What is a deep plane facelift?
A deep plane facelift lifts and repositions the face at the level beneath the SMAS — the structural layer of muscle and connective tissue — rather than tightening the skin alone. Because the lift happens where aging actually occurs, the result looks rested and natural rather than pulled, and it lasts significantly longer than skin-only techniques.
Dr. Cömert performs the extended deep plane technique, releasing the key retaining ligaments of the midface, jawline and neck so the tissues move as one unit. The neck is addressed in the same operation (deep neck lift) when needed — defining the jawline is usually the single biggest change patients notice.
Who is it for?
Typical candidates are healthy adults — most often in their 40s to 70s — who are bothered by sagging in the midface and jowls, deepening nasolabial folds, or loss of definition in the neck and jawline. Smokers are asked to stop before and after surgery, and your full medical history is reviewed during the assessment.
If your concerns are mainly around the eyes or brow, this is often combined with eyelid surgery or a brow lift in a single session — a full-face plan is discussed during your assessment.
Dr. Cömert's approach
Every face is planned as a whole. Dr. Cömert combines deep plane face and neck lifting with complementary procedures — eyelid, brow, lip lift, fat grafting — where they serve the overall harmony, and with skeletal support (custom implants or jaw surgery) when the underlying bone structure is the real cause of early sagging. Incisions are placed within the hairline and the natural folds around the ear.
Recovery, step by step
- Days 1–3: hospital night, then rest with head elevated; swelling and tightness peak.
- Week 1: sutures begin to come out; most bruising settles. A soft-food diet keeps tension off the healing tissues.
- Week 2: most patients are comfortable in social settings, often with light makeup.
- Weeks 3–6: return to exercise gradually; residual swelling continues to fade.
- 6–12 months: scars mature and the final, settled result emerges.
International patients typically stay in Istanbul 7–10 days before flying home; follow-up continues remotely with photos and video calls.