Restore youthful definition to your cheeks, jawline, and neck with a facelift by David Isaacs, MD, our expert dual-fellowship trained facial plastic surgeon and instructor at the annual AAO Face and Neck Lift Course. A facelift (rhytidectomy) addresses jowls, deep folds, sagging skin, volume loss, and a blunted neck contour, resulting in a refreshed, naturally lifted appearance.
Restore Youthful Contours
to the Face and Neck
As we age, the face and neck undergo three key changes: sagging of deep tissues, volume loss, and skin laxity. These result in visible signs such as jowls, hollowness, midface descent, and a blunted jawline or neck contour. Because facial aging is a 3-dimensional process, where gravity causes tissues to descend and fat redistributes, simply tightening the skin is rarely enough. A facelift aims to correct or reverse these changes to roll back the hands of time.
Dr. Isaacs addresses these facial changes with a deep-plane facelift, the gold standard for structural facial rejuvenation. Unlike traditional facelifts that pull only the surface, this advanced technique lifts and repositions the deeper tissues, restoring youthful contours without a tight or artificial look. By combining deep-plane repositioning with facial fat grafting, Dr. Isaacs’ 3-dimensional approach not only lifts but also volumizes, delivering refined, natural results.
Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Treats:
- Sagging skin in the cheeks, jawline, and neck
- Development of jowls and loss of jawline definition
- Drooping midface and deep nasolabial folds
- Hollow or sunken areas due to fat loss
- Blunted or indistinct neck and jawline contour
- Descended facial fat pads and midface volume loss
- Laxity in the platysmal muscles of the neck
- Unbalanced or tired facial appearance due to aging
Traditional Facelift vs. Deep-Plane Facelift
Traditional Facelift
A traditional facelift focuses primarily on tightening the superficial layers of the face, including the skin and, in some cases, the underlying SMAS layer. While this can improve surface-level sagging and reduce wrinkles, it relies heavily on skin tension to create lift. This can sometimes result in an unnatural, “pulled” appearance. Traditional facelifts may also overlook deeper structural aging, such as volume loss and midface descent, leaving some areas untreated.
Deep-Plane Facelift
A deep-plane facelift focuses on the deeper facial structures, including the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) and adjacent tissues. By lifting and repositioning these foundational structures, Dr. Isaacs restores youthful contours without relying solely on skin tightening. This method produces more natural-looking, longer-lasting results by addressing the true causes of facial aging: sagging, volume loss, and changes in facial fat distribution.
Advantages of Deep-Plane Facelift:
- Lifts deeper facial structures for more natural results
- Avoids the stretched or “pulled” look of traditional facelifts
- Repositions descended tissues for a youthful, lifted contour
- Restores volume to the midface and cheeks
- Improves jowls, jawline, and neck definition in one procedure
- Provides longer-lasting results compared to skin-only lifts
- Minimizes tension on the skin, reducing visible scarring
- Addresses multiple aging factors in a single, comprehensive approach
- Especially effective for patients with moderate to advanced facial aging
Dr. Isaacs’ Extended Deep-Plane
Approach to Facelifts
Dr. Isaacs employs an extended deep-plane facelift approach, which enables greater release and mobilization of tissues. By accessing deeper structures closer to their points of descent in the midface and cheeks, this approach delivers greater lift and volume restoration.
Dr. Isaacs combines the deep-plane facelift with additional minimally invasive procedures, such as fat grafting, skin resurfacing, and neck contouring, to achieve a holistic transformation that addresses skin texture and volume. He designs a customized plan for each patient based on their anatomy. These are some of the techniques used in Dr. Isaacs’ facelifts:
Deep-Plane Release and Repositioning
At the core of Dr. Isaacs’ facelift technique is the precise release and repositioning of the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) and associated ligaments. This structural lift targets the true foundation of facial sagging, especially in the cheeks, jawline, and midface. By mobilizing these deeper tissues rather than relying on skin tightening, Dr. Isaacs avoids unnatural tension and creates results that are both elegant and enduring.
Neck Contouring
The extended deep-plane facelift often includes refined neck work, particularly when addressing issues like platysmal banding, laxity, or a blunted cervicomental angle. Dr. Isaacs carefully tightens and repositions the platysmal muscles to create a smooth, sculpted neck profile. By combining this with submental fat removal or deeper contouring techniques, he restores definition to the jawline and neck without requiring separate surgeries.
Fat Grafting
Dr. Isaacs frequently enhances the facelift with facial fat grafting to restore volume lost with age. Harvested from the patient’s own body, the fat is carefully purified and injected into strategic areas such as the cheeks, temples, and jawline. This step is essential in recreating youthful fullness and natural curves, complementing the lift achieved through deep-plane release. The result is not just tighter skin, but a balanced, refreshed facial shape.
Skin Redraping
Once the underlying structures are repositioned and volumized, Dr. Isaacs gently redrapes the skin, removing only minimal excess necessary. This tension-free closure is crucial in avoiding the overstretched look that often reveals a facelift. By allowing the skin to lie naturally over its rejuvenated foundation, he achieves smooth, seamless results with virtually invisible scarring, one of the reasons patients often hear they “just look well-rested.”
Facelift (Rhytidectomy) FAQs
What Can I Expect After Surgery?
After a facelift with Dr. Isaacs, you can expect a carefully managed recovery. Most patients experience mild swelling and bruising that improves significantly within the first two weeks. You’ll be able to resume many normal activities during this period, though full recovery and the most refined results continue to develop over the following few months. The final outcomes typically become apparent by three to six months post-surgery.
In terms of longevity, a deep-plane facelift offers superior durability compared to traditional techniques. Because the procedure lifts and repositions the deeper facial tissues, not just the skin, results often last more than 10 years. Over time, your face will continue to age naturally, but the improvements from surgery provide a long-lasting, more youthful foundation.
Is a Facelift Right for Me?
A facelift may be an excellent option if you’re seeking significant facial and neck rejuvenation. This procedure is especially beneficial if you’ve noticed sagging in the cheeks and jawline, deep folds, jowls, or a loss of definition in your neck. During your consultation, Dr. Isaacs will assess your facial anatomy, skin elasticity, volume loss, and aesthetic goals to determine whether a facelift or a combination of procedures is best suited for your needs.
Schedule Your Consultation
David Isaacs, MD, is a dual-fellowship trained facial plastic and oculofacial surgeon with advanced fellowship training and years of experience performing deep-plane facelifts. As a Course Instructor for the Face and Neck Lift Course at the AAO and a leader in 3-dimensional facial rejuvenation, Dr. Isaacs is recognized for achieving nearly undetectable results. If you’re considering a facelift, schedule your consultation with Dr. Isaacs in Beverly Hills today.
