DEEP PLANE FACELIFT &
NECK LIFT IN CLEVELAND
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WHAT IS A DEEP PLANE FACELIFT?
A facelift restores facial contours by lifting descended tissues, improving jowls, jaw and cheek contours, and removing excess skin. Often combined with a neck lift, it creates a more defined jawline, as well as addresses loose skin and muscle bands beneath the chin. The goal is a refreshed appearance that preserves your natural features.
Earlier facelift techniques often relied on tightening the skin or folding and tightening the underlying support layer, called the SMAS. This layer runs all through the face from the bottom of the neck to the back of the scalp. A deep plane facelift works beneath this layer, selectively releasing deep attachments, so the cheeks and lower facial tissues can be lifted together without tension on the skin, resulting in powerful yet natural rejuvenation of mid- and lower face and neck for Dr. Yerukhim’s Cleveland and out-of-town Facelift patients.
Deep Plane Facelifting requires mastery of both the art and science of the aging face surgery. With his extensive head and neck surgery training and a meticulous eye for detail, Dr. Yerukhim dedicates and prides himself on utilizing his skill and expertise to provide powerful yet natural Facelift results. When performing a deep neck lift, Dr. Yerukhim is also able to address the platysma muscle and, when appropriate, deeper fat and other structures, such as submandibular glands, that contribute to fullness beneath the chin and jaw. This approach treats the underlying causes of sagging and neck heaviness, with the aim of achieving natural facial contours tailored to your anatomy.
DEEP PLANE FACE & NECK LIFT AT A GLANCE:
Cost (including anesthesia and surgical suite fees): starting at $17,500 for a deep plane face and neck lift. Adding fat grafting, eyelids, brow or laser increases the total; you'll receive an exact written quote after your consultation.
Length: typically 5–6 hours, under general anesthesia; usually outpatient (same-day discharge).
Goals/Indications: jowls, loss of jawline definition, deep smile and marionette lines, descended cheeks, loose neck skin and neck bands, facial deflation after menopause or weight loss.
Incisions: typically hidden around the ears, sideburns, hairline, and under the chin. Creating a lift without tension on the skin allows the incisions to heal essentially invisibly.
Risks: bleeding (hematoma, the most common), infection, fluid collection (seroma), temporary or permanent numbness, temporary or rarely permanent weakness of facial movement, skin healing problems, unfavorable scarring, hair loss near incisions, asymmetry, unsatisfactory appearance, and possible need for revision surgery.
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• Drains (if placed): Empty and record output as instructed. Drains are typically removed at your first follow-up visit (days 1–3).
• Netting sutures (if placed): Will be removed at Day 3-4.
• Incision Care: Keep incisions clean and dry. Apply prescribed ointment (Aquaphor or antibiotic ointment) to incision lines 2–3 times daily. Avoid direct water on incisions for the first 48–72 hours, then you can wash with gentle soap and water.
• Cold Compresses: Apply gently to cheeks (not directly on incisions) for 20 minutes on/20 minutes off during the first 48 hours to reduce swelling. Do not use ice directly on skin.
• Activity Restrictions: No bending, lifting (>10 lbs), or straining for 2 weeks. Avoid turning your head sharply. No exercise or strenuous activity for 3–4 weeks.
• Blood Pressure Control: Avoid activities that raise blood pressure (straining, heavy lifting, sexual activity, emotional stress). Elevated BP significantly increases hematoma risk.
Diet: Soft foods for the first few days. Stay well-hydrated. Avoid excessive salt to minimize swelling. No alcohol for 2 weeks.
Avoid: Smoking and nicotine products (minimum 4 weeks before and after surgery), blood thinners, NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin), and supplements (fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo) unless cleared by your surgeon.
Call your doctor immediately if you have:
• Sudden, severe swelling or pain on one side of the face (may indicate hematoma)
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Fever >101°F
• Increasing redness, warmth, or foul-smelling drainage (signs of infection)
• Vision changes or severe headache
• Numbness or weakness that worsens after the first few days
Medications:
• Pain medication: Take as prescribed. Transition to extra-strength Tylenol when comfortable. Do not exceed 4000 mg acetaminophen per day.
• Antibiotic: Take the full course as prescribed.
• Steroid (Medrol Dose Pack): Take as directed to reduce swelling.
• Anti-nausea medication: Use as needed—vomiting increases hematoma risk.
• Blood pressure medication: Continue home medications; additional medication may be prescribed to keep blood pressure controlled.
• Arnica/Bromelain: May be recommended to reduce bruising (optional).
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What is Normal:
• Bruising and swelling (peaks at days 2–3, then gradually improves)
• Tightness and numbness in the cheeks, neck, and ears (may last weeks to months)
• Mild asymmetry in swelling
• Ear numbness (typically temporary)
• Mild discomfort with chewing or jaw movement
Typical Recovery Timeline:
• Day 1–2: Most swelling and discomfort. Rest with head elevated. Most hematomas occur within the first 12–24 hours—monitor closely.
• Days 3–5: Swelling peaks then begins to subside. Bruising may migrate downward to neck and chest. Many patients transition to Tylenol only.
• Week 1: First follow-up visit. Drains and some sutures removed. Compression garment adjusted. May gently wash hair.
• Week 2: Most sutures/staples removed. Bruising fades significantly. May begin gentle walking.
• Weeks 2–3: Most patients feel significantly better. Light daily activities resume. Makeup may be applied to camouflage residual bruising.
• Weeks 3–4: "Socially presentable" or "restaurant ready." Approximately 50% of swelling resolved. May return to work (non-strenuous).
• Week 6: Resume exercise and most normal activities. Avoid contact sports.
• 3 Months: Recommended buffer before major life events (weddings, reunions). Continued subtle improvement in swelling and tissue settling.
• 6–12 Months: Final results. Numbness continues to improve. Scars mature and fade.
Typical Follow-Up: Days 1–3, Week 1, Week 2, Week 6, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter. Additional visits as needed for concerns.
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Will I look pulled or "done"? Not with the deep plane technique. Working on the deeper layer, tissues are lifted and repositioned in a natural way, without stretch or tension, and skin remains without tension or pull.
How much time off work? Facelift: about 3–4 weeks for desk work. Eyelids or brow: about 1–2 weeks. Please refer to each procedure’s page for specific instructions.
Is 40 too young for a facelift? Not necessarily, especially after menopause or major weight loss. During your consultation, we will review the spectrum of options available to you, both surgical and non-surgical.
Can I have surgery while on a GLP-1? Yes, with planning: stable weight for 3 months and coordination with your prescriber.
Can I just get a neck lift? Sometimes, if you're younger with a good jawline. In an aging face, the face and neck age together and are best treated and lifted together.
Can I combine procedures? Yes. Face and neck lift, fat grafting, eyelids, brow, lip lift and laser are often combined in one anesthesia, which reduces total cost and recovery time, and creates more powerful results.
Where is surgery done? At an accredited surgery center, or the hospital when medically appropriate, at no extra cost.
Is it covered by insurance? Cosmetic procedures are not. Upper eyelid surgery for vision obstruction may be, after specific testing.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN FACELIFTING AND REJUVENATION
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Significant weight loss with GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound can improve your health while leaving your face looking thinner or older than you feel. Often called “Ozempic face,” these changes include hollow cheeks, deeper folds, jowls, and loose neck skin as facial fat decreases—changes that can occur with substantial weight loss from any cause. For patients with significant sagging, a deep plane facelift and neck lift can reposition descended tissues and improve the jawline and neck, while carefully selected fat grafting can replace lost volume that lifting alone cannot restore. Dr. Yerukhim tailors treatment to your anatomy, weight stability, and goals to help you look refreshed and natural while preserving the benefits of your weight loss.
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Facial aging can feel as though it happens in bursts, particularly during perimenopause, which commonly begins in the 40s, and around menopause, reached at an average age of 51. As estrogen fluctuates and declines, skin can become drier, thinner, and less elastic, making wrinkles, jowls, and neck laxity more noticeable. Collagen loss accelerates in the early years after menopause, although the timing and degree of change vary from woman to woman. Changes may become more noticeable again in your early 60s, as ongoing losses in skin elasticity, facial volume, and tissue support make folds, jowls, and neck laxity more apparent. For patients with significant sagging, a deep plane facelift and neck lift can reposition descended tissues and restore facial contours, while complementary skin treatments or carefully selected fat grafting address skin quality or lost volume. Dr. Yerukhim tailors each plan to your anatomy and goals, helping you look refreshed while remaining recognizably yourself.
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While Neck Lifts can sometimes be performed on their own, the face and neck share a connected support system, so treating them together often creates a more balanced result than lifting the face while leaving neck sagging or fullness unaddressed. In a deep plane face and neck lift, the facial tissues and platysma—the broad muscle beneath the neck skin—are released and repositioned in unison and harmony to improve jowls, muscle bands, and jawline definition. When fullness comes from deeper structures, selected patients may also benefit from removing excess fat beneath the platysma or carefully reducing the prominent portion of the submandibular salivary glands beneath the jaw. These additional steps are tailored to your anatomy and are not needed in every neck lift. They add risks, including contour irregularities, bleeding that can rarely threaten breathing, nerve injury affecting lower-lip movement, and, with gland reduction, saliva collections or leakage and occasional dry mouth. Deeper neck work may also mean more swelling, temporary firmness, and closer postoperative monitoring, with recovery depending on the extent of surgery. Our Cleveland Facelift expert and double-board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Yerukhim will discuss whether the expected improvement justifies these added risks for you.
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A facelift lifts and tightens sagging tissue, but it doesn't replace the deep facial volume lost with age. Facial fat grafting (fat transfer) uses your own fat to restore fullness in the cheeks, temples, under-eyes, and jawline at the same time—giving a softer, more natural, more youthful result than lifting alone. Fat grafting allows the artistry of the surgery to shine through, helping create natural softness and contours that cannot be accomplished with repositioning maneuvers alone. In addition, fat cells have tremendous regenerative potential, helping to further rejuvenate the overlying tissues and skin, providing a truly artistic result.
If you are a Face-Lift patient, download your instruction forms here!
WHY CHOOSE DR. YERUKHIM?
Your face is how the world recognizes you. Dr. Yerukhim is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with advanced training in deep plane face and neck lifting, named a Cleveland Magazine Top Doctor by his peers six years running. As a solo practice, you see him at your consultation, in the operating room and at every follow-up, not a rotating team. We believe in honest consultations, careful planning, and results that look like you. Confidence comes from looking like yourself, which is why natural is non-negotiable.
Financing: CareCredit available. Serving Cleveland and the west and southwest suburbs, including Bay Village, Westlake, Avon and Avon Lake, Rocky River, Middleburg Heights, Parma, Strongsville, Berea, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Township, North Royalton, Brecksville, Brook Park, Brunswick and Medina.
Ready to take the next step? Schedule your consultation today and see why patients from across Ohio and beyond trust their faces to Dr. Yerukhim.