“The facelift is not a procedure of skin-tightening. It is about restructuring the foundation of the lower face and neck — the skin lies passively over the reworked muscle layers. Think of your skin as the tablecloth, and the layers underneath as the table. If the shape of the table is changed, the tablecloth lies perfectly, without tension — and that is when results look truly natural.”
What the deep plane facelift and neck lift can do for you
Dr. Truesdale performs the deep plane facelift and a deep neck lift together as one operation — because the face and the neck age as one structure, and correcting one without the other always shows. The result is a lifted jawline, a sharp neck angle, and a completely rested face that holds for 10–15 years.
- A jawline, not jowls — the softening along the lower face is lifted cleanly back to where it used to sit.
- A sharp neck, included — every deep plane facelift at this practice includes a deep neck lift, because the neck is half of a lower-face result.
- Softened mid-face lines — the deep creases around the mouth and nasolabial folds quiet as the tissue is repositioned.
- Lasts ten to fifteen years, not one season — because the foundation is repaired, the result holds long after any filler, laser, or skin-only lift would have faded.
- Never reads as “done” — no pulled look, no wind-swept temples. Patients hear “you look rested,” not “what did you have done.”
Ready to discuss your facelift goals?
Understanding the deep plane facelift & neck lift
What the deep plane facelift and neck lift is
The deep plane facelift is the most advanced facelift technique in facial plastic surgery. Instead of simply tightening the skin, Dr. Truesdale works beneath the skin to release the ligaments that hold your face in its aged position — allowing the entire facial foundation (muscle, fat, and deeper tissue) to be repositioned upward as one unit. The skin then lies passively over that restored foundation, which is why the result looks natural, never pulled, and holds for 10–15 years.
Every deep plane facelift Dr. Truesdale performs includes a deep neck lift. The face and the neck age as one structure, and correcting one without the other always shows. Addressing both in a single operation is what produces the clean jawline, the sharp neck angle, and the completely harmonious lower-face result that has become his signature.
- —Repositions SMAS layer only
- —Ligaments remain tethered
- —Results: 5–8 years typical
- —Limited midface correction
- ✓Releases retaining ligaments
- ✓Entire facial mass mobilized
- ✓Results: 10–15+ years typical
- ✓Full midface and jowl correction
Dr. Truesdale’s preferred facelift is a preservation extended deep plane facelift and neck lift with a high SMAS entry point — the most anatomically complete facelift available, and is also able to lift the mid-face.
Who the deep plane facelift & neck lift is for
If any of the following describes you, the deep plane facelift & neck lift may be worth exploring:
Dr. Truesdale’s facelift and neck lift approach
Dr. Truesdale’s approach to the deep plane facelift and neck lift reflects a consistent set of principles — the same standards that inform every consultation, every surgical plan, and every post-operative follow-up.
Restraint, Not Over-Correction
The most over-done procedures in facial aesthetics are over-done because someone kept going past the right stopping point. Dr. Truesdale's rule: when the result is right, stop — even if more could technically be done. For the facelift, that means stopping at a natural lift — never the windswept tightness of an over-pulled face.
The Artist's Eye
Before becoming a surgeon, Dr. Truesdale was a trained portrait artist. That lens shapes every decision — proportion, light, shadow, the relationship between every feature — in a way purely clinical training alone does not. For facelift specifically, this shapes the read between cheek, jaw, and neck — so the result holds together from every angle, not just head-on.
Personal, Start to Finish
Every consultation, every surgical plan, every procedure — performed personally by Dr. Truesdale. No delegation to coordinators, PAs, or residents. Dr. Truesdale is personally involved every step of the way. Every facelift is performed by Dr. Truesdale himself — no resident dissection, no shared OR time.
Natural Is Non-Negotiable
The only acceptable outcome is one that no one can identify as a procedure — a result that reads as a better version of you. No pulled look, no frozen expression, no obvious work. The deep plane facelift goal: friends say you look rested, never that you look “done.”
How Dr. Truesdale performs the deep plane face and neck lift
A step-by-step description of The Truesdale Facelift Technique — the submental deep-neck approach, the high lateral SMAS entry, the extended ligament release, and the Deep Mastoid Crevasse Technique.
Why choose Dr. Truesdale for your facelift
The facelift is one of the most technically demanding operations in facial plastic surgery. The right surgeon makes the difference between a result that looks natural for a decade and one that looks pulled, windswept, or operated within months. Here is what distinguishes Dr. Truesdale.
Other types of facelifts
Beyond the deep plane facelift, there are other techniques designed for specific patient profiles. Dr. Truesdale offers each of these for the right candidate — but each has limitations worth understanding before you decide which is right for you.
The endoscopic facelift
An endoscopic facelift uses small, hidden incisions and a tiny camera to lift and reposition facial tissues without the longer incisions of a traditional or deep plane facelift. It targets the upper-to-mid face — brow, temples, and cheek — through ports rather than open access.
Best for: younger patients with early midface descent, mild cheek flattening, or temple/brow heaviness — where the goal is repositioning rather than ligament release and the lower face and neck do not need to be addressed.
- Does not address the neck — jowling, platysmal banding, or cervicomental angle issues require a full deep plane facelift and neck lift.
- Does not release the retaining ligaments the way a deep plane facelift does, so it cannot reposition tissue as completely or hold results as long.
- Results are subtler and shorter-lived — typically 5–7 years, compared to 10–15 years with a deep plane facelift.
- Not a substitute for a deep plane lift in patients with significant skin laxity, jowling, or lower-face descent.
The mini facelift
A mini facelift (sometimes marketed as an “S-lift,” “weekend lift,” or “short-scar facelift”) uses shorter incisions placed only around the front of the ear to tighten the lower face — the jawline, lower cheek, and early jowling — without entering the deeper tissue planes or addressing the neck.
Best for: younger patients with early jowling and mild jawline laxity, where the neck and midface are still well-positioned and the goal is a small refinement rather than full rejuvenation.
- Does not address the neck. Platysmal banding, deep fat, or true neck laxity cannot be corrected through a mini-facelift incision.
- Does not release the retaining ligaments. The result relies on tightening superficial tissue rather than repositioning the deeper structural foundation.
- Results last roughly 3–5 years — meaningfully shorter than a deep plane facelift’s 10–15 years — and the lift can loosen visibly within the first 1–2 years if the underlying anatomy was actually a deep-plane candidate.
- Frequently underperforms expectations in patients with moderate-to-significant aging, because the technique cannot reach the structures driving the visible aging in the first place.
Dr. Truesdale will tell you honestly which technique fits your anatomy and goals. If a deep plane facelift is what you actually need, he will say so — even if you came in expecting a smaller procedure.
“The deep plane facelift is the foundation of transformational results — it is core to why my patients look as good on the outside as they feel on the inside.”
— Dr. Carl Truesdale, MD
Facelift and Neck Lift before & afters
Real facelift and neck lift patients of Dr. Truesdale. Each result reflects a customized surgical plan designed for that individual’s anatomy, skin quality, and aesthetic goals.
Your transformation starts with a conversation.
From first consultation to final reveal
We always tell our patients to ‘trust the process.’ You are in good hands on every step of the journey to your unique masterpiece.
Consultation
Personal session with Dr. Truesdale — facial analysis, honest assessment of candidacy, and a clear plan for what the procedure can and cannot achieve.
Planning
Medical clearance, pre-operative instructions, and a personalized plan Dr. Truesdale reviews with you before the day of the procedure.
Procedure Day
Performed personally by Dr. Truesdale at our AAAHC-accredited True Surgical Center under MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) with IV sedation — gentle, deep sedation comparable to a colonoscopy, administered and monitored throughout by a hand-selected, board-certified anesthesiologist. Duration depends on whether neck lift, fat transfer, or other procedures are combined.
In-Office Follow-Ups
Overnight nurse stays with you. In-office follow-ups: dressing removal Day 1, hemostatic net removed Day 2, drains removed Day 3 (if drains were placed; for men, drains usually come out on Day 5). Sutures and staples out at Day 7. Move your head and shoulders as a unit during the first 2 weeks to avoid neck strain. Light earrings may be worn at 2 weeks if desired. Most patients socially presentable by Day 10–14.
Bruising Resolves
Bruising fades. Swelling continues to settle, especially around the jawline. Light cardio at Day 14; strenuous exercise around 3 weeks, once your surgeon clears you. Tightness and numbness are normal and improve over 2–3 months.
Look and Feel Like a Masterpiece
The full facial harmony is revealed. Friends notice you look rested, without knowing why.
Individual timelines vary. Dr. Truesdale sets realistic, patient-specific expectations during your consultation — not exaggerated claims.
See if a Facelift is right for you.
See the work in motion
Dr. Truesdale on technique, philosophy, and patient stories — from his self-produced Beyond the Surface docuseries and his educational content library.
Why many patients choose The Masterpiece Surgery™
For patients seeking comprehensive facial rejuvenation in a single transformative session, Dr. Truesdale developed The Masterpiece Surgery™ — his signature approach combining deep plane facelift with multiple complementary procedures into one anesthetic event.
Rather than addressing individual concerns in isolation, The Masterpiece treats the face as a unified composition. A typical Masterpiece may combine a deep plane facelift with neck lift, blepharoplasty, fat transfer, brow lift, and skin resurfacing — all performed in a single session at True Surgical Center, with one recovery period instead of several.
The result: a complete, harmonious transformation that looks like the most refined version of you — not a series of individual corrections. Drawing on his background as a trained portrait artist, Dr. Truesdale plans every element in relation to the whole face, producing results that are dramatic yet completely natural.
Deep Plane Facelift & Neck Lift FAQs
Bring your own questions to consultation — Dr. Truesdale personally answers every one. Below are the questions patients ask most often about deep plane facelift & neck lift.
A traditional facelift (often called a “skin” or “SMAS” lift) tightens the skin and the most superficial layer of tissue beneath it. It helps, but the ligaments that actually hold the face in its aged position are left untouched — which is why skin-only and SMAS lifts tend to loosen within 5–8 years and can pull the skin unnaturally in the process. The deep plane facelift goes one crucial step further: Dr. Truesdale releases those ligaments and repositions the entire facial foundation (muscle, fat, and deeper tissue) as one unit. The skin lies passively on top. The result is natural, holds for 10–15 years, and never reads as “work.” Dr. Truesdale performs the deep plane facelift exclusively.
The strongest candidates have meaningful jowling, loss of jawline definition, neck banding, and midface descent that creams and neurotoxin can’t address. Dr. Truesdale evaluates you personally in consultation and only recommends the procedure when it will genuinely help. If a different approach would serve you better, he’ll tell you that too.
If the lower face is still fairly defined and the primary concern is the neck, a deep neck lift alone may suffice. If there’s jowling, jawline loss, or midface descent as well, a combined deep-plane facelift and neck lift produces a harmonious result where a neck lift alone would leave the face visually mismatched. Dr. Truesdale evaluates both zones in consultation and recommends the minimum procedure that will actually solve the problem.
Most patients describe the discomfort as mild to moderate. Dr. Truesdale’s team is available throughout recovery — you are not managing discomfort on your own. See “What kind of anesthesia is used?” for details on intra-operative comfort.
Our surgical procedures utilize a patient-focused anesthesia technique known as MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) and IV Sedation, ensuring your maximum comfort and safety. This method provides a level of gentle, deep sedation comparable to the comfortable experience many patients have during a colonoscopy, which we have found helps make patients less fearful. The anesthesia is administered intravenously and meticulously monitored by a hand-picked group of board-certified anesthesiologists, who are dedicated to your well-being throughout your entire procedure.
Plan on 10–14 days of social downtime. Expect mild-to-moderate swelling and bruising that peaks at day 3–4. Light cardio resumes at 2 weeks; most patients are cleared for strenuous exercise at about three weeks, at a follow-up visit. Your follow-up appointments along the way are conducted by Dr. Truesdale and our physician assistant, with Dr. Truesdale seeing you personally at the key milestones.
That’s the entire standard Dr. Truesdale designs for. No pulled look, no windswept appearance — just a jawline that reads like the one you had 10–15 years ago. Every patient is evaluated in a seated, relaxed state beforehand so the target is based on your real anatomy — never on an idealized template.
Yes. Dr. Truesdale is faculty and a live surgeon at the NYC Facelift & Rhinoplasty Master Course™, where he has personally performed live deep plane facelift and neck lift surgery to teach the technique to other practicing surgeons. He is also a repeat podium presenter at AAFPRS (American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) national conferences on facelift and neck lift technique, including presentations on deep necklifting, facelift and revision rejuvenation strategies, and facelifting scar management. See his full speaking and teaching history.
10–15 years. Deep plane results last roughly 1.5× longer than SMAS-only facelifts because the retaining ligaments are actually released rather than just tightened over.
Yes. A significant portion of Dr. Truesdale’s patients travel from across the United States and internationally. The process begins with a virtual consultation with Dr. Truesdale himself (not a coordinator), followed by in-person pre-procedure evaluation. Our patient-care coordinators help arrange travel, accommodations, and local transportation, and Dr. Truesdale’s team conducts virtual follow-ups after you return home.
Request a consultation through the form at the bottom of this page, email contact@doctortruesdale.com, or call (424) 363-4112. Our team responds within one business day to schedule either an in-person consultation at 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Suite 360, Beverly Hills, or a virtual consultation worldwide. Every consultation is conducted personally by Dr. Truesdale.
Dr. Truesdale performs the deep plane facelift and deep neck lift together as one unified operation — the most anatomically complete facelift available. He does not perform skin-only lifts, thread lifts, or isolated mini-lifts, because those approaches produce temporary results and often require a revision that full deep plane surgery could have solved from the start. For patients whose aging involves multiple zones of the face at once (eyes, brows, volume, skin), the deep plane facelift and neck lift is typically combined into The Masterpiece Surgery™ — Dr. Truesdale’s signature comprehensive plan performed in a single session.
Most deep plane facelift patients are between 45 and 70, though Dr. Truesdale has operated on patients in their late 30s and into their 80s. The right moment isn’t a number — it’s when lifestyle changes, skincare, and non-surgical treatments no longer keep pace with what you see in the mirror. Doing the procedure before the aging is severe often produces the most elegant, undetectable result, and the most youthful-looking decade afterward.
As of September 2026, a deep plane face and neck lift performed by Dr. Truesdale starts at $65,000 — and that figure already includes the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, and the facility fee at True Surgical Center. It is the price of the face and neck lift alone: most patients choose to address more than the lower face and neck in the same operation, so the majority of surgical plans are higher; comprehensive plans (The Masterpiece Surgery) run $78,000 to $129,000+ and are quoted individually after consultation. Our team can give you an approximate range on a free Discovery Call, and your Patient Care Coordinator confirms pricing in writing after your consultation (quotes are valid for 60 days). See the full cost breakdown →
We stand behind every result.
Cosmetic surgery has inherent variability. Dr. Truesdale’s commitment to you is the same one he makes to every patient: technical excellence, candid communication, and a hands-on relationship through your full first year of healing — and beyond if needed.
If a revision is medically warranted within the first 12 months following surgery, Dr. Truesdale may waive his surgeon’s fee for that revision — evaluated case-by-case at your one-year follow-up. Operating-room and anesthesia fees, billed directly by those providers, remain the patient’s responsibility; flexible third-party financing is available for those costs.
Facial tissue continues to mature and settle for a full year. What looks suboptimal at Month 3 or 6 frequently resolves on its own. Operating prematurely on tissue that hasn’t reached its final state risks compounding the problem rather than solving it.
Read the full policy →
This procedure is performed by Dr. Truesdale or his hand-picked associate Dr. Sajjadi — discuss the right path on your free Surgery Discovery Call.
Schedule your deep plane facelift consultation
An unhurried conversation with Dr. Truesdale himself — your anatomy, your goals, your questions answered. Dr. Truesdale personally conducts every consultation. We respond same-day, Monday-Friday.
Book a Surgical Discovery Call online
After clicking the booking link, select “new patient” under Schedule Your Appointment and fill out the form to see our current availability for a Surgical Discovery Call with a Patient Care Coordinator and book immediately. Call us (424) 363-4112 for additional appointment times and information.All times are based on Los Angeles, Pacific Time (PT).
Book Discovery Call →Prefer to share details first? Submit the form and a Patient Care Coordinator will reach out the same business day (Monday–Friday).