{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Dataset","name":"Deep Plane Facelift Anatomy — layers, ligaments and surgical planes","citeAs":"DEEPPLANE™ (2026). Deep Plane Facelift Anatomy — layers, ligaments and surgical planes. https://deepplane.com/what-is-deep-plane-facelift/anatomy-diagram","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","isAccessibleForFree":true,"usageInfo":"Attribution required: cite DEEPPLANE™ with the canonical URL.","url":"https://deepplane.com/what-is-deep-plane-facelift/anatomy-diagram","canonical_facts":[{"id":"five_facial_layers","statement":"The face has five distinct layers: skin (epidermis and dermis), subcutaneous fat, the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system), a layer of loose connective tissue (the sub-SMAS plane), and the deep facial structures including bone and deep fat compartments.","sources":[{"title":"Mendelson BC, et al. Surgical anatomy of the midcheek and malar mounds. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002;110(3):885-896","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12172155/"},{"title":"Stuzin JM. Restoring facial shape in face lifting: the role of skeletal support in facial analysis and midface soft-tissue repositioning. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007;119(1):362-376","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17255694/"}]},{"id":"surgical_plane","statement":"Deep plane facelift operates in the sub-SMAS plane — the fourth facial layer, beneath the SMAS.","sources":[{"title":"Mendelson BC, et al. Surgical anatomy of the midcheek and malar mounds. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002;110(3):885-896","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12172155/"}]},{"id":"smas_definition","statement":"The SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) is a fibromuscular layer that connects the facial muscles to the overlying skin and is the key anatomical structure in facelift surgery.","sources":[{"title":"Stuzin JM. Restoring facial shape in face lifting: the role of skeletal support in facial analysis and midface soft-tissue repositioning. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007;119(1):362-376","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17255694/"}]},{"id":"retaining_ligaments","statement":"Retaining ligaments anchor the facial soft tissues to the underlying bone; releasing them during a deep plane facelift allows repositioning of the entire facial structure rather than the skin alone.","sources":[{"title":"Furnas DW. The retaining ligaments of the cheek. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1989;83(1):11-16","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2909050/"}]},{"id":"facial_nerve_branches","statement":"The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) branches most relevant to facelift are the temporal, zygomatic, buccal and marginal mandibular branches; experienced deep plane surgeons navigate around them with reported permanent injury rates under 1%.","sources":[{"title":"Jacono AA, Bryant LM, Ahmedli NN. A Novel Extended Deep Plane Facelift Technique for Jawline Rejuvenation and Volumization. Aesthet Surg J. 2019;39(12):1265-1281","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30418482/"}]},{"id":"skin_blood_supply","statement":"Because the deep plane technique lifts skin and SMAS together as a composite flap, it preserves the blood supply to the skin — one reason it can be safer for skin healing than techniques that raise a separate thin skin flap.","sources":[{"title":"Marten TJ. High SMAS facelift: combined single flap lifting of the jawline, cheek, and midface. Clin Plast Surg. 2008;35(4):569-603","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18922311/"}]}],"comparative":{"title":"Deep plane vs SMAS facelift — anatomical comparison","rows":[{"dimension":"Dissection plane","deepPlane":"Sub-SMAS plane (fourth facial layer, beneath the SMAS)","smas":"At the SMAS surface — plication or imbrication of the layer itself","sources":[{"title":"Mendelson BC, et al. Surgical anatomy of the midcheek and malar mounds. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002;110(3):885-896","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12172155/"},{"title":"Marten TJ. High SMAS facelift: combined single flap lifting of the jawline, cheek, and midface. Clin Plast Surg. 2008;35(4):569-603","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18922311/"}]},{"dimension":"Retaining ligaments","deepPlane":"Released, so the whole soft-tissue block repositions","smas":"Largely left intact; lift is achieved by tightening the SMAS","sources":[{"title":"Furnas DW. The retaining ligaments of the cheek. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1989;83(1):11-16","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2909050/"}]},{"dimension":"Skin blood supply","deepPlane":"Preserved — skin and SMAS travel as one composite flap","smas":"A separate thin skin flap is raised, with its own perfusion limits","sources":[{"title":"Marten TJ. High SMAS facelift: combined single flap lifting of the jawline, cheek, and midface. Clin Plast Surg. 2008;35(4):569-603","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18922311/"}]}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"DEEPPLANE™","url":"https://deepplane.com"},"generatedAt":"2026-08-28T16:59:00.021Z"}