When it comes to facelifts, the deep facelift has become a household name. But how did it achieve such widespread recognition and become a mainstream technique? Palo Alto, CA facial plastic surgeons David Lieberman, MD and Sachin S. Parikh, MD of L&P Aesthetics shed light on why this technique is preferred and their innovative approaches to improving patient outcomes.
What’s so special about a deep plane lift?
“A deep facelift really allows us to address the underlying issues that cause facial aging,” explains Dr. Parikh. “First, we think of the gravitational changes or the descent of the tissue to the south, which leads to puffing of the cheeks, increased projection of the jaws, loss of definition along the jaw line and platysmal laxity, etc. Second, as we age, there is loss of volume in different fat pads, loss of muscle due to atrophy, and loss of volume in the bony structures of the face. You can’t restore bone volume and it’s hard to restore muscle volume, but you can take soft tissue volume and restore it to its original position.”
In a deep facelift, Dr. Parikh explains that the surgeon takes tissue that has descended and moves it back to where it was. “In a sense, we’re just restoring a person’s previous appearance.”
Dr. Lieberman adds, “The directionality of tissue repositioning is crucial. Each patient’s facial anatomy and aging processes are unique and require meticulous planning to achieve a natural result.” By precisely restoring the tissues in reverse to their aging pattern, the deep facelift avoids the unnatural tightening often seen in less sophisticated techniques.
Achieve natural results effortlessly
The hallmark of a successful facelift lies in achieving results that are both natural and long-lasting. Dr. Lieberman emphasizes, “There should be no signs of external tension on the face in a good facelift. The way you keep tension off the skin is by focusing your efforts on the deeper soft tissues with release and repositioning. Skin-based lifts for rejuvenation will look tight, scar badly and won’t last long. While there are many good surgeons who perform other techniques, we believe that a true deep face and neck lift is the best way to achieve both key components of a natural and top-level result.”
Dr. Parikh emphasizes that natural results do not happen by accident. “When we’re moving downed tissues and putting them back in their proper positions, there’s a ton of thought put into the directionality of the lift. We think about which force vector or direction to reposition the web. During a deep facelift, force vectoring is a critical component of the analysis to achieve a result that is natural, appropriate, beautiful and long-lasting.”
Support faster recovery
Facilitating rapid recovery after surgery is integral to patient satisfaction. “We prepare patients mentally and physically by optimizing treatment through diet, exercise and sleep,” says Dr. Parikh.
At The IO Clinic, affiliated with L&P Aesthetics, innovation extends beyond surgical techniques to optimize facelift results and recovery times. Dr. Parikh elaborates, “preoperative treatments may include reducing toxin exposure, improving nutrition with IV therapies, and using hyperbaric oxygen therapy to oxygenate tissues prior to surgery.”
Improving skin quality preoperatively is another focus. “By preparing the skin with custom shapes,” continues Dr. Parikh, “we enhance cell turnover, promoting healthier tissue for surgery and facilitating smoother recovery.”
Dr. Lieberman emphasizes the importance of managing patient expectations. “Having a facelift is a big decision, emotionally and physically,” she says. “We guide patients every step of the way, ensuring they understand realistic results and are comfortable with their transformation.”
