Aesthetic plastic surgery · UK
Deep-plane facelift, a composite lift for a natural, lasting result.
An extended deep-plane facelift by a BAAPS or ISAPS surgeon in a CQC-registered hospital. Sub-SMAS dissection releases the retaining ligaments and lifts skin, SMAS and fat as one composite unit, with less skin tension and a longer-lasting result than superficial SMAS techniques.
Why patients choose us
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A named deep-plane facelift surgeon, in a CQC-accredited hospital
Not a general cosmetic list. A BAAPS or ISAPS surgeon with a high extended deep-plane volume, operating in a CQC-registered hospital with 24 hour cover.
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The right technique for your face
Deep-plane is not always the answer. For lighter mid-face descent we may recommend MACS-lift, HIFU or thread lift before you commit to a full composite operation.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private deep-plane facelift costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner surgeons. Send photographs and a short brief and we quote firm figures across two or three options, at self-pay only.
In short
Extended deep-plane facelift with necklift in London: £22,000–£38,000, one to two nights in hospital.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical consultation and photo assessment | £350–£650 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Mid-face deep-plane lift only | £16,000–£28,000 | 3–4 hours | 1 night stay |
| Extended deep-plane facelift + deep-plane necklift | £22,000–£38,000 | 4–6 hours | 1–2 night stay |
| Volumetric fat transfer add-on | £3,500–£6,500 | +45–60 min | Same anaesthetic |
| Laser or deep-chemical skin resurfacing add-on | £3,500–£8,500 | +30–60 min | Same anaesthetic |
| Second-opinion review of a previous facelift plan | £300–£500 | 30 min | 48 hours |
Prices vary by surgeon, by hospital (Cadogan Clinic, London Bridge Cosmetic Surgery, HCA The Wellington, King Edward VII's), by anaesthetic time and by whether fat transfer or skin resurfacing is added. Cosmetic surgery is not covered by private medical insurance so all quotes are self-pay.
The journey
From first photo to full result - what happens, in order.
One team from first message to your 6-month photographic review, including the hospital stay and every follow-up.
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Before
You send us photos and a short brief
A confidential form with frontal, lateral and oblique photos, your age, medical history, smoking status and what you would like to change.
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Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether extended deep-plane fits, or whether a mid-face lift, MACS or non-surgical route is the better call. Indicative price. An honest read either way.
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Before
Consultation and consent
Face-to-face with the surgeon: photo mapping, facial thirds, skin quality, ptosis grading, submental fat and platysmal banding. Written informed consent covering scars, sensation and revision.
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On the day
Arrival at hospital
Admission for a one to two night stay. Anaesthetic review, marking on the standing patient, TED stockings, antibiotic prophylaxis.
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On the day
Extended deep-plane facelift itself
4 to 6 hours under general anaesthetic. Pre-tragal or post-tragal incisions into the hairline, sub-SMAS dissection, release of zygomatic and masseteric ligaments, composite flap repositioning, deep-plane neck-lift and closed suction drains.
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On the day
Overnight in a private room
One to two nights on the ward with head elevation, cold packs, pain relief and drain monitoring. Discharge once drains are out and swelling is settling.
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After
Recovery and review
Sutures out at 7 to 10 days, compression garment for 1 week, back to work at 2 to 3 weeks, exercise from 4 to 6 weeks, and full result at 3 to 6 months.
When it helps
When a deep-plane facelift is the right step - and when it is not.
The findings we see most, plus the situations where a lighter procedure - MACS-lift, HIFU or thread lift - is safer and more proportionate.
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Mid-face descent and flattened cheek
Loss of malar projection and a hollow beneath the eye that fillers no longer correct - the classic deep-plane indication.
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Deep nasolabial folds
Because the deep-plane releases the zygomatic ligaments, it lifts the fold from beneath rather than pulling skin over it.
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Jowl formation along the mandible
Soft-tissue descent past the mandibular border - repositioned as one composite unit for a redefined jawline.
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Loss of jawline definition
A blurred angle between neck and jaw - addressed with extended deep-plane dissection into the neck compartment.
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Platysmal banding and submental fullness
Vertical neck cords and a full submentum - treated with deep-plane necklift, platysmaplasty and selective liposuction.
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Previous superficial SMAS facelift that has relapsed
A pull that lasted 5 to 7 years and no longer holds - deep-plane revision restores composite support.
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Realistic candidate over 45 to 65
Established laxity with good general health, non-smoker for at least 6 weeks, realistic expectations and time for recovery.
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When surgery is not the right step
Active smoking, uncontrolled hypertension, bleeding disorders, BMI over 32, keloid tendency or unrealistic expectations - non-surgical options are safer.
Procedure options
The facelift family - deep-plane, SMAS, MACS and non-surgical.
What each option actually involves - and which fits which face. Facelift technique has evolved from skin-only to superficial SMAS to the composite deep-plane popularised by Hamra, Little, Feldman and Matarasso.
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Extended deep-plane facelift
Sub-SMAS dissection releasing zygomatic and masseteric ligaments, composite lift of skin, SMAS and fat as one unit - the gold standard for mid-face, jowl and jawline in one operation.
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Deep-plane necklift add-on
Extends the same plane into the neck for platysmal release, jawline redefinition and correction of vertical bands - usually done at the same anaesthetic.
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Superficial SMAS plication or imbrication
The older, more skin-tension technique. Shorter longevity of around 5 to 7 years and less mid-face lift - reserved for lighter cases or where the deep plane is unsafe.
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MACS-lift (mini access cranial suspension)
A short-scar mini facelift with purse-string sutures. Less downtime but limited elevation - suits early laxity in the lower third, not mid-face descent.
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Volumetric fat transfer
Autologous fat harvested from thigh or abdomen and grafted into the cheek, temple and tear trough - restores the volume that lifting alone cannot.
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Skin resurfacing (laser or deep peel)
CO2 or erbium laser or a phenol-croton peel to address the crepey skin quality that a facelift does not treat. Often combined at the same anaesthetic.
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Thread lift (non-surgical)
PDO or PLLA barbed threads for a minor lift lasting 6 to 12 months. Useful as a bridge, not a substitute for surgical composite lifting.
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Second-opinion review
A specialist review of a previous facelift plan, photographs and quote - sometimes the answer is a different technique or a staged approach.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of deep-plane specialists, we picked them.
BAAPS and ISAPS surgeons with a high extended deep-plane volume, operating in CQC-registered London hospitals - Cadogan Clinic, London Bridge Cosmetic Surgery, HCA The Wellington, King Edward VII's.
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BAAPS or ISAPS surgeons with a high extended deep-plane facelift volume
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CQC-registered hospitals with resident anaesthetic and 24 hour nursing cover
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Deep-plane necklift and volumetric fat transfer available at the same anaesthetic
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Formal revision policy and named clinician for out-of-hours cover
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
The extended deep-plane is a major operation with real risks. The things worth planning are haematoma (higher in men), the temporary sensory disturbance around the ear, the 2 to 3 week social downtime and the 3 to 6 month settling window before the final result appears.
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Haematoma - 1 to 3 percent, higher in males
The commonest early complication. Managed with prompt evacuation and closed suction drains. Blood pressure control before discharge is essential.
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Temporary nerve dysaesthesia - 10 to 30 percent
Greater auricular sensory disturbance around the ear is common and resolves in 3 to 6 months. Motor branch injury is uncommon.
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Permanent facial nerve injury - under 1 percent
The marginal mandibular branch is the most vulnerable. A deep-plane specialist minimises this by staying in a well-defined anatomical plane.
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Infection and seroma - under 1 percent
Prophylactic antibiotics and closed suction drains reduce risk. Any fluctuant swelling or spreading redness is reviewed same day.
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Skin necrosis - rare
Reduced by lower skin tension of the composite lift. Almost exclusively seen in smokers - hence the 6 week cessation rule.
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Hairline distortion and scar quality
A carefully planned pre-tragal or trichophytic hairline incision preserves natural sideburn and temporal hairline. Hypertrophic or keloid scarring is rare but reviewed at consultation.
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Over-tightening or asymmetry
The composite lift is designed to lift without pull. Minor asymmetry is expected as swelling settles at different rates.
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Revision rate - 5 to 10 percent
Usually minor scar revision or touch-up. A formal revision policy is agreed in writing before surgery.
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Red flags after discharge
A sudden tight swelling on one side, severe pain, expanding bruising, fever or facial weakness - call the on-call surgeon or attend A and E the same day.
Reading your operation note
The four sections that actually matter.
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Header
Technique, planes and adjuncts
Which plane was dissected (subcutaneous, sub-SMAS, deep-plane), whether ligaments were released, and any adjunctive fat transfer or resurfacing.
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Technique
Incision pattern and closure
Pre-tragal versus post-tragal, temporal hairline pattern, post-auricular extension into the occipital hairline, suture material and drain sites.
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Findings
Intra-operative notes
Blood loss, any dural or nerve stimulator warnings, deep-plane release confirmed, symmetry check on the table and platysmal work performed.
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Impression
Recovery plan and review dates
Read this first: drain removal, suture removal at 7 to 10 days, garment schedule, return-to-work window and photographic review at 3 and 6 months.
Related treatments
Facial rejuvenation options we also arrange.
FAQs
Deep-plane facelift, the questions patients ask us most.
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What is a deep-plane facelift and how is it different?
A deep-plane facelift dissects beneath the SMAS layer and releases the zygomatic and masseteric ligaments, then lifts skin, SMAS and fat as a single composite unit. Because the lift comes from beneath, tension is taken off the skin closure - which gives better scars, a stronger mid-face lift and a result that lasts longer than a superficial SMAS operation.
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How long does a deep-plane facelift last?
A well-executed extended deep-plane facelift typically holds for 10 years or more before any revision is considered, compared with 5 to 7 years for superficial SMAS techniques. Ageing continues, so the face still ages - but from a lifted starting point.
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How much does a deep-plane facelift cost in the UK?
Around £22,000 to £38,000 for an extended deep-plane facelift with a deep-plane necklift and fat transfer. Mid-face only is £16,000 to £28,000. Skin resurfacing is a further £3,500 to £8,500 at the same anaesthetic. We confirm a firm figure once the surgeon has reviewed your photographs.
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How long is the recovery?
Most patients are back to social activities at 2 to 3 weeks, exercise at 4 to 6 weeks and see the final result between 3 and 6 months as swelling resolves. Compression garment is worn for the first week and sutures come out at 7 to 10 days.
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What are the risks I should know about?
Haematoma in 1 to 3 percent (higher in men), temporary sensory disturbance around the ear in 10 to 30 percent, permanent facial nerve injury under 1 percent, infection under 1 percent, and revision surgery in 5 to 10 percent. Smokers face significantly higher rates of skin necrosis, hence the 6 week cessation rule.
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Am I a good candidate, and when should I choose something else?
A fit non-smoker in their late 40s to mid-60s with established mid-face descent, jowls, a soft jawline and neck banding is the classic candidate. Lighter laxity often responds better to a MACS-lift, HIFU (Ultherapy, Sofwave) or thread lift, and heavy smokers, uncontrolled hypertension or a BMI over 32 should be optimised before any surgical option.
Ready to talk to a deep-plane surgeon
Send us your photos. We reply within one working day.
A confidential, no-obligation review by a BAAPS or ISAPS deep-plane specialist. If a lighter procedure is safer, we say so.