The deep plane facelift at a glance
- Duration2 to 4 hours
- AnaesthesiaGeneral or local with sedation
- Hospital stay1 night (day surgery possible)
- Social downtime15 to 21 days
- How long the result lasts4 to 12 years
- Price€5,000 to €15,000
The deep plane facelift is the face and neck lift technique used by Dr Médard de Chardon. It corrects a sagging jawline, jowls and a lax neck: the muscle layer (the SMAS) is re-tightened at a deep level, then the skin is redraped without tension. The operation takes 2 to 4 hours at Clinique Oxford in Cannes, under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation, usually with one night in hospital. The scar is hidden in the hair and around the ear. Social downtime is 15 to 21 days; the final result is reached at 2 months and lasts 4 to 12 years, depending on the quality of the tissues.
Price: €5,000 to €15,000 depending on any additional procedures, on a written quote after a consultation (€100).
Which areas does the deep plane facelift treat?
- the jawline and jowls (facelift);
- the neck and the neck–chin angle (neck lift);
- sometimes the temple, with an associated temporal lift.
It does not lift the cheek or the tear troughs, which call for a midface lift, or the eyebrows, which call for a brow lift or a temporal lift. See also the overview of all facelifts.
Before: sagging jawline, jowls, lax neck. The arrows show the direction in which the muscles are re-tightened.
Which technique for your face?
| Technique | Indication | What is treated |
|---|---|---|
| Deep plane “lower SMAS” | Lax jawline and neck, cheek still in place | Jawline, jowls, neck |
| Deep plane “high SMAS” | Lax jawline and neck, descended cheek | Jawline, jowls, neck and cheek |
| Lower SMAS followed by a midface lift | Descended cheek, treated at a second stage through a lower blepharoplasty approach | Jawline, jowls, neck, then cheek and tear troughs |
| Neck lift through a submental approach (add-on) | Very lax neck, platysmal bands, double chin | Neck and neck–chin angle, through an incision in the crease under the chin |
Depending on the face, liposuction treats excess fat, or micro- or nano-fat grafting (lipostructure) completes the facelift when the face is gaunt.
Why the deep plane technique?
The deep plane technique re-tightens the facial muscles, not the skin. The skin is undermined only to a limited extent and is redraped as needed, without tension. The result is natural, because the face does not look “pulled”, and long-lasting, because it relies on the muscle layer, which is stronger than skin. It is an effective and durable technique for correcting a sagging jawline and neck.
Overview
Overview: Scar hidden in the hair and around the ear; if needed, a short incision under the chin. The muscles are re-tightened and the skin is redraped without tension.
From what age?
A face and neck lift can be considered as soon as sagging appears, usually from the age of 45. The ideal age for a first facelift is between 45 and 55: the tissues are still of good quality, which favours a natural and long-lasting result.
How does the operation take place?
- ConsultationAt the practice, 101 rue d’Antibes, Cannes (€100): analysis of the face, choice of technique, information on the risks, detailed written quote.
- Statutory cooling-off period15 days between receiving the quote and the operation.
- Anaesthetic consultationWith an anaesthetist.
- OperationAt Clinique Oxford in Cannes, under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation, lasting 2 to 4 hours; usually one night in hospital, day surgery possible.
- ScarIn the hair and around the ear, sometimes in the crease under the chin; no stitches to remove.
- Follow-upCheck-up consultations on day 7, day 15 and at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months.
What is the recovery like?
- Pain: little or none, rather a feeling of discomfort or tightness behind the ears and in the neck.
- Dressing for 2 days; first shampoo on day 2.
- Bruising for 7 to 21 days; swelling for a few days.
- Social life: 15 to 21 days of social downtime; social activities resume from day 15.
- Work: 15 to 21 days off work.
- Sport: from day 15.
- Final result at 2 months.
Where will you be?
14 days after the procedure
What are the risks?
Like any surgery, a facelift carries risks, which are rare when the operation is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon in an approved facility:
- haematoma;
- temporary changes in sensation in the cheeks and ears;
- injury to a branch of the facial nerve, exceptional and usually temporary;
- localised hair loss along the scars;
- delayed healing, made more likely by smoking.
Choosing a qualified, experienced and reputable surgeon reduces these risks, and can even eliminate some of them.
How long does the result last?
The result lasts 4 to 12 years, depending on the quality of the tissues. The face then continues to age, but from a younger starting point. Depending on skin type and age, slight laxity may be seen along the jawline or under the chin. The result can be maintained with botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid, micro-injections of fat or skin care.
Dr Médard de Chardon’s experience
- Qualified plastic surgeon specialising in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, former Chef de Clinique (university hospital senior registrar), Nice Faculty of Medicine; in practice in Cannes since 2011; member of SOFCEP (French Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), SOFCPRE (French Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) and ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery).
- Performs the deep plane facelift, combined where needed with a blepharoplasty, fat grafting or a midface lift.
- More than 1,000 facelifts performed.
Before and after photos
Facelift: jawline and neck
Right profile, before and after
Facelift: neck and jawline
Left profile, before and after
Facelift: lower face and neck
Front view, before and after
See all before and after photos of facelifts
How much does a deep plane facelift cost in Cannes?
€5,000 to €15,000
€5,000 to €15,000 depending on any additional procedures, on a written quote after the consultation (€100). A cosmetic facelift is not reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie or by mutuelles (top-up health insurance).
Book an appointment: +33 (0)4 93 68 86 68 or Doctolib.
Frequently asked questions about the deep plane facelift
What is a deep plane facelift?
It is a face and neck lift performed in the deep plane, beneath the SMAS: the muscles of the face and neck are re-tightened, then the skin is redraped without tension. The result is natural, because the skin is not pulled, and long-lasting, because it relies on the muscle layer.
Will my face look pulled after a deep plane facelift?
No. With the deep plane technique, the tension is placed on the muscles and not on the skin, which is redraped without tension. Your features and expression are preserved.
Are deep plane facelift scars visible?
They are hidden in the hair and around the ear, sometimes in the crease under the chin. They fade over the months that follow.
How long does the result of a deep plane facelift last?
4 to 12 years, depending on the quality of the tissues. The face then continues to age, but from a younger starting point.
Does the deep plane facelift treat a double chin?
Yes, when it is combined with a neck lift through an incision in the crease under the chin, which also treats platysmal bands and significant laxity of the neck.
At what age should I have a first deep plane facelift?
Most often between 45 and 55, when sagging appears and the tissues are still of good quality.
How much does a deep plane facelift cost in Cannes?
The price is set on a written quote after the consultation (€100) and ranges from €5,000 to €15,000 depending on any additional procedures. A cosmetic facelift is not reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie or by mutuelles.