Deep Plane Facelift in Santa Barbara, CA
Facelift surgery is not one-size-fits-all, and at Sara Yegiyants Plastic Surgery, neither is the deep plane technique. Dr. Sara Yegiyants tailors this advanced approach to each patient’s anatomy, working beneath the surface to lift what has actually shifted with age instead of stretching the skin over it. For patients throughout Santa Barbara, the result is a smoother, firmer, more rested appearance, without the tight or artificial look older facelift methods were once known for.
What Sets the Deep Plane Technique Apart?
Most of what we associate with an aging face, including heaviness in the cheeks, deepening folds around the nose and mouth, and a softened jawline, comes from tissue underneath the skin shifting downward over time. A deep plane facelift targets that layer directly. Dr. Yegiyants works below the SMAS (the muscular layer that gives the face its structure), freeing it from the ligaments anchoring it in place and moving skin and muscle together as one unit. Skin is never stretched on its own, which is part of why the results tend to hold up for years rather than months.
How Does This Compare to a Mid or Traditional Facelift?
Sara Yegiyants Plastic Surgery offers several types of facelift, and a mid facelift, mini facelift, or traditional facelift may be a better fit depending on the degree of aging present. Techniques that work only at or above the SMAS rely more heavily on skin tension to smooth the face, which is faster to recover from but tends to relapse sooner. The deep plane approach takes longer in the operating room and asks more of the surgeon, but because it corrects the underlying cause of sagging rather than masking it, patients typically see results last considerably longer.
How Do You Know a Deep Plane Facelift Is Right for You?
You may be a candidate if you are noticing:
- Heaviness or hollowing through the midface and cheeks
- Folds forming from the nose to the corners of the mouth
- A jawline that has softened or lost its definition
- Loose skin along the lower face that makeup cannot hide
- A tired or heavier look that does not match how you feel
Patients considering earlier intervention or with milder concerns are often better served by a mini or mid facelift. Dr. Yegiyants will walk through which option matches your goals during your consultation.
What Happens During a Deep Plane Facelift Consultation?
Sara Yegiyants Plastic Surgery operates as a boutique practice, and every facelift plan starts with an unhurried conversation about your goals, not a standard script. Dr. Yegiyants takes a close look at your anatomy and the specific areas that bother you, then explains whether a deep plane technique, a different facelift approach, or a combination of procedures will get you there. If she does not think surgery will meaningfully improve on what you already have, she will tell you that directly rather than recommend a procedure you do not need.
Schedule a Consultation
Ready to take the next steps towards booking a procedure? Schedule your consultation today to begin your aesthetic journey with Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS.
What Should You Expect on the Day of Surgery?
Deep plane facelift surgery is done under anesthesia and typically runs several hours. Dr. Yegiyants plans her incisions to fall within the hairline and tuck behind the ear so they settle into your natural contours as they heal. From there, she releases the ligaments holding the deeper facial tissue in place, repositions that tissue along with the skin above it, and closes the incisions with attention to how the scar will read once healed. Patients who also want to address loose neck skin or tired-looking eyes often schedule a neck lift or blepharoplasty for the same operative day.
What Should You Expect on the Day of Surgery?
Deep plane facelift surgery is done under anesthesia and typically runs several hours. Dr. Yegiyants plans her incisions to fall within the hairline and tuck behind the ear so they settle into your natural contours as they heal. From there, she releases the ligaments holding the deeper facial tissue in place, repositions that tissue along with the skin above it, and closes the incisions with attention to how the scar will read once healed. Patients who also want to address loose neck skin or tired-looking eyes often schedule a neck lift or blepharoplasty for the same operative day.
What Does Recovery Look Like, Week by Week?
Every patient heals a little differently, but a general timeline looks like this:
- First few days: Swelling and bruising are most noticeable
- By week 2 or 3: Swelling has eased enough that many patients feel ready to be seen socially, often with makeup
- By week 4 to 6: Cleared for more strenuous activity and exercise
- 3 to 6 months out: Any lingering tightness or swelling resolves, and the final result settles in
You will leave your procedure with specific aftercare guidance, and Dr. Yegiyants’ team checks in at each stage to make sure healing is on track.
How Long Does a Deep Plane Facelift Last?
Because this technique addresses the tissue that is actually descending, rather than just smoothing the skin over it, most patients get 10 to 15 years out of their results, well beyond what a traditional or mini facelift typically delivers. Maintaining sun protection, a stable weight, and consistent skincare afterward all help results hold.
Which Procedures Pair Well with a Deep Plane Facelift?
A facelift addresses sagging and folds, but it will not restore lost volume or refine bone structure on its own. To round out results, patients frequently add facial fat grafting for volume, a brow lift if the forehead and brows are also dropping, or cheek implants and a chin implant for patients wanting more defined facial proportions. Dr. Yegiyants will only recommend combining procedures if doing so genuinely serves your goals.
Who Is Dr. Sara Yegiyants?
Dr. Sara Yegiyants is a triple board-certified surgeon, a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Surgery, and the subspecialty board for Surgery of the Hand, with nine years of postgraduate surgical training behind her. She runs Sara Yegiyants Plastic Surgery as a boutique practice in Santa Barbara, known locally as the American Riviera, and plans every surgery in detail well before stepping into the operating room. Patients often note that her approach feels more personal than clinical, which is by design. Read more about her background on her practice bio.
Deep Plane Facelift in Santa Barbara FAQs
That is the goal. Because the deep plane technique repositions tissue rather than stretching skin, patients typically look like a well-rested version of themselves rather than visibly “done.”
A mini facelift addresses more limited areas with a shorter recovery, but the results tend to fade sooner. A deep plane facelift takes on more of the face and lasts considerably longer, which is why Dr. Yegiyants tends to recommend it for more advanced signs of aging.
No, and Dr. Yegiyants will say so if a different procedure, or no procedure at all, is a better fit for your anatomy and goals. Candidacy is determined during your consultation.
Most patients describe tightness and pressure rather than sharp pain, and it is manageable with the medication prescribed after surgery. Bruising and swelling improve steadily over the first few weeks.
Dr. Yegiyants positions incisions within the hairline and tucked behind the ear, so they blend into your natural contours and are easy to conceal as they heal.
Pricing depends on your anatomy and whether you combine other procedures with your facelift. You will receive a personalized quote after your consultation with Dr. Yegiyants.
Ready to find out whether a deep plane facelift fits your goals? Request a consultation with Dr. Sara Yegiyants in Santa Barbara, or call (805) 682-1731 to speak with her team directly.
Meet Dr. Yegiyants
Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in surgical and non-invasive procedures. Learn more about Dr. Yegiyants and why you should choose her for your next procedure.
