Deep Plane Facelift

Your deep plane facelift in Indianapolis is performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia, ensuring you sleep peacefully as Dr. Hamilton rejuvenates your appearance. After surgery, you can take prescription and over-the-counter pain medications to help offset any mild discomfort or soreness in the treated areas.

In addition to your consultation and surgery date, Dr. Hamilton will schedule you for several follow-up sessions to monitor your incisions and ensure that your recovery is progressing properly.

Patients will begin to see the initial results of their deep plane facelift right after surgery, but it will take some time for the full effects to become visible. This is because swelling will interfere with the visibility of your results for several weeks. Most patients will be able to appreciate their final results approximately 3 to 6 months after surgery.

There is no single best age for a deep plane facelift, as the optimal timing depends on the patient’s degree of aging and skin laxity. Generally, if you begin to notice signs of aging on your face, you may benefit from a deep plane facelift. Beyond that, there are both advantages and disadvantages to receiving the treatment early in the aging process or later. The advantage of doing it when you’re younger is that it will hold up better. The disadvantage is that the results aren’t quite as dramatic. Conversely, patients who wait a little longer may achieve more dramatic results but might not last as long. Therefore, we usually tell patients that the right time for a deep plane facelift is when they see signs of aging that they are ready to address and when Dr. Hamilton agrees that they are a good candidate.

The traditional facelift targets the mid-face, lower face, and neck, typically requiring incisions above the hairline at the temples, which extend in front of and behind the ears. A deep plane facelift works beneath the SMAS layer, lifting and repositioning deeper tissues and muscles for more complete facial rejuvenation. This technique not only tightens the skin but also restores mid-face volume, enhances cheek definition, and softens deeper folds such as nasolabial lines.

Modern surgery techniques have greatly shortened facelift recovery time (e.g. drainless surgery). With less skin undermining, limited delamination methods (Preservation Facelift) prevent injury to the skin and allow for a quicker and safer recovery. Also, by using fibrin sealants, drains with their associated discomfort and risks are no longer required. Dr. Hamilton’s goal is for patients to be back out in public by two weeks with either camouflage make-up and hair down or for men facial hair. With Zygomatic ligament release and cheek lifting during the Extended Deep Plane Facelift, there can be more swelling in the cheek and upper face than with a more limited or traditional SMAS facelift. Even with some mild swelling that can persist for several weeks and incisions that take a full year to heal, most Extended Deep Plane facelift patients are back out in public by two weeks.

Extended Deep Plane Facelifts provide a long-lasting correction of aging in the face and neck. This procedure provides the most comprehensive and natural results, and also the most durable results. How long results last depends on a wide variety of factors, including: age, facial tissues, sun damage, bone structure, genetics and lifestyle. All that said, most patients can expect their results to last a decade or more. Even with relaxation and aging, patients will always appreciate some benefits for the rest of their lives.

Yes. Dr. Hamilton performs a wide range of transformative procedures to help you regain your vitality and confidence. After your private consultation in Indianapolis, he can craft a one-of-a-kind combination treatment plan for you.

The main side effects you will notice are swelling, discoloration, and numbness.

• Swelling

Swelling will vary both from patient to patient and from side to side. Swelling may actually increase the first three to four days before subsiding. Most of your swelling should resolve over the first two to three weeks. You can expect, however, to experience minor fluctuations in the remaining swelling over the next two to three months. To minimize swelling, follow these steps: keep your head elevated as much as possible for the first two weeks, avoid bending over or heavy lifting for the first three weeks, and limit prolonged sun exposure for the first two to three months.

• Bruising

Bruising will vary, just like swelling, from person to person and from side to side. Most bruising and discoloration should resolve over the first two weeks. With Dr. Hamilton’s permission, makeup can be applied 10 to 14 days after surgery.

• Numbness

Following surgery, most of your face will be numb. This is normal and will subside over the coming weeks to months. Unusual sensations, pins and needles, and occasionally mild discomfort may occur as these nerves regenerate over time.

Other possible risks with a facelift include the following:

• Infection
• Asymmetry
• Poor reactions to anesthesia
• Fluid retention
• Nerve damage

Scarring from a deep plane facelift is typically minimal and well-concealed. Incisions are carefully placed within the hairline and around or behind the ears to keep them as discreet as possible. While some scarring is unavoidable, most patients find that incision lines fade significantly over time and become difficult to notice. As healing progresses over 6–12 months, scars continue to soften and blend with the natural skin tone. Patients are usually provided with scar care instructions, such as topical treatments and daily sunscreen use, to support optimal healing. Makeup can also be used during the recovery process to help conceal any visible marks as they improve.

Patients are usually cleared to resume light aerobic exercise after two weeks. Heavy lifting should be avoided until three weeks after surgery, and contact sports or strenuous head trauma should be avoided until four weeks after surgery.

Choosing the best surgeon for you takes patience and resourcefulness. You should evaluate each surgeon’s training, credentials, awards, results, and testimonials. Additionally, meeting with your potential doctor in person is essential to establish a rapport and ensure that your goals for your appearance are properly understood. Dr. Hamilton in Indianapolis is double-board-certified and has dedicated his career to delivering nuanced, natural-looking facial transformations. He is happy to meet with you for a private consultation, during which he can address all your questions and concerns with the utmost precision and care.