Deep Plane Facelift vs SMAS Facelift: What DC Patients Need to Understand Before Choosing Surgery
Patients in Chevy Chase, Washington DC, Bethesda, Potomac, and Rockville often compare SMAS facelifts with deep plane facelifts without fully understanding the structural difference. A SMAS facelift primarily tightens and repositions the superficial muscular layer, while the deep plane facelift releases key retaining ligaments and repositions the deeper midface and jawline structures as a single unit.
This distinction matters because facial aging is not just skin laxity—it is descent of fat pads, ligaments, and deeper support structures. The deep plane technique allows vertical lifting of the midface and jawline without relying on tension placed on the skin, which reduces the risk of a tight or unnatural appearance.
At The Naderi Center in Chevy Chase, MD, Dr. Shervin Naderi, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience, evaluates which technique best matches each patient’s anatomy. Many patients from the DC metro area choose the deep plane approach when they want the most natural repositioning of facial volume and structure.