By Dr Scott J Turner | Specialist Plastic Surgeon, FRACS
For most patients, the decision to explore facelift surgery doesn’t arrive suddenly. It builds gradually — through years of noticing subtle changes in the mirror, through conversations with friends who’ve had procedures, or through research that started broadly and narrowed toward something more specific. At some point, the term deep plane facelift enters the picture. It tends to stay there.
That’s not without reason. The deep plane facelift represents a meaningful departure from older approaches to facial rejuvenation — one that addresses the structural causes of facial ageing rather than its surface appearance. For patients who are serious about understanding their options, the distinction matters, both in terms of what surgery can achieve and in terms of what it demands from the surgeon performing it.
This guide is written for Brisbane patients who want a thorough, honest account of what the deep plane facelift involves: the anatomy that underpins it, what the procedure entails, what recovery requires, and how to approach the process of finding a qualified specialist in Queensland.
So, What Actually Makes It “Deep Plane”?
To understand the deep plane facelift, it helps to know where it sits within the broader spectrum of facelift techniques — and the key anatomical boundary that separates them.
Most modern facelift techniques operate above a fibromuscular layer called the SMAS — the superficial musculoaponeurotic system — which sits beneath the skin and subcutaneous fat of the face. SMAS-based approaches, including SMAS plication and SMASectomy, produce genuinely good results and remain widely performed by experienced surgeons. They represent a significant step forward from older methods and are appropriate for many patients.
The deep plane facelift goes a step further by working below the SMAS. Rather than tightening or imbrication the SMAS from above, this technique enters the plane beneath it and releases the key retaining ligaments — particularly the zygomatic and masseteric ligaments — that tether the deeper facial tissues to the underlying skeleton. Once these attachments are freed, the composite layer of SMAS, fat, and overlying tissue can be lifted and repositioned as a single unit, in a vertical direction. That vertical repositioning is central to what makes the technique distinctive.
The clinical significance of ligament release is twofold. First, it allows a greater degree of lift in areas — particularly the midface and nasolabial folds — that are difficult to address adequately from above the SMAS. Second, because the skin is redraped over already-repositioned deeper tissue rather than being used to carry the tension of the lift, there is less strain on the skin closure. This contributes to a more natural result and, for many patients, longer-lasting correction.
An extended deep plane facelift builds further on this foundation, incorporating more detailed work on the neck and platysma, and extending the release higher into the midface to address cheek volume descent and nasolabial fold deepening more comprehensively.
Why Faces Age the Way They Do
Before deciding whether surgery makes sense, it’s worth understanding what’s actually happening when a face ages — because it’s not just skin loosening. That’s part of it, but only part.
Facial ageing involves several overlapping processes occurring simultaneously. Fat compartments in the face lose volume over time, particularly in the midcheek, temples, and around the eyes. The retaining ligaments that anchor soft tissue to the facial skeleton become lax, allowing everything they were holding to slip downward. The cheek fat pad migrates south, deepening the nasolabial folds and blurring the jawline. Meanwhile, the skin loses elasticity and thickness, and the overall effect is a face that looks hollower in some areas and heavier in others.
Non-surgical treatments — fillers, energy devices, injectables — can do a reasonable job of managing the early stages of this. Adding volume back into hollowed areas, softening fine lines, and maintaining skin quality. But there’s a point at which the structural descent has progressed to a degree that no topical or injectable treatment can meaningfully reverse it. That’s generally when surgical options become worth considering.
Who Is the Right Candidate?
There’s no single profile. The deep plane facelift is performed on people in a wide range of ages, typically from the mid-forties through to the early seventies, though what matters more than age is the degree of change present and the person’s health.
Generally speaking, patients who tend to get the most out of this procedure are those experiencing moderate to significant facial ageing — visible jowling, descent of the midface, deepened nasolabial folds, and laxity in the neck. Those who have tried non-surgical treatments and found them insufficient, or who have been advised by a surgeon that the degree of change they’re seeking is beyond what non-surgical options can achieve.
Good general health matters. Smoking is a real issue — it compromises blood flow to the skin flap and substantially increases the risk of complications. Dr Turner requires patients to cease smoking well ahead of surgery, and this is non-negotiable.
Realistic expectations matter too. Surgery can produce remarkable results, but it cannot stop the ageing process or guarantee a specific outcome. Anyone who comes in expecting perfection or certainty will be better served by a conversation that resets those expectations before any decisions are made.
The only way to know whether you’re a suitable candidate is a proper consultation with a Specialist Plastic Surgeon. There are no reliable shortcuts to that process.
Choosing a Deep Plane Facelift Surgeon in Brisbane
This is where the conversation gets genuinely important.
The deep plane facelift is technically demanding. It involves precise dissection in anatomical planes that run close to the facial nerve — the nerve that controls movement of the muscles of facial expression. Doing this well requires not only surgical skill but deep familiarity with facial anatomy and significant experience with this specific technique. Not all plastic surgeons perform deep plane facelifts regularly, and not all who offer facelift surgery have equivalent training or outcomes.
When you’re researching a deep plane facelift surgeon in Brisbane, a few things are worth being clear-eyed about:
Qualifications come first. Your surgeon should be registered as a specialist plastic surgeon with AHPRA, ideally holding Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The title “cosmetic surgeon” has no equivalent specialist registration in Australia — it’s not the same credential, and it matters.
Ask about their experience with this specific technique. How many deep plane facelifts do they perform each year? How long have they been using this approach? A surgeon who occasionally performs a deep plane facelift alongside a high volume of other procedures is a very different proposition to one who has made facial surgery a central focus of their practice.
Pay attention to how they communicate. Is the surgeon honest about limitations and risks, or do they lean heavily on outcomes and positives? A good surgeon is as interested in telling you what surgery can’t do as what it can. This reflects both their ethics and their confidence.
Ensure the facility is accredited. Facelift surgery under general anaesthesia should only be performed in an accredited surgical facility with appropriate anaesthetic and post-operative care. Ask where your surgery will take place.
Dr Scott J Turner — Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Brisbane
Dr Scott J Turner is a board-certified Specialist Plastic Surgeon with consulting rooms in Sydney, Brisbane, and Canberra. Facial rejuvenation is a significant part of Dr Turner’s surgical practice, and the extended deep plane facelift is among the procedures he performs with particular focus.
Brisbane patients see Dr Turner at Herstellen Clinic in Spring Hill — a private clinic in Brisbane’s inner north, designed for patients seeking specialist surgical consultations in a discreet and professional environment.
Dr Turner’s approach is guided by an understanding that the goal of facial surgery isn’t to erase every sign of ageing — it’s to restore balance and proportion to a face that has changed in ways the patient finds distressing. Results that look natural. Not operated upon.
For full details on the procedure Dr Turner performs for Brisbane patients, visit the dedicated page: Extended Deep Plane Facelift Brisbane.
Your Consultation: What to Expect
A consultation with Dr Turner is not a sales appointment. It’s a clinical assessment and an honest conversation.
During your initial consultation, Dr Turner will assess your facial anatomy in detail — skin quality, soft tissue volume and position, ligamentous laxity, neck, and the relationship between all of these structures. He’ll ask about your concerns and what specifically you’d like to change. Then he’ll explain what he thinks is achievable, what technique he would recommend, and why.
You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions. A lot of them, if you want. The consultation is also where risks, recovery, costs, and logistics are discussed — nothing is glossed over.
Importantly, there is no expectation that you’ll make a decision on the day. Under AHPRA’s Cosmetic Surgery Guidelines, there is a mandatory minimum seven-day cooling-off period between receiving a quote or an indication of suitability and proceeding with surgery. Dr Turner’s practice fully respects this requirement. Patients are encouraged to take whatever time they need.
The Procedure Itself
Getting Ready for Surgery
In the weeks before your operation, you’ll receive detailed pre-operative instructions. These cover stopping smoking (typically at least four to six weeks before surgery), ceasing blood-thinning medications and supplements as directed, fasting requirements, and practical arrangements for your recovery period — including having a responsible adult available to take you home and support you in the first few days.
On the Day
Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. An extended deep plane facelift typically takes four to six hours, though this varies depending on the extent of the procedure and whether additional work — eyelid surgery, brow lifting, fat grafting, neck contouring — is included.
You’ll be admitted to the accredited surgical facility on the day of your procedure. After surgery, you’ll spend time in a monitored recovery suite before being discharged into the care of someone you trust. An overnight stay may be recommended in some cases.
What Happens During Surgery
The procedure begins with carefully placed incisions — starting in the hairline at the temple, continuing naturally around the contour of the ear, and into the posterior hairline. Their placement is deliberate: these incisions are designed to heal discreetly and become essentially imperceptible over time.
From there, the skin flap is elevated to access the deeper structures. The deep plane is entered by releasing the zygomatic and masseteric retaining ligaments — the key step that differentiates this technique. The composite flap of SMAS, fat, and overlying tissue is lifted and repositioned vertically. The platysma muscle in the neck is addressed as required. Then the skin is redraped with minimal tension — a defining feature of the deep plane technique, and one of the main reasons results look natural rather than tight.
Incisions are closed in layers.
Recovery: What the Real Timeline Looks Like
Recovery from a deep plane facelift takes longer than many patients initially expect — and it’s worth being honest about that upfront. Because the procedure works at a deeper anatomical level, the initial swelling and bruising can be more pronounced than with superficial techniques. The trade-off is that the results are more durable and more natural in appearance.
The first week is the most significant. Swelling and bruising are expected and normal. Drains may be in place for a day or two. You’ll have dressings and a facial compression garment. Discomfort is manageable with prescribed pain relief. Rest is not optional — it’s essential. Most patients have a follow-up appointment in this first week to check healing and remove drains.
By day five to seven, most patients feel noticeably more comfortable, but they’re not ready to be seen publicly.
Weeks two through four see meaningful improvement. Swelling reduces steadily, bruising typically resolves within two to three weeks, and most patients are moving around independently and managing basic tasks. Those in non-physical jobs often return to light work around the two-week mark, though Dr Turner’s advice will be tailored to how your recovery is progressing individually.
From four to six weeks onward, most patients feel well and are pleased with what they’re seeing — even though the final result isn’t yet visible. The deep plane facelift continues to settle and refine over three to six months as residual swelling in the deeper tissues fully resolves.
During recovery, avoid strenuous exercise for at least four to six weeks, protect healing incisions from sun exposure, and do not smoke.
How long do results last? Because the underlying anatomical structures are repositioned rather than the skin simply pulled, results tend to be long-lasting. Ten to fifteen years is a reasonable expectation for many patients, though this varies based on genetics, skin quality, and lifestyle.
Risks You Should Understand Before Consenting
Every surgical procedure carries risk. A facelift, regardless of technique, is no exception, and patients deserve an honest account of what those risks are rather than a minimised version of them.
Risks associated with a deep plane facelift include haematoma (a collection of blood under the skin, and the most common early complication), infection, visible or widened scarring at incision sites, and changes in skin sensation — including numbness that is usually temporary but can occasionally be prolonged. Temporary changes in facial movement related to swelling or manipulation around the facial nerve can occur, and while significant or permanent facial nerve injury is uncommon in the hands of an experienced specialist, it is a real risk that patients must understand.
Asymmetry, anaesthetic-related complications, and the possibility of an aesthetic result that requires revision are also part of an honest consent process.
Dr Turner will work through all of this with you during your consultation. If a surgeon isn’t willing to have that conversation in detail, that’s worth noting.
Surgery vs. Non-Surgical Options: An Honest Comparison
A common question: Should I try non-surgical treatments before considering surgery?
The answer depends on where you are in the ageing process. For patients in the earlier stages — fine lines, mild laxity, early volume loss — non-surgical options including anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, and energy-based skin tightening can be effective and appropriate. Many of Dr Turner’s patients maintain their surgical results with non-surgical treatments between procedures.
But there’s a threshold. Once the degree of structural descent is significant, jowling that fillers can’t meaningfully address, nasolabial folds caused by tissue migration rather than volume loss, neck laxity that thread lifts can’t lift — non-surgical options have reached their ceiling. No injectable treatment can reposition tissue. That’s a mechanical limitation, not a reflection of how good the treatment or the practitioner is.
For patients past that threshold, a surgical consultation isn’t giving up on non-surgical options — it’s simply being realistic about what those options can and can’t do.
FAQs: Deep Plane Facelift Brisbane
How much does a deep plane facelift cost in Brisbane? Costs vary depending on the complexity of the procedure, whether additional procedures are included, anaesthetic fees, and facility charges. Comprehensive facelift procedures with a Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Australia generally range from $20,000 to $35,000 or more. An itemised quote is provided following your consultation. Medicare and private health insurance do not typically cover cosmetic surgery, though this should be confirmed in your specific case.
How long does the operation take? Most extended deep plane facelift procedures take four to six hours. If concurrent procedures are performed, this may be longer.
When do the final results appear? Initial improvement becomes visible once the significant swelling subsides — usually around four to six weeks post-operatively. But the full result of a deep plane facelift continues to emerge over three to six months as deeper swelling resolves and the repositioned tissues settle.
Will it look obvious that I’ve had surgery? The deep plane technique is specifically designed to avoid the windswept or stretched appearance associated with older facelift methods. The vertical vector of lift, combined with minimal skin tension, produces results that read as refreshed rather than operated upon — in the hands of an experienced surgeon.
Can I combine a facelift with other procedures? Yes, and it’s quite common. Eyelid surgery, brow lifting, fat grafting, and chin augmentation can all be discussed in your consultation. Whether combining makes sense depends on your specific anatomy and goals.
Do I need to travel to Sydney? No. Dr Turner operates for Brisbane patients in Queensland. Contact his team directly to discuss scheduling.
Ready to Find Out More?
If you’ve been sitting with the idea of a facelift for a while — doing the research, weighing it up, not quite sure whether now is the right time or whether you’re the right candidate — a consultation is the most practical next step. It doesn’t commit you to anything. It gives you real information from a qualified specialist about your specific anatomy and what’s actually achievable.
Dr Scott J Turner consults at Herstellen Clinic, Spring Hill, Brisbane, and sees patients from across Queensland and beyond.
To read more about the extended deep plane facelift as performed by Dr Turner, visit: Extended Deep Plane Facelift Brisbane.
To enquire about a consultation or check Brisbane availability: Contact Us.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Outcomes vary between individuals. A consultation with a qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon is required to assess suitability for surgery. Dr Scott J Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon registered with AHPRA and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
