Deep Plane Facelift Surgery in London
Few surgeons in the UK perform a true deep plane facelift. Professor Ali Ghanem is one of them. As the UK's only Professor of Aesthetic Medicine and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, he lifts the deep tissue layer of the face rather than the skin, restoring natural contour through the cheeks, jawline and neck without altering the face you recognise.
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Deep Plane Facelift Overview
A deep plane facelift works at the layer of the face that actually descends with age. Technically, it is a surgical procedure that releases the facial retaining ligaments and lifts the deep tissue layer of the face as a single composite unit, producing natural, long-lasting rejuvenation of the cheeks, jawline and neck. Also known as a deep plane rhytidectomy, this composite facelift technique works beneath the SMAS rather than on the skin alone. It is offered as part of our facial rejuvenation surgery services and reserved for surgeons with specialist training in facial anatomy.
Choosing a Deep Plane Facelift
Most people considering a deep plane facelift aren't chasing youth. They want to look like the version of themselves they remember. The deep plane technique suits patients with moderate to advanced laxity, descended midface volume, prominent jowls, or a heavy neck, often in their late forties to sixties. Your private consultation with Professor Ghanem is unhurried and obligation-free, giving you space to ask any question and confirm whether a deep plane lift is the most considered choice for you.
Deep Plane Facelift vs. Other Facelift Techniques
Traditional skin-only and SMAS facelifts tighten surface layers, often producing shorter-lived results and a pulled appearance. The deep plane facelift releases the retaining ligaments and repositions the deep composite tissue as one unit, allowing for natural movement, smoother transitions across the midface, and results lasting from eight to ten years. Lighter alternatives include the Snatched Lift endoscopic facelift.
Your Deep Plane Facelift Journey
Initial Consultation
Your journey begins with a private, no-obligation consultation at our Wimpole Street clinic. Professor Ghanem reviews your medical history, examines your facial anatomy in detail, and discusses your goals openly, ensuring the deep plane technique is genuinely the right approach for your individual features and lifestyle.
Surgical Planning
Once suitability is confirmed, a bespoke surgical plan is developed. This includes detailed photography, anatomical mapping, and discussion of any complementary procedures such as a neck lift, blepharoplasty or laser resurfacing. You receive clear, written guidance covering medication, lifestyle adjustments, and what to expect on the day of surgery.
Pre-Op Preparation
In the weeks before surgery, our team guides you through pre-operative health checks, blood tests and skin preparation. We advise pausing certain supplements, optimising nutrition, and avoiding nicotine for at least four weeks. A pre-admission appointment confirms final details and addresses any remaining questions.
Surgery
The deep plane facelift is performed under general anaesthesia and typically takes four to six hours. Incisions are placed discreetly within the hairline and around the natural contours of the ear. The deep tissue layer is released and repositioned, excess skin is gently redraped, and refined sutures complete the closure.
Recovery and Follow-Up
Most patients stay overnight under the care of our clinical team. Bruising and swelling typically settle over two to three weeks, with social downtime around the same period. Follow-up appointments are scheduled across your first post-operative year as part of our complimentary aftercare programme, which includes ongoing access to Professor Ghanem and the wider clinical team.
What it Treats and What it Delivers
What it Treats
The deep plane facelift addresses moderate to advanced ageing concerns including sagging cheeks, deep nasolabial folds, prominent jowls, loss of jawline definition, and laxity in the upper neck. It is also suited to descended midface volume and ligamentous descent that lighter SMAS or skin-only procedures cannot adequately correct.
Benefits
Patients enjoy a more lifted, contoured appearance with restored definition through the cheeks, jawline and neck. Because the deep composite tissue is repositioned rather than the skin alone, results retain natural expression, avoid an overdone appearance, and typically endure for eight to ten years with appropriate ongoing aesthetic support.
Additional Treatments
Many patients combine their deep plane facelift with complementary procedures to achieve a fully harmonised result, often within our combined facial rejuvenation programme. Options include blepharoplasty, brow lift, fat transfer, fully ablative laser resurfacing, or regenerative injectables to refine skin quality. Professor Ghanem will recommend the right combination during your consultation.
What to Expect from a Deep Plane Facelift
Most patients tell us that the unknown is the hardest part of considering surgery. The timeline below covers what actually happens before, during and after a deep plane facelift at our Wimpole Street clinic, so you can plan your weeks with clarity rather than guesswork.
Preparation and Planning
Before surgery, you will attend a series of preparatory appointments including medical screening, photography, and a final pre-operative review. We provide tailored guidance on skincare, nutrition and rest, alongside practical preparation for your home recovery, ensuring you arrive on the day calm, supported and well prepared.
The Day of Surgery
You are welcomed into our private surgical suite by the consultant anaesthetist and theatre team. Once comfortably under general anaesthesia, Professor Ghanem performs the deep plane rhytidectomy with meticulous precision. Most patients then remain in our care overnight, with close monitoring and rest before discharge the following day.
Healing and Refinement
Most patients are walking comfortably the same day and return to light activity within seven to ten days. Bruising, swelling and a feeling of tightness are normal in the first week and improve steadily, with social commitments resuming at around two to three weeks. Final refinement continues across six to eight weeks.
Professor Ali Ghanem
Professor Ali Ghanem is the UK's only Professor of Aesthetic Medicine and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. With decades of experience and an internationally recognised research portfolio, he is one of a small number of UK surgeons performing the true deep plane facelift technique.
GMC No. 5200491 · Specialist Register since 2018
Frequently Asked Questions
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Begin Your Bespoke Consultation
A private, no-obligation consultation with Professor Ghanem is the first step toward your bespoke deep plane facelift plan.
Schedule a Consultation