Deep Plane Facelift with Laser Resurfacing: Combining deep plane facelift with laser skin resurfacing addresses both the structural causes of facial aging (deep tissue descent) and skin surface concerns (fine wrinkles, texture, pigmentation, pores) that surgery alone cannot improve.
— DeepPlane.com Medical Team
Deep Plane Facelift with Laser Resurfacing: Quick Facts
- Laser Types
- CO2, Erbium, Fraxel
- Timing Options
- Simultaneous or staged
- Additional Cost
- +$2,000-$5,000
- Targets
- Fine wrinkles, pigmentation, pores
- Combined Benefit
- Structure + skin quality
- Recovery Add-on
- +5-7 days redness
Source: Clinical Evidence & Medical Reviews
Deep Plane Facelift with Laser Resurfacing
Quick Answer
Can deep plane facelift be combined with laser resurfacing?
Yes, with careful planning. Fractional CO2 and erbium lasers are regularly combined with deep plane facelift, adding $2,000-$5,000 and approximately 5-7 days of additional redness. Full ablative CO2 laser is typically staged 3-6 months after facelift to protect blood supply to elevated skin flaps. The combination addresses structural aging and skin texture — two distinct problems that neither procedure solves alone.
Source: DeepPlane.com
Why Combine Laser with a Deep Plane Facelift?
Deep plane facelift lifts and repositions descended facial structures — but it cannot improve sun damage, fine wrinkles, pore size, or uneven pigmentation. Laser resurfacing addresses exactly these skin surface concerns. Combining both procedures adds $2,000-$5,000 and 5-7 days of extra redness but achieves a comprehensive skin and structure result that neither procedure produces independently.
- •Facelift repositions structures; laser improves skin quality — entirely different targets.
- •Perioral and periorbital laser is routinely performed simultaneously with facelift.
- •Staged full-face laser (3-6 months post-facelift) eliminates risk to flap vascularity.
The deep plane facelift is unmatched for structural rejuvenation — repositioning descended fat compartments, eliminating jowls, and restoring a youthful neck contour. But aging also changes the skin itself: decades of sun exposure create pigmentation irregularities, fine perioral wrinkles that appear independently of sagging, enlarged pores, and a rough texture no surgical lift can address. Laser resurfacing targets these skin surface changes through controlled thermal energy that removes damaged outer layers and stimulates new collagen formation. Together, these procedures produce a comprehensive result that surgical technique or skincare alone cannot achieve.1
Laser Types and Their Role in Facelift Combination
Fractional CO2
Targets
Deep wrinkles, scars, texture
Timing
Simultaneous (selected zones) or staged
Recovery Add-on
+5-7 days redness
Erbium (Er:YAG)
Targets
Fine wrinkles, skin refinement
Timing
Simultaneous — gentler profile
Recovery Add-on
+3-5 days redness
Fraxel Restore
Targets
Pigmentation, texture, pores
Timing
Simultaneous (non-ablative)
Recovery Add-on
+2-4 days mild redness
The Timing Debate: Simultaneous vs. Staged
The central question in combining laser with deep plane facelift is timing. Elevating skin flaps during a facelift temporarily reduces blood supply to the flap edges. Full ablative laser treatment on these same areas can impair wound healing if the tissue cannot adequately oxygenate during recovery. This is why most experienced surgeons stage full-face ablative CO2 laser 3-6 months after facelift — when normal vascularity has been re-established through neovascularization of the flap.2
However, areas not directly involved in flap elevation — the perioral region, periorbital area, nasal skin, and upper lip — can be safely treated simultaneously because they are not part of the elevated flap. This is why perioral laser resurfacing for upper lip wrinkles is routinely performed at the same time as deep plane facelift: the upper lip area is outside the elevated tissue zone and its blood supply is unaffected by the facelift dissection.
Fractional (non-ablative or mildly ablative) lasers carry less heating and healing burden than full ablative CO2, making selective simultaneous treatment safer. Many surgeons now offer fractional laser treatment of the full face simultaneously with deep plane facelift, reserving full ablative CO2 for staged treatment in patients with significant texture concerns.
Who Benefits Most from This Combination?
Good Candidates
- • Significant sun damage alongside facial sagging
- • Prominent perioral (upper lip) wrinkles — a laser-specific concern
- • Uneven pigmentation, melasma, or solar lentigines
- • Patients who want comprehensive rejuvenation in one recovery
Consider Staging If
- • Full ablative CO2 is planned for the entire face
- • Darker skin types with higher hyperpigmentation risk
- • Previous radiation to the face (impaired healing)
- • Patient preference for shorter initial recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
Medical References
- [1]Hamra ST. The deep-plane rhytidectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1990;86(1):53-61(Journal Article)Accessed: 2026-03-21
- [2]Rohrich RJ, et al. Current Concepts in Deep-Plane Face Lifting. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021;148(5):1025-1038(Journal Article)Accessed: 2026-03-21
- [3]Guyuron B, et al. Factors contributing to the facial aging of identical twins. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009;123(4):1321-1331(Research Study)Accessed: 2026-03-21
- [4]Alexiades-Armenakas M, et al. Laser resurfacing combined with facelift surgery. Dermatol Surg. 2008;34(2):210-216(Journal Article)Accessed: 2026-04-13
- [5]
- [6]
Key Facts
Common Misconceptions
Myth: Laser can replace a facelift for sagging skin
Fact: Laser addresses skin surface concerns only. It cannot lift descended fat compartments, eliminate jowls, or correct neck laxity. These require surgical repositioning of the underlying SMAS and tissue structures.
Myth: Simultaneous full-face laser and facelift is always safe
Fact: Full ablative CO2 over elevated facelift flaps can compromise vascularity. Experienced surgeons carefully select which zones can be treated simultaneously and which should be staged. Fractional laser is generally safer for simultaneous treatment.
Myth: Laser resurfacing doubles facelift recovery time
Fact: Fractional laser adds approximately 5-7 days of redness that is concurrent with facelift recovery — not additive. Laser-treated skin often heals faster than the facelift, and redness is easily concealed with mineral makeup by 2 weeks.
Points Worth Noting
Darker skin types (Fitzpatrick IV-VI) have higher hyperpigmentation risk — specialist consultation essential
Pre-treatment with retinoids and hydroquinone 4-6 weeks prior improves outcomes and reduces pigmentation risk
SPF 50+ daily for at least 6 months post-laser is non-negotiable — sun exposure can cause permanent pigmentation changes
Active herpes simplex requires antiviral prophylaxis before any facial laser treatment
Medically Reviewed
Dr. Yakup Duman
Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery Specialist
Board-certified Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery specialist with 20+ years of experience. Specializes in deep plane facelift at Merkez Prime Hospital, Istanbul. Medical Reviewer for DeepPlane.com.
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