If you are looking at facelift surgery today, you are likely looking for two things: a natural appearance and a result that actually lasts. You know that older approaches often meant trading a little lift for a slightly pulled look, and we understand why you want to avoid that. The most sophisticated, enduring answer to facial aging isn't about pulling skin; it’s about restoring the underlying support structure.
The Deep Plane Facelift is the definitive approach to facial rejuvenation because it addresses all layers of descent simultaneously. At the Joseph A. Russo, MD clinic, our plastic surgeon, Dr. Jane Tsui, MD, specializes in the powerful extended deep plane facelift approach. She helps her patients in the greater Boston region achieve a comprehensive, natural-looking correction by lifting the fat, muscle, and skin in multiple directions—not just one—providing a truly more youthful appearance that enhances your facial contours for many years.
To really appreciate the superior results of a deep plane facelift, it helps to briefly understand what happens when facial aging sets in. Over time, gravity pulls down the connective tissue, fat compartments, and muscle layers, which creates sagging skin and a loss of sharpness.
Older surgical methods, like a traditional facelift, typically focus on the outer skin or just tighten the overlying superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) with internal stitches. While they offer some correction, these methods rely on tension, which is exactly what can lead to that tight, pulled, or overly operated appearance we all work so hard to avoid.
The deep plane facelift procedure works structurally and fundamentally differently. Dr. Tsui operates in a very precise, protected layer—a natural separation plane that sits below the muscle (the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or SMAS) but safely above the facial nerves. By working in this deep plane, she is able to treat the skin, muscle, and fat as a single, durable unit—a unified composite flap.
Crucially, the lift itself isn't generated by pulling the skin at all. Instead, it involves surgically releasing key anchor points, like the masseteric and mandibular ligaments, and then repositioning this entire, composite structure vertically. This approach is how the procedure truly restores your deeper facial structures to their original position.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Russo MD Cosmetic Center (@russomdcosmeticcenter)
A post shared by Russo MD Cosmetic Center (@russomdcosmeticcenter)
The ultimate goal of any facelift technique is a youthful appearance that looks authentic, not surgically altered. The deep plane approach is the most effective way we know to deliver this, and it comes with a number of benefits:
The deep plane face lift is such a powerful solution because it targets the actual structural issues contributing to an aged appearance. It corrects multiple signs of descent and laxity simultaneously across the lower two-thirds of your face.
Loss of Midface and Cheek Volume
Facial aging often first shows up as a flattening of the midface and a descent of the cheek fat, which can make the lower eyelid area look longer. Dr. Tsui employs the deep plane technique because it provides the most effective vertical lift available to fix this. By mobilizing the tissues within the deeper layers of the face, she is able to capture and reposition this tissue, essentially rebuilding the natural, subtle curve of the cheekbone. This is a critical move for achieving overall harmony and revitalizing your facial contours.
Jowling and Jawline Indefinition
Jowls form when the deeper tissues and fat compartments slump over the lower jawbone, making your natural facial structure look blurred. The deep plane approach is designed to eliminate this issue by releasing the key retaining ligaments that are tethering the tissues down. Dr. Tsui then lifts and suspends the entire complex to create a sharp, beautiful jawline. This structural repositioning of deeper facial structures is exactly why the results are so defined and durable, eliminating the stubborn sagging skin that gathers around the lower face.
Deep Nasolabial Folds
These lines, running from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth, are primarily caused by the entire midface complex sliding downward. Unlike traditional facelifts that might just stretch the skin over the fold, the deep plane facelift fixes the underlying cause. By structurally lifting the cheek and midface complex in its entirety, the depth of these folds is dramatically softened and elevated, contributing significantly to a refreshed and youthful appearance.
The ideal patient for the deep plane facelift is usually someone seeking correction for moderate to significant visible signs of aging across the lower two-thirds of their face and neck. They often present with defined facial creases, prominent jowling, and noticeable sagging skin that they realize can no longer be fixed with a mini facelift or injectables alone.
Candidates are seeking a definitive, long-term solution. They need to be in good overall health, be non-smokers, and have a clear, realistic idea of the outcome. The deep plane face approach requires the patient to be ready for the necessary commitment to a proper recovery protocol.
Your initial consultation for a deep plane facelift in Boston with Dr. Jane Tsui is a collaborative, clinical planning session. You'll have plenty of time to discuss your specific goals and any concerns about facial aging. Dr. Tsui will perform a detailed physical assessment of your facial anatomy, evaluating your skin quality and the specific degree of descent in your deeper layers of tissue.
Preparation for this facial plastic surgery requires strict attention to health details for optimal safety and healing. For example, you must stop using supplements and medications that increase bleeding risk. Crucially, all nicotine and tobacco use must stop several weeks before and after the deep plane facelift surgery, as smoking severely compromises the final aesthetic. Our team provides comprehensive instructions covering lab work, diet, and arranging post-operative care, including how to sleep with your head elevated right after the procedure.
The deep plane facelift procedure is an exacting surgical procedure. The procedure typically uses general anesthesia to ensure your maximum comfort and necessary surgical precision.
Dr. Tsui places incisions very discreetly—starting in the hairline near the temple, running around the front of the ear, and finishing behind the earlobe. The hallmark of the deep plane approach is the precise work done in the critical layer beneath the muscle (SMAS). Dr. Tsui releases the tissue's holding ligaments, allowing her to fully mobilize and lift the deeper facial structures as one unit. Once secured, any excess skin is conservatively managed, and the incisions are closed with a tension-free closure for minimal visible scarring.
The length of the procedure varies due to its complexity and whether it is combined with complementary procedures like lower eyelid lift or brow lift.
During the recovery process, most patients experience bruising and swelling, which is normal and expected. This begins to settle quickly after the first week, though some subtle residual swelling can last longer. It’s absolutely vital to sleep with your head elevated for the first two weeks to help speed up the process. Many patients feel comfortable returning to light, non-strenuous, sedentary work within 10 to 14 days.
Since this facial rejuvenation involves lifting the deeper tissues, the result is gradual, the final results will become fully apparent over six months to a year as the facial tissue fully settles and the minimal visible scarring matures.
The deep plane facelift is a complex, highly specialized surgical procedure, and the cost understandably reflects the significant expertise, time, and advanced techniques required. At Joseph A. Russo, MD, every facelift technique is personalized, which means we can only provide a final, accurate quote for your deep plane facelift in Boston after a thorough, one-on-one consultation with Dr. Tsui.
The cost will vary based on the anatomical complexity of your facial structure, the extent of facial aging, and whether the surgical procedure is combined with other enhancements like lower eyelid lift, fat grafting, or laser skin resurfacing to give you the ideal comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
When you undergo deep plane facelift surgery at Joseph A. Russo, MD, you are choosing a practice built on trust, medical authority, and a tradition of aesthetic mentorship—all delivered within a truly supportive, patient-centric environment.
Our commitment to outstanding outcomes begins with a rigorous focus on advanced surgical safety. We prioritize meticulous, time-tested techniques specifically designed for the complexities of the extended deep plane facelift. By maintaining the highest clinical standards and utilizing specialized surgical protocols, we ensure that every procedure is performed with the utmost precision and care for our patients' well-being.
Our dedication to safe, proven methods, combined with the resources of a practice founded by an Aesthetic Mentor, means your experience, from developing your personalized treatment plan to your final recovery, is handled with the highest level of expert, compassionate care.
Dr. Jane Tsui brings a distinct and highly specialized background to your deep plane facelift. Her advanced techniques are supported by foundational training, including a post-doctoral research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Texas-Southwestern. This depth of knowledge in facial anatomy and facial plastic surgery makes her an experienced surgeon uniquely qualified to navigate the deeper facial structures.
Dr. Tsui’s philosophy aligns perfectly with our practice's core belief: to achieve the most natural-looking results by executing the deep plane technique with an artistic eye. She focuses on authentically restoring youthful contours, providing our patients in the Boston region with a customized and exceptionally refined facial rejuvenation.
The extended deep plane facelift restores youthful contours by lifting and repositioning descended tissues back onto the cheekbones, though the procedure itself does not add new volume. To address hollowing, Dr. Tsui often performs facial fat grafting in conjunction with the lift to strategically restore lost fullness and achieve a comprehensive rejuvenation.
Yes. Because the deep plane approach involves repositioning deeper facial structures and provides a much more comprehensive result, the initial recovery is typically more substantial than a mini facelift. While the mini lift is superficial, the deep plane surgery requires a committed 2 to 3 weeks for most significant bruising and swelling to clear up.
The structural lift significantly improves deep wrinkles like the nasolabial folds. However, wrinkles right around the mouth (perioral lines) are mainly caused by muscle movement and skin quality. We often recommend combining the deep plane facelift with complementary procedures like laser skin resurfacing or a lip lift to smooth the excess skin and fine lines in this specific area.
Yes, prior non-surgical treatments like a thread lift or fillers are generally not an issue. It is crucial, however, that you inform Dr. Tsui of all previous procedures, as the presence of certain materials may slightly influence the surgical plan for your deep plane face lift.
The skill of an experienced surgeon is paramount here. Dr. Tsui's extensive training in facial anatomy allows her to navigate the deeper layers precisely while preserving nerve function, which is a major safety advantage.
575 Boylston Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459
Your body is constantly changing. Gravity, age, and the elements are constantly pulling at you. But you are not alone in this fight. The doctors and aesthetic experts at Joseph A Russo, MD are also in constant motion, relentlessly innovating better ways to overcome the entropic effects of time and gravity.
Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm Friday 9am-5pm Saturdays 9am-2pm (We are open 2 Saturdays per month,excluding June, July, and August)
© 2026 Joseph A Russo, MD | All Rights Reserved | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement