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Meva Clinic Plastic Surgery Care Team

Meva Clinic · Istanbul

Published: 2025-11-12

Last Updated: 2026-05-18

Deep Plane Facelift

Repositions the deep facial layers (SMAS) for a natural, non-operated look. Results can last for years, depending on individual anatomy and the surgical plan.

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Meva Clinic Plastic Surgery Care Team

Patient Care Information

Patient Care Information
"Our clinical approach prioritizes patient safety, individualized treatment planning, realistic expectations, and long-term follow-up throughout the international care journey."

About This Procedure

Why Choose Meva Clinic?

Repositions the deep facial layers (SMAS) for a natural, non-operated look. Results can last for years, depending on individual anatomy and the surgical plan.

Jowls along the jawline, deep folds and a loosening neck usually come from deeper facial tissues sliding downward, not just from the skin. A deep plane facelift in Istanbul works beneath the SMAS, the muscle-and-fascia layer under the skin, and repositions those tissues as a unit. Because the lift is carried by the deeper layer, the skin is laid back without being pulled tight, which helps avoid a stretched look. It suits people with clear jowling and neck laxity. The consultation reviews your anatomy, skin quality and general health. Expect 1 hospital night under general anaesthesia and about 7 hotel nights; most people plan around 14 days away from work. For the eye area, see eyelid surgery.

Patient Care Information

Meva Clinic Plastic Surgery Care Team

Aesthetic & Body Contouring Pathway Guidance

This content is maintained by Meva Clinic’s Clinical Care Team for patient guidance and clinical transparency. Final treatment suitability, operating physician assignment, surgical planning, and medical decisions are confirmed only after medical history review, in-person consultation, diagnostic tests, anesthesia evaluation, and doctor availability.

Meva Clinic Clinical Care

Is This Treatment for Me?

Significant jowls

Neck sagging

Advanced facial aging

Comprehensive International Patient Care Plan

Private airport transfer according to the confirmed care plan

Bosphorus-view partner hotel, according to the confirmed care plan

24/7 nursing care during your hospital stay

Dedicated patient support during the confirmed care pathway

Aftercare guidance or materials according to the confirmed treatment plan

Follow-up guidance according to individual medical recommendations

The Clinical Procedure

Structural repositioning of deep tissues without skin tension.

Facial analysis and marking

The surgeon assesses the jowls, neck and skin quality, then marks the incision lines, which follow the natural creases in front of and behind the ear and run into the hairline.

General anaesthesia

The operation takes place under general anaesthesia, with a specialist anaesthetist monitoring you throughout.

Access beneath the SMAS

After a limited skin elevation, the surgeon passes beneath the SMAS, the muscle-and-fascia layer, and releases the ligaments that hold the cheek and jowl tissues down.

Repositioning the deep layer

Cheek, jowl and neck tissues are lifted together as one unit, mainly vertically, and secured with internal stitches. When planned, the neck is refined through a small incision under the chin.

Tension-free skin closure

The skin is laid back over the lifted tissues without being pulled tight; only the true excess is trimmed and the incisions are closed with fine stitches.

Dressing and overnight care

A light head dressing is applied and a small drain may be placed. You spend the night in the partner hospital with your head raised.

Recovery & Transformation Journey

Phase 1: Day 1 (hospital)

Overnight monitoring, cold compresses and head elevation. The dressing is checked, and drains, if used, are usually removed the next day.

Phase 2: Days 2–8 (Istanbul hotel)

Swelling and bruising usually peak in the first days, then fade. Stitches are typically removed around one week after surgery, followed by the check that confirms you can fly home.

Phase 3: Weeks 2–6

Most people return to desk work and social life after about 14 days. Tightness and numbness around the ears are common and ease gradually; light exercise often resumes after 3–4 weeks, strenuous exercise later, as your surgeon advises.

Phase 4: Months 3–12

Residual swelling resolves, sensation returns and the scars fade. The settled, final result is typically seen between 6 and 12 months.

The Meva Advantage

provides a refreshed and revitalized appearance with a focus on vertical lift and volume.

HighSafety Standard

15+ Years Experience

PremiumClinical Care Standard

Clinical Standards & Safety

Medical Guidelines & Safety Protocols

Hospital-based procedures are coordinated through accredited partner hospitals, including JCI-accredited institutions where clinically appropriate. Below are the clinical guidelines, safety protocols, and medical reference documentation for this procedure.

Indicated / Suitable For

Adults with visible jowls, loss of jawline definition and deepening folds caused by descent of the deeper facial tissues
Patients with neck laxity or banding who wish to address the lower face and neck in one procedure
Non-smokers, or patients willing to stop all nicotine products for several weeks before and after surgery
People in good general health, with stable weight and conditions such as high blood pressure well controlled
Patients with realistic expectations of a refreshed, natural look rather than a change in identity or skin texture

Contraindications / Not Suitable

Active smoking or nicotine use (including vaping and patches) that cannot be stopped, as it raises the risk of skin necrosis and poor wound healing
Uncontrolled high blood pressure, a key risk factor for haematoma after a facelift
Bleeding disorders, or anticoagulant/antiplatelet medicines and supplements that cannot be safely paused
Serious heart, lung or other conditions that make general anaesthesia unsafe
Planned major weight loss in the near future, or expectations that surgery will stop ageing or change skin quality

Pre-Operative Evaluation & Diagnostic Checks

Facial and Neck Analysis: Assessment of jowls, neck laxity, skin quality, facial symmetry and existing facial nerve function, with standardised photographs.

Blood Pressure Review: Checking that blood pressure is well controlled before surgery and on the day itself, as this is central to haematoma prevention.

Laboratory Tests: Complete blood count, coagulation profile, biochemistry and infectious disease screening.

Medication and Lifestyle Review: Identifying blood thinners, supplements (such as fish oil or vitamin E) and nicotine use that must be stopped in advance.

Anaesthesia Assessment: In-hospital evaluation, with ECG and further tests when indicated, to confirm fitness for general anaesthesia.

Potential Risks & Complications

In compliance with transparent clinical reporting, Meva Clinic ensures patients are fully informed of the physiological risks associated with surgical procedures through accredited partner-hospital safety protocols where clinically appropriate.

Haematoma

A collection of blood under the skin, most often in the first 24 hours; the risk is reduced by strict blood-pressure control and overnight hospital monitoring, and it is treated promptly if it occurs.

Facial Nerve Injury

Weakness of a facial nerve branch, such as the marginal mandibular branch that moves the lower lip, is uncommon; it is usually temporary and recovers over weeks to months. Careful dissection in known anatomical planes reduces the risk.

Numbness Around the Ears and Cheeks

Reduced skin sensation is expected and returns gradually over several months; the great auricular nerve is protected during surgery.

Skin Necrosis and Delayed Healing

Small areas of poor healing behind the ear are more likely in smokers; the tension-free skin closure and a strict nicotine-free period lower this risk.

Visible or Widened Scars

Incisions follow natural creases and the hairline and usually fade well; occasionally a scar thickens or widens and may need treatment or a minor revision.

Swelling, Asymmetry and Contour Irregularity

Uneven swelling is common early on and settles over weeks; minor persistent irregularities are assessed once the tissues have matured.

Realistic Expectations & Outcomes

A deep plane facelift repositions the descended cheek, jowl and neck tissues to restore a clearer jawline and a more rested lower face. It does not stop the ageing process, change skin texture, remove fine wrinkles or treat the forehead and eyelids, which may need separate procedures. After the overnight hospital stay, swelling and bruising usually peak in the first days and ease over two to three weeks, when most people feel comfortable returning to social life. Tightness and numbness fade gradually. Subtle swelling, especially along the jaw and neck, continues to settle for several months, so the final result is judged between 6 and 12 months after surgery.

Revision & Follow-Up Policy

After you return home, your recovery is followed remotely through scheduled photo and video reviews at around 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, with your coordinator available in between. Because the deep tissues and skin continue to settle for up to a year, any request for a touch-up or revision is considered only after this maturation period. Each case is assessed individually by the operating surgeon, based on objective medical findings. For 12 months after your treatment you can also send photos to the medical team whenever you wish and receive their feedback, and your questions are answered remotely.

Authoritative Medical References & Studies

[1]
Khoury S, Almubarak Z, Khan H, et al. The Deep Plane versus SMAS Facelift: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025;49(21):5895-5903.View Source
[2]
Vayalapra S, Guerero DN, Sandhu V, et al. Comparing the Safety and Efficacy of Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System and Deep Plane Facelift Techniques: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Plast Surg. 2025;95(5):582-589.View Source

Medical Disclaimer: This information is educational and does not replace a medical consultation. Facial anatomy, skin quality, general health and healing vary from person to person. Whether a deep plane facelift is suitable, the exact surgical plan and the likely result are determined only after an individual assessment by a qualified specialist plastic surgeon.

Frequently Asked Questions

The aim is a natural, rested look rather than a tight, windswept one. In a deep plane facelift the surgeon releases and repositions the deeper tissue layer, so the skin is not the part pulled tight. Swelling and some tightness are normal in the first weeks; the final look settles over several months and depends on your anatomy and skin quality.

The price depends on what your face needs: whether the neck is treated too, whether procedures such as eyelid surgery or fat grafting are combined, and the length of the operation. Your package includes the operation under general anaesthesia, one hospital night with 24/7 nursing, about 7 nights at a Bosphorus-view partner hotel when included in your plan, private transfers and remote follow-up. A personalised written quote follows the free online assessment.

Safety depends on the surgeon, the hospital and the preparation rather than the country. In a 2025 review of 47 studies with more than 10,000 patients, haematoma (bleeding under the skin) occurred in about 3% of deep plane facelifts and 2% of SMAS facelifts, and most nerve injuries were temporary. Strict blood-pressure control, stopping blood thinners and nicotine, and an overnight hospital stay help lower these risks. Choose a specialist surgeon who operates in an accredited hospital.

Lower running costs explain most of the difference: salaries, hospital overheads and living costs are lower than in the UK or Western Europe, and exchange rates favour international patients. A facelift is a long, detailed operation, so a fair price should still reflect an experienced surgeon, general anaesthesia, an overnight hospital stay and follow-up. Compare quotes on what they include, not only on the total figure, and be cautious of offers that seem far below the rest.

Look for a specialist plastic or facial plastic surgeon for whom facelifts are a regular part of practice. Ask to see before-and-after photos of patients of a similar age, taken at least a year after surgery, and ask which technique they recommend for you and why. A good surgeon explains the limits as well as the benefits, checks your blood pressure and medications, and sets out a written plan for recovery and follow-up.

A facelift does not stop ageing, but it repositions the deeper tissues, so you continue to age from a more lifted starting point. In a 2025 review of 21 studies with nearly 2,900 patients, both deep plane and SMAS facelifts gave long-lasting results with high patient satisfaction. How long the effect stays visible depends on your skin quality, genetics, sun exposure, smoking and how stable your weight remains.

Stitches are usually removed about a week after surgery, followed by the check that confirms you can travel, which is why around 7 hotel nights are planned. On the flight, keep your head upright, drink water, walk regularly and avoid alcohol. Swelling and bruising may still be visible, so many patients choose a scarf or sunglasses for the journey. Tell your surgeon in advance about any history of blood clots.

In a SMAS facelift the surgeon tightens or folds the deeper muscle layer from above. In a deep plane facelift the surgeon releases certain ligaments and moves the skin and the deeper layer together, which can lift the cheeks and jowls with less tension on the skin. Published reviews report high satisfaction with both; one found a somewhat higher overall complication rate after deep plane surgery. Your surgeon recommends a technique based on your anatomy.

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