Deep Plane Facelift in the Washington DC Area: Reston, VA and Chevy Chase, MD

A deep plane facelift is a facial rejuvenation procedure that lifts and repositions the deeper tissues of the face rather than relying primarily on tightening the skin. The technique works beneath the SMAS and releases key retaining ligaments, allowing descended tissues of the cheeks, lower face, and jawline to be repositioned more naturally. The skin can then be redraped with less tension, helping create significant rejuvenation without an overly tight or pulled appearance

Both techniques address the deeper SMAS layer of the face, but they treat it differently. A traditional SMAS facelift typically tightens, folds, or repositions the SMAS, while a deep plane facelift releases key retaining ligaments and mobilizes the deeper facial tissues so they can be repositioned as a more natural unit. This allows the cheeks, jowls, and jawline to be lifted with less reliance on tension placed on the skin.

Deep plane facelift results can last 10 years or longer, although there is no specific point when a facelift suddenly “wears off.” Surgery turns back the effects of facial aging but does not stop the aging process. Patients continue to age naturally from a more youthful starting point, and factors such as genetics, skin quality, sun exposure, smoking, and weight fluctuations can influence how the face changes over time. Staying out of the sun, not smoking, using good medical-grade skin care and keeping up with non-invasive follow-up treatments all help your result last longer.

Most patients should plan for approximately 10 to 14 days of initial recovery after a deep plane facelift. Swelling and bruising improve significantly during the first two weeks, and many patients feel comfortable returning to work and social activities around that time. However, healing continues for several months as residual swelling, firmness, numbness, and incision appearance gradually improve. Exercise can resume after one month.

About 4 hours, under general anesthesia. You go home the same day.

Not usually.

After one month.

There is no single best age for a deep plane facelift. Some patients develop significant cheek descent, jowling, and neck laxity in their 40s, while others may not benefit from surgery until their 60s or later. Dr. Naderi believes the decision should be based on anatomy rather than age. A facelift makes sense when facial aging is significant enough that surgery can provide a meaningful improvement and nonsurgical treatments can no longer adequately address the problem.

Not necessarily. A deep plane facelift primarily repositions descended tissues of the face, while the neck may require additional treatment depending on the patient’s anatomy. Dr. Naderi evaluates the face and neck together and, when needed, may address the platysma, excess fat, loose skin, and deeper neck structures at the same operation. The goal is to create a natural transition between the face, jawline, and neck rather than treating each area in isolation.

Deep plane facelift incisions are typically placed within the natural contours around the ear and extend into or along the hairline where they can be carefully concealed. Dr. Naderi designs the incisions to preserve the natural shape of the tragus, earlobe, and hairline. Because the deeper tissues provide the support for the lift, the skin can be redraped with less tension, which is important for creating fine, inconspicuous scars.

A well-planned deep plane facelift is designed to avoid an overly tight or pulled appearance. Instead of relying primarily on tension placed on the skin, the deeper facial tissues are released and repositioned, allowing the skin to redrape more naturally. Dr. Naderi’s goal is meaningful rejuvenation while preserving the patient’s facial identity, expressions, and individual features, not to make someone look like a different person.

Deep plane facelift surgery involves dissection near branches of the facial nerve, so detailed knowledge of facial anatomy is essential. Facial nerve injury is an uncommon but important potential complication and may cause temporary weakness or, rarely, permanent dysfunction. The deep plane technique follows defined anatomical planes, but no facelift technique is without risk. Patients should choose a surgeon with extensive experience in facial surgery and a thorough understanding of deep plane anatomy.

Yes. Facial aging often affects multiple areas at the same time, so a deep plane facelift may be combined with procedures such as upper or lower blepharoplasty, brow lift, facial fat grafting, neck rejuvenation, or laser skin resurfacing. Dr. Naderi determines which procedures, if any, should be combined based on each patient’s anatomy and pattern of aging rather than using a standardized package.

Botox and dermal fillers can improve certain signs of facial aging, but they cannot replace a facelift when significant tissue descent, jowling, or skin laxity is present. Botox treats wrinkles caused by muscle movement, while fillers can restore lost facial volume. A deep plane facelift addresses a different problem by repositioning tissues that have descended with aging. In some patients, trying to correct significant facial sagging with excessive filler can create an overfilled or heavier appearance rather than a more youthful one.

The cost of a deep plane facelift varies depending on the extent of facial and neck surgery and whether additional procedures are performed at the same time. The total cost has three parts: the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesia fee and the surgical facility fee. Dr. Naderi individualizes each operation based on the patient’s anatomy rather than using a standardized package. At The Naderi Center, a deep plane facelift (Naderi Architectural Lift™) ranges from $35,000 to $70,000 for Dr. Naderi’s surgeon’s fee, which includes your follow-up visits. Anesthesia and surgical facility fees are separate. Prices are subject to change, and your exact quote is provided after your consultation. Current pricing for all procedures is on our Menu of Services.

When choosing a deep plane facelift surgeon, look beyond the name of the technique. Consider the surgeon’s training in facial surgery, experience with facelift and deep plane anatomy, before-and-after results, scar placement, approach to the face and neck, surgical facility, and management of potential complications. During consultation, the surgeon should also be willing to explain what surgery can realistically accomplish and tell you when a facelift is not yet appropriate.

Dr. Shervin Naderi is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. He co-authored the “Rhytidectomy” (facelift) chapter of the surgical textbook Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and has been named to Newsweek America’s Best Plastic Surgeons for Facelift. He sees deep plane facelift patients in Reston, Virginia and Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Dr. Naderi sees deep plane facelift patients at The Naderi Center’s two offices in the Washington DC metropolitan area (the DMV): Reston, Virginia and Chevy Chase, Maryland. The Reston office is convenient for patients from Great Falls, McLean, Vienna, Tysons, Arlington and the rest of Northern Virginia. The Chevy Chase office is on Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights, close to Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville and Northwest Washington, DC.

Surgery is performed at an accredited outpatient surgical center, not in the office. To schedule a consultation, call Reston at (703) 481-0002 or Chevy Chase at (301) 222-2020, or book online.

Plan to stay two weeks after surgery. Out-of-town patients have access to our nursing concierge service during recovery.

At Prince William Surgery Center, where Dr. Naderi has been medical director since 2023.

Yes. In men, Dr. Naderi pays particular attention to the jawline, neck, hairline, sideburns and beard-bearing skin, so scars stay hidden and the hairline looks natural.