure Beneath It
By Dr George Marcells
How Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery impacts the appearance of ageing
When we look at a person’s face, we often notice the skin first.
As a person ages, we may see more lines, folds, laxity and changes in definition. But the skin is only one part of a much more complex process. Beneath it, the tissues that give the face its shape and support also change over time.
This is an important distinction when considering Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery.
Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery does not simply tighten the skin. It addresses deeper anatomical structures that have changed position over time, allowing the skin to be re-draped over a repositioned facial framework.
Before and three months after Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery and Browlift surgery by Dr George Marcells
Ageing happens in three dimensions
Facial ageing is not simply a matter of the skin becoming loose.
Over time, the soft tissues of the cheek and lower face can descend. Fat compartments can change in volume and position. Supporting ligaments and connective tissues alter, while the neck can develop laxity and changes in contour.
These changes occur together, creating the features we associate with the passage of time.
The result is that two people of the same age can have very different patterns of facial change.
Understanding this is central to planning Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery.
Before and three months after Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery and Browlift surgery by Dr George Marcells
Looking beneath the surface
The deep plane technique works at a deeper level of facial anatomy, beneath the SMAS layer. By releasing specific retaining ligaments, the deeper tissues can be mobilised and repositioned as a connected layer.
The purpose is not simply to pull the skin into a tighter position.
Instead, the deeper structures are repositioned, with the skin then re-draped over the underlying tissues.
This distinction matters because the skin is being placed over a changed underlying structure rather than being relied upon to create the lift.
Before and three months after Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery and Browlift surgery by Dr George Marcell
What happens to the appearance of the skin?
Facial ageing is not simply a matter of the skin becoming loose.
Over time, the soft tissues of the cheek and lower face can descend. Fat compartments can change in volume and position. Supporting ligaments and connective tissues alter, while the neck can develop laxity and changes in contour.
These changes occur together, creating the features we associate with the passage of time.
The result is that two people of the same age can have very different patterns of facial change.
Understanding this is central to planning Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery.
Structure first, skin second
The distinction between structure and skin is important when considering what Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery can address.
The procedure primarily addresses the position of facial tissues and the contours created by them. It does not stop the natural ageing of the skin.
For some patients, other treatments may subsequently be considered to address skin texture, pigmentation or sun damage. These are separate concerns requiring different approaches.
The important consideration is understanding how the different layers of the face have changed and which of those changes can be appropriately addressed through surgery.
When we look at the skin, we are seeing the result of changes occurring across multiple layers of the face.
Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery begins with understanding what lies below the surface.
Clinical Training and Experience
Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery is a complex procedure that requires a detailed understanding of facial anatomy, appropriate training and relevant surgical experience.
I began performing Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery in Australia in 2011 after training with Dr Neil Gordon in the USA. I continue to undertake international education and training relevant to this procedure.
Find Out More
If you are considering deep-plane face and neck lift surgery, please book a consultation with a referral from your GP.
I will provide a thorough, honest and personalised assessment to help you understand the options available and determine the most appropriate approach for your individual needs
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All surgeries on this page are performed by Dr George Marcells and are published with the consent of his patients. There is no guarantee that your results will be similar as surgical outcomes vary. All content on our page is general in nature and does not imply a guarantee of similar outcomes or act in substitute of professional medical advice. Any surgery or invasive procedure carries inherent risks and has recovery time. For more information, please see our website www.drgeorgemarcells.com.au. Dr Marcells is a Specialist Head and Neck Surgeon, expert in Facial Plastic Surgery FRACS (Registration: MED0001133270)
