Deep Plane Facelift & Deep Plane Neck Lift

As a double board-certified surgeon who focuses exclusively on the face and neck, Dr. Keith Ladner has established a reputation as the top deep plane facelift and deep plane neck lift surgeon in Denver, CO, and Beverly Hills, CA. With two decades of experience, and having performed thousands of facelifts and/or necklifts, Dr. Ladner’s advanced techniques and surgical skills create natural-looking results for women and men from in Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, and beyond.

What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?

A deep plane facelift addresses signs of aging in the mid and lower face and is often combined with a deep plane neck lift. Its ability to restore a more youthful appearance is unmatched when the procedure is performed by an experienced and qualified facial plastic surgeon. The objectives of a well-performed facelift are to naturally rejuvenate the appearance of the face and for the patient to look well-rested and excellent for their stated age. Women and men get facelift surgery to:

• Minimize heavy facial folds 
• Remove excess, sagging skin 
• Reposition sagging tissues throughout the face 
• Smooth away creases and lines 
• Define a jawline or neck hidden by sagging jowls 

A deep plane facelift achieves more natural, longer-lasting, and impressive results when compared to older versions of a facelift. A deep plane facelift gets its name from the fact that the skin is doing less of the work compared to traditional facelifts and the focus is on the deeper muscular tissues.  This technique allows for less trauma to the skin by raising shorter skin flaps and allows for more optimal tightening of the deeper tissues to get the best result.  The incisions are hidden in natural creases in and around the ear and sideburn. This technique ensures a natural vertical restoration of the facial tissues.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Metro Denver or Beverly Hills?

The cost of a facelift in Denver or Beverly Hills depends on whether the procedure is performed alone or with other complementary cosmetic surgeries. It is important to know that cost is influenced by Dr. Ladner’s extensive training, experience, and consistent results. It’s important not to base your choice of surgeon primarily on the cost.

What Is a Deep Plane Neck Lift?

When performed on its own, a deep plane neck lift involves a small horizontal incision below the chin and possibly a second hidden incision behind the ears, depending on the age of the patient and the health of their skin. During the surgery, Dr. Ladner tightens the platysma muscle and will also remove fat if necessary to achieve the optimal jawline. Younger patients do not need skin removal because their skin will coapt to the improved neck contour by itself (minimally invasive neck tightening). For older patients, the extra skin will also be removed. As with facelift surgery, the goal is to avoid the appearance of having had “work done.”

Whether in Denver or Beverly Hills, Dr. Ladner and his team of health care professionals, including his hand-selected board certified Anesthesiologists, will help guide you every step of the way during your facelift journey.

“Dr. Ladner listened patiently to all my concerns, and conveyed a realistic/natural approach in his practice. Needless to say, I was thrilled with the results! I healed just as he said I would! He also met me at his office on a Saturday, post-surgery, to check my sutures. I was out and about after only a week…”

5-star RealSelf review, S. Warlow

Who Is an Ideal Candidate for a Deep Plane Facelift and/or Necklift?

Deep Plane Facelifts and Necklifts are performed in men and women of all ages and have been increasingly performed in younger patients who want to look and feel their best. A woman or man who can benefit from facelift surgery typically wants to improve certain signs of aging, such as:

• Sagging skin in the midface and along the jawline 
• Nasolabial folds (creases extending from the nose to the corners of the mouth) 
• Marionette lines (lines extending from the corners of the mouth and down the chin) 
• Lost volume 
• Double chin 
• Creased and sagging skin in the neck

Ideal facelift and necklift candidates are non-smokers who share other common characteristics, including good overall health, realistic expectations, and a positive attitude about the procedure. It’s also important for facelift surgery candidates not to have a medical condition that affects their ability to heal or puts them at unnecessarily higher risk. 

How Is a Facelift Performed?

Facelift surgery generally takes 2 to 3.5  hours to perform, but can take longer if additional complimentary procedures are performed during the operation. Conscious sedation or a general anesthetic may be used depending on the specific surgical plan.

What Distinguishes Our Facelift Technique and Results?

Dr. Ladner’s four-pillar approach to facial rejuvenation procedures sets him apart. When discussing the goals of a facelift procedure with you during the consult, he explains the four outcomes that must be achieved:

Natural Rejuvenation: Dr. Ladner strongly believes that a facelift procedure should naturally rejuvenate a patient. It should turn back the hands of time by at least a decade or two for that particular facial area. However, each patient should continue to look like themselves. They should not see a different person in the mirror, only a younger, more refreshed version of themselves.

Compliments: Friends and family who don’t know you had the procedure should give you compliments but not suspect that you had a surgical procedure to achieve this refreshed look. Peers should not be able to pinpoint what was done— rather, they should just note an improved version of YOU.

Longevity: Patients considering a surgical rejuvenation procedure are not looking for a temporary “fix.” With Dr. Ladner’s expertise, perfection, and customization of the deep plane facelift, patients should expect to get 10 to 20 years of results with these procedures. Meaning that it will take at least this long to return to their pre-surgical appearance.

Customization: Every patient is different, and so are their concerns. Furthermore, the relevant anatomy for each patient may vary. Therefore, we take the time to listen carefully to your concerns, perform an in-depth exam of those areas, and create a customized approach. With our in-office software programs, Dr. Ladner is able to articulate the recommended and customized approach for you through photos and drawings.

How Fat Transfer Enhances Facelift Results

The loss of volume is one of the primary causes of facial aging. Using a patient’s own fat to restore volume in specific areas—especially in the upper cheek and the bony orbital rim area below the eyes—enhances facelift results. Fat is a natural, long-lasting filler that Dr. Ladner often uses during facelift surgery.

Fat transfer—also called fat grafting—involves a 3-step process:

• Step 1 The first step is to harvest fat from an area of the patient’s body, such as the abdomen, thighs, or neck, using liposuction.
• Step 2: Dr. Ladner then uses an advanced micro and/or nano-fat purifying system to prepare the fat.
• Step 3: The final step is carefully re-injecting the fat to complement the facelift results.

What Is Recovery Like After a Facelift or Neck Lift?

Most patients can return to work about 10 to 14 days after a facelift or neck lift. At the end of the procedure, Dr. Ladner wraps the incisions in a compressive dressing to minimize swelling and promote the healing process. Patients return the following day to have the dressing removed, and we’ll provide instructions on how to clean and care for the incision sites. Dr. Ladner recommends sleeping with your head elevated to minimize swelling and shorten the recovery time.

Facelift Recovery Timeline

The recovery timeline for facelift surgery can vary depending on several factors, including age, health, and the type of procedure performed. Here is a look at what you can expect:

Day of surgery: Take brief walks around your home and get plenty of rest. Sleep on your back with your head elevated.

Day after surgery: Return to our office for a follow-up appointment. Dr. Ladner removes your bandages and gives you instructions about how to care for your incisions.

Days 2 to 5: Postoperative swelling and bruising typically peak during this time. You may feel well enough to take longer walks, but don’t do anything that elevates your blood pressure.

Days 7 to 14: Most people can return to jobs that don’t require physically strenuous work. Applying makeup can camouflage the incisions.

Days 15 to 30: At this point, you’ll feel and look much better, although you can expect some residual swelling and bruising. You can increase your physical activities, including working out. Your results will continue to improve for several months as swelling resolves.

“Dr. Ladner is an outstanding doctor! Before I chose Dr. K, I went to visit a few others, and he was the only one that took the time to understand my needs and concerns. He was very thorough in explaining the procedure; the how’s, the what’s, the why’s. Lastly the results are outstanding!!”

5-Star review, Healthgrades, Erica B.

What Procedures Can Be Combined With a Facelift?

Dr. Ladner’s extensive training and experience enable him to tailor each procedure based on the patient’s needs. He takes a comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation and often recommends combining facelift and neck lift surgery with other procedures, such as:

• Brow lift
• Blepharoplasty
• Fat grafting
• Laser skin resurfacing
• Chin augmentation

During your consultation, Dr. Ladner may discuss combining these or other procedures and explain how they can enhance the overall results of your facelift.

What Is a Mini Facelift?

A mini facelift is sometimes called a short-scar lift because it often involves  shorter incisions. It is still performed via the deep plane technique to ensure natural, long lasting results. However, it means that a smaller portion of a complete facelift is being performed.

This approach produces less dramatic results than a regular facelift because the incisions are smaller and the surgeon elevates less tissue. The recovery time for a mini facelift is typically less than with a full facelift.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Rediscover Your Youthful Glow With Our Deep Plane Facelift in Denver, CO, and Beverly Hills, CA

Women and men looking for the top facelift surgeon in Denver or Beverly Hills choose Dr. Ladner. You can request a facelift consultation to meet with him or call our office at  (719) 259-7036 to schedule an appointment.

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