Steven Hopping, MD, FACS

DeepPlane holds no board certification record for Dr. Hopping at this time. That gap reflects the state of our records, not a finding about the surgeon. You can check the public registries kept by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the ABMS Certification Matters service.

Certification matters for a deep plane facelift because the operation works beneath the SMAS (the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a fibrous layer that supports facial skin). Board training in facial plastic or plastic surgery covers the facial nerve anatomy that this deeper plane of dissection demands.

Deep plane facelift has its own procedure page on the practice website, separate from the traditional facelift, mini facelift and facelift with fat transfer correction. That separation suggests the practice treats the deep plane approach as a distinct technique rather than a general label for every lift.

Neck lift surgery appears alongside the facelift options. This matters because many patients seeking facial rejuvenation are just as bothered by jowls and neck banding, and a combined plan for the lower face and neck is common in deep plane surgery.

Brow, forehead and eyelid procedures are also listed, including endoscopic, temple and hairline brow lift approaches. For patients in their late fifties and sixties, facial aging rarely stops at the jawline — so upper-face options within one practice can simplify planning.

Fat transfer for the face is offered by the practice and can restore volume lost with age. Deep plane tissue repositioning lifts sagging structures back toward their original position, while fat grafting can soften hollowness in the cheeks, temples or around the eyes.

Hair restoration is an unusual pairing in a facelift practice. Through The Washington Hair Institute, the practice lists follicular unit extraction (FUE) and related transplantation services, which may interest patients concerned about thinning at the temples or hairline.

Non-surgical treatments listed on the practice website include Botox, dermal fillers, Thermage, Clear + Brilliant, microneedling, chemical peels and platelet-rich plasma. These do not replace a deep plane facelift, yet they can help maintain skin quality before and after surgery.

Recovery from a deep plane facelift usually centers on the first two weeks, when swelling and bruising are most visible. Many patients return to social activities within a few weeks, while final results settle over three to six months as deeper tissues heal.

Washington, DC is home to a professional population that often values discreet, natural-looking change. A deep plane approach is generally chosen to avoid the pulled, windswept look of older skin-only lifts — it suits patients who want to look rested rather than altered.

Consultations with Dr. Steven Hopping are booked through the practice, which lists a Washington, DC telephone line along with text and online request options. Bring questions about technique, anesthesia, facility accreditation and aftercare to that first meeting.

The sections that follow explain how the deep plane technique works, which credentials to look for, how Washington works as a destination and what recovery realistically involves. Each one is written so you can read it on its own.