A deep plane facelift lifts the cheeks, jowls and jawline by repositioning the tissue beneath the SMAS muscle layer, not just tightening skin. It suits healthy people with moderate to advanced facial sagging. Plan 10–14 days in Istanbul.
Free medical review within 24 hours · No obligation · ★ 5.0 from 157 Google reviews
Editorially reviewed by the Vivid Clinic Surgical Board · Last reviewed September 2026
The face is built in layers: skin, fat, a fibrous-muscular layer called the SMAS, and deeper structures. With age, the ligaments that anchor them loosen, and jowls and deep nasolabial folds appear. A deep plane facelift releases these ligaments and lifts skin, SMAS and cheek fat together as one unit.
| Procedure time | Typically 3–5 hours (longer when combined with a neck lift or eyelids) |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | General anaesthesia |
| Hospital stay | Usually 1 night |
| Recommended stay in Istanbul | 10–14 days |
| Walking | From the day after surgery |
| Back to desk work | Around 2–3 weeks |
| Exercise | Light walks from week 1; strenuous exercise after 4–6 weeks |
| Stitches | Front-of-ear stitches around day 5–7; hairline stitches or clips around day 10–14 |
| Final result | Settles over 3–6 months; subtle refinement up to 12 months |
| Results last | Many years; the face continues to age naturally |
Results from Vivid Clinic patients, shared with consent. Individual results vary. 6 cases shown; each caption states what the photos show and what is not recorded.
Before: Heavy jowls and neck laxity. After: Defined jawline and neck.
Combined procedures: deep plane face and neck lift, platysmaplasty, upper blepharoplasty. The visible change reflects all of them, not one procedure alone.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Jowls, heavy upper eyelids. After: Smoother lower face, more open eyes.
Combined procedures: deep plane face and neck lift, platysmaplasty, upper blepharoplasty. The visible change reflects all of them, not one procedure alone.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Sagging mid-face and jowls. After: Lifted mid-face, smoother jawline.
Combined procedures: endoscopic mid-face lift, revision rhinoplasty, deep plane face and neck lift. The visible change reflects all of them, not one procedure alone.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Sagging mid-face. After: Lifted, smoother face.
Combined procedures: endoscopic mid-face lift, revision rhinoplasty, deep plane face and neck lift. The visible change reflects all of them, not one procedure alone.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Jowls and loose neck. After: Smoother jawline and neck.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Jowls. After: Smoother jawline.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Photos are unedited clinic composites; before and after photos may differ in lighting, clothing and pose. Consent is on file at the clinic.
Most patients are in their mid-40s to 70s, but anatomy matters more than age. Never stop prescribed medication without your doctor's advice.
Your surgeon recommends a technique after examining your face. There is no single right facelift for everyone.
Lifts cheek, jowl and jawline as one unit beneath the SMAS, usually combined with a neck procedure. Tension sits on the deeper layer, not the skin.
The SMAS is tightened with stitches (plication) or a strip is trimmed and re-sutured (SMASectomy).
Shorter incisions and a more limited lift. Recovery is often a little quicker, but the effect is smaller and may not last as long.
An endoscopic mid facelift lifts the cheek through small hidden incisions. Many patients combine a facelift with a neck lift, fat grafting, an eyelid lift or a forehead lift. Our deep plane facelift guide explains the anatomy.
The operation is performed under general anaesthesia by an anaesthesiologist at an accredited partner hospital. The aim is to put tissue back where it used to be, not to pull the skin tight.
Incisions and lift vectors marked with you sitting upright.
General anaesthesia at an accredited partner hospital.
Temple hairline, in front of the ear, behind the ear.
Retaining ligaments released; cheek and jowl tissue mobilised.
Tissue lifted mostly vertically and secured with deep sutures.
Excess skin trimmed without tension; light compression dressing.
Day 1
A VIP transfer takes you from the airport to your hotel. Your coordinator explains the plan, and an interpreter is available.
Day 2 and night 1
Consultation, blood tests, ECG and anaesthetic review, then surgery. You stay overnight under nursing observation.
Days 3–8
Check-up, drains removed if used, then back to your hotel. Short walks and dressing checks; front-of-ear stitches come out around day 6–8.
Days 10–14
Remaining hairline stitches or clips come out and your surgeon confirms you are fit to fly. The 24/7 support line stays open.
Front, both sides and at an angle. A plastic surgeon tells you whether a deep plane facelift, a neck lift or a combination suits you. Free, no obligation.
Walking starts the day after surgery. Most people return to desk work after two to three weeks.
The aim is a sharper jawline, softer jowls and a lifted cheek, while still looking like you. Fine wrinkles and skin texture are not changed, so skincare or resurfacing may be recommended.
Results commonly last many years, varying with skin quality, genetics, sun, smoking and weight. Your face keeps ageing from its new starting point.
In short: a deep plane facelift treats cheeks, jowls and jawline, and the neck when combined. A neck lift alone suits concerns below the jawline when the cheeks and jowls are still well supported.
| Deep plane facelift | Neck lift on its own | |
|---|---|---|
| Main areas | Cheeks, jowls and jawline | Neck skin, platysmal bands, fat under the chin |
| Best suited to | Moderate to advanced sagging | Neck concerns with well-supported cheeks and jowls |
| Treats the neck | When combined | Yes |
| Treats jowls and mid-face | Yes | No |
Fillers, threads and energy devices can soften early changes, but cannot reposition deep tissue or remove loose skin, and their effects are shorter-lived. See our neck lift in Turkey page, facial results in our before and after gallery, and all options on our face aesthetics page.
A facelift quote is personal and only given after a surgeon has reviewed your photos, because an accurate plan depends on your anatomy. The consultation is free. Our facelift cost guide explains the factors in more detail.
Typically covers:
Your price depends on
This page was medically reviewed by a plastic surgeon on the Vivid Clinic team.
Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon
Every operation carries risk, and a facelift is no exception. Haematoma is the most common early complication, more likely in men and in people with high blood pressure.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the NHS list similar complications.
Plan 10–14 days. You arrive on day one, have your consultation, tests and surgery on day two, and spend one night in hospital. Front-of-ear stitches usually come out around day six to eight and the remaining hairline stitches around day ten to fourteen. Your surgeon checks your healing before confirming you are fit to fly. Combined procedures can extend this, and your coordinator will adjust your plan.
Not automatically. Many patients need both because jowls and neck laxity usually develop together, and the two are often performed in one operation through a small extra incision under the chin. If your neck is firm, a facelift alone may be enough. Your surgeon will assess your photos and examination, then explain whether a neck lift or platysmaplasty adds real benefit for your anatomy before your quote is finalised.
It can be. A mini facelift uses shorter incisions and treats early jowling with a shorter recovery. However, it has less effect on the mid-face and neck, and results may not last as long as a deep plane lift. If you also have cheek descent, deep nasolabial folds or neck laxity, a mini lift can leave these untreated. Your surgeon will compare both options against your photos.
Stop all nicotine, including cigarettes, vapes, patches and gum, for at least four weeks before surgery and four weeks after, or longer if your surgeon advises. Nicotine reduces blood flow to the lifted skin and raises the risk of wound breakdown and skin loss. Please be honest with your surgeon: a nicotine test may be requested, and surgery may be postponed if you are still using it.
Incisions usually run inside the temple hairline, along the natural crease in front of the ear or just inside it, around the earlobe and behind the ear into the hairline. A small incision under the chin is added when the neck is treated. Scars are pink for several months, then typically fade to fine lines that hair or make-up can conceal, though they are never completely invisible.
Most people return to desk work after around two to three weeks. Swelling and bruising peak around days two to three, then bruising fades during weeks two and three, when many feel comfortable going out with light make-up or hair styled over the incisions. Light walks are fine from the first week, while strenuous training and heavy lifting usually wait about six weeks, until your surgeon agrees.
Results commonly last many years, but a facelift does not stop the clock. Your face keeps ageing from its new starting point, and longevity varies with skin quality, genetics, sun exposure, smoking and weight changes. Fine wrinkles and skin texture are not changed by a facelift, so skincare or resurfacing may be recommended alongside. Your surgeon explains realistic expectations for your face at consultation.
Send clear photos of your face from the front, both sides and at an angle. It is free and there is no obligation.
Free · No obligation · Reply within 24 h
Open a summary of this guide in your AI assistant.
ChatGPT