Deep Plane Facelift

Dr. Cerrati's deep plane facelift lifts the lower face, jawline, and upper neck through full muscular and ligamentous release and resuspension, producing durable results lasting ten or more years without a pulled or windblown appearance. Variants include revision facelift, deep necklift as a standalone procedure, and male facelift. Most patients are publicly presentable within ten days. Surgery is performed at St. Mark's Surgery Center in Salt Lake City.

The deep plane facelift at Dr. Eric Cerrati's Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah practice is one of the more technically demanding procedures in facial plastic surgery and is widely considered the gold standard in comprehensive facial rejuvenation. It differs fundamentally from the traditional SMAS facelift — the approach that dominated aesthetic surgery through the 1980s and 1990s — in that it fully releases the retaining ligamentous system of the face before repositioning tissue, rather than simply elevating the superficial muscular layer while leaving the deep retaining ligaments tethered. This anatomical distinction produces the two features most associated with Dr. Cerrati's deep plane results: naturalness and longevity. Because the procedure lifts muscle and fat together as a composite unit rather than pulling skin over a repositioned layer, the face retains natural movement and expression. There is no windblown, pulled, or operated appearance. Results consistently address the lower face, jowl, jawline, and upper neck in a single operation and typically last a decade or more — compared with the shorter longevity of skin-only or mini-lift approaches. The access incision follows the hairline contour above the ear, transitions within the anterior helical crease, continues around the earlobe, and extends into the postauricular hairline — placing the scar within natural anatomical shadows and hairbearing skin where healing produces virtually undetectable lines. Through this access, the deep plane dissection proceeds beneath the SMAS to release the zygomatic and masseteric retaining ligaments that anchor the descended facial tissue in an aged position. Once released, the composite tissue block — SMAS, fat, and skin moving together — is resuspended under zero skin tension in a vector directed upward and slightly posterior, restoring the youthful facial vector that runs from chin and jowl toward the cheekbone. Adjunct procedures frequently combined in the same operative session include deep necklift with platysmaplasty for comprehensive submental and neck correction, upper and lower blepharoplasty for periorbital rejuvenation, and endoscopic brow lift. Patients are typically able to return to professional and social settings within ten days. Surgery is performed at St. Mark's Surgery Center in Salt Lake City. Out-of-town facelift patients are advised to plan for a total visit of seven to ten days. The practice coordinates partner hotel accommodation at Pendry Park City, Little America, and Grand America, with private driving and post-operative nursing available. Virtual consultations via video call are the standard first step for patients travelling from outside Utah.