What Really Gets Lifted In A Deep Plane Facelift
Balikian Facial Plastic Surgery
23,538 views
Dr. Richard Balikian explains the deep plane facelift using facial anatomy that was hand-painted on a patient’s face by a professional artist. Rather than relying on animations or generic diagrams, the muscles, SMAS, platysma, ligaments, and deeper facial structures were artistically painted directly onto the face and neck to visually demonstrate what is lifted, released, and repositioned during advanced facelift surgery.
This hand-painted anatomical mapping allows patients to clearly see how facial aging occurs beneath the skin and why a preservation deep plane facelift produces more natural, longer-lasting results than skin-only or traditional SMAS facelifts. The artwork illustrates how the SMAS and platysma function together as a continuous supportive layer, how gravity causes this muscular hammock to descend over time, and how unreleased attachments can pull facelift results back down.
Dr. Balikian explains where facelift incisions are placed, why preservation techniques reduce trauma, and how working beneath the muscle allows the face and neck to be lifted without excessive tension or distortion. He also walks through key structures involved in facelift surgery, including the zygomaticus major muscle, masseter muscle, parotid gland, facial ligaments, and neck anatomy.
The video further explains why fat transfer is often necessary to support facial muscles, why aggressive neck liposuction can make banding more visible, and how tension-free lifting improves healing, scar quality, and long-term stability.
This video is designed for patients who want a clear, honest understanding of facelift surgery. It explains not just what is done during a deep plane facelift, but why technique, judgment, and extent of release matter more than the name of the procedure.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Education Through Anatomy
Why understanding facial structure matters when planning a facelift.
00:38 – The Three Layers of the Face
Skin, the SMAS and platysma muscle layer, and deeper facial structures.
01:23 – Facelift Incisions and Preservation Approach
How incisions are placed and why preservation reduces trauma.
02:18 – Preservation Deep Plane Facelift Explained
Working beneath the muscle rather than over-lifting skin.
02:46 – Facial Aging and the SMAS Hammock
How gravity leads to jowls and neck banding.
03:22 – SMAS Facelift vs Deep Plane Facelift
Why tightening alone does not produce durable results.
04:08 – Releasing Deep Facial Attachments
Zygomaticus, masseter, pre-jowl, and parotid attachments explained.
05:44 – Avoiding Pulled and Over-Tightened Results
Why tension creates distortion and thicker scars.
06:33 – Healing, Scars, and Long-Term Stability
How tension-free lifting improves recovery and longevity.
06:50 – What Surgeons See Beneath the SMAS
A visual tour of muscles, glands, nerves, and fat compartments.
07:47 – Midface Support and Fat Transfer
Restoring support beneath muscles for natural expression.
08:31 – What a Good Facelift Should Achieve
Looking refreshed, rested, and like yourself.
09:16 – Deep Vertical Neck Lift Anatomy
Understanding neck muscles and contouring.
09:34 – Neck Bands and Conservative Liposuction
Why preserving protective fat matters.
10:31 – Technique Over Marketing
Why judgment and execution matter more than labels.
10:44 – The Artiste Lift™ Philosophy
A facelift designed for natural, confident, long-term results.
#DeepPlaneFacelift #Facelift #FaceliftSurgery #FaceliftAnatomy #FacialPlasticSurgery #SMASFacelift #FaceliftEducation
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BALIKIAN FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY
https://DrBalikianSanDiego.com
TEMECULA VALLEY
https://www.drbalikian.com/contact-fa...
951-719-2950
25220 Hancock Ave STE 115, Murrieta, CA 92562
SAN DIEGO
https://www.drbalikian.com/contact-fa...
858-230-8938
1431 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
-----
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTE LIFT™ PRESERVATION DEEP PLANE FACELIFT
https://www.drbalikian.com/skin-care-...
LEARN MORE ABOUT DEEP PLANE FACELIFT SURGERY
https://www.drbalikiansandiego.com/ed...
SEE BEFORE AND AFTER RESULTS FOLLOWING DEEP PLANE FACELIFT SURGERY
https://www.drbalikiansandiego.com/be...
LEARN MORE ABOUT DOUBLE BOARD CERTIFIED FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON DR. RICHARD V. BALIKIAN
https://www.drbalikian.com/facial-pla...
11 Comments
First it forces you to accept all cookies.
It is pushing consultation - which usually costs a ton. Before you see any kind of info.
There is ONE photo in the facelift “gallery”. It says “back to gallery” - what gallery?
Want to ask the annoying bot a single question?
You have to give all info like it’s a consultation.
I wish these doctors knew what a user friendly website could do for their business.
So many are bad - when the actual doctor seems great in these videos.
What Really Gets Lifted In A Deep Plane Facelift
Balikian Facial Plastic Surgery
23,538 views
Dr. Richard Balikian explains the deep plane facelift using facial anatomy that was hand-painted on a patient’s face by a professional artist. Rather than relying on animations or generic diagrams, the muscles, SMAS, platysma, ligaments, and deeper facial structures were artistically painted directly onto the face and neck to visually demonstrate what is lifted, released, and repositioned during advanced facelift surgery.
This hand-painted anatomical mapping allows patients to clearly see how facial aging occurs beneath the skin and why a preservation deep plane facelift produces more natural, longer-lasting results than skin-only or traditional SMAS facelifts. The artwork illustrates how the SMAS and platysma function together as a continuous supportive layer, how gravity causes this muscular hammock to descend over time, and how unreleased attachments can pull facelift results back down.
Dr. Balikian explains where facelift incisions are placed, why preservation techniques reduce trauma, and how working beneath the muscle allows the face and neck to be lifted without excessive tension or distortion. He also walks through key structures involved in facelift surgery, including the zygomaticus major muscle, masseter muscle, parotid gland, facial ligaments, and neck anatomy.
The video further explains why fat transfer is often necessary to support facial muscles, why aggressive neck liposuction can make banding more visible, and how tension-free lifting improves healing, scar quality, and long-term stability.
This video is designed for patients who want a clear, honest understanding of facelift surgery. It explains not just what is done during a deep plane facelift, but why technique, judgment, and extent of release matter more than the name of the procedure.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Education Through Anatomy
Why understanding facial structure matters when planning a facelift.
00:38 – The Three Layers of the Face
Skin, the SMAS and platysma muscle layer, and deeper facial structures.
01:23 – Facelift Incisions and Preservation Approach
How incisions are placed and why preservation reduces trauma.
02:18 – Preservation Deep Plane Facelift Explained
Working beneath the muscle rather than over-lifting skin.
02:46 – Facial Aging and the SMAS Hammock
How gravity leads to jowls and neck banding.
03:22 – SMAS Facelift vs Deep Plane Facelift
Why tightening alone does not produce durable results.
04:08 – Releasing Deep Facial Attachments
Zygomaticus, masseter, pre-jowl, and parotid attachments explained.
05:44 – Avoiding Pulled and Over-Tightened Results
Why tension creates distortion and thicker scars.
06:33 – Healing, Scars, and Long-Term Stability
How tension-free lifting improves recovery and longevity.
06:50 – What Surgeons See Beneath the SMAS
A visual tour of muscles, glands, nerves, and fat compartments.
07:47 – Midface Support and Fat Transfer
Restoring support beneath muscles for natural expression.
08:31 – What a Good Facelift Should Achieve
Looking refreshed, rested, and like yourself.
09:16 – Deep Vertical Neck Lift Anatomy
Understanding neck muscles and contouring.
09:34 – Neck Bands and Conservative Liposuction
Why preserving protective fat matters.
10:31 – Technique Over Marketing
Why judgment and execution matter more than labels.
10:44 – The Artiste Lift™ Philosophy
A facelift designed for natural, confident, long-term results.
#DeepPlaneFacelift #Facelift #FaceliftSurgery #FaceliftAnatomy #FacialPlasticSurgery #SMASFacelift #FaceliftEducation
-----
BALIKIAN FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY
https://DrBalikianSanDiego.com
TEMECULA VALLEY
https://www.drbalikian.com/contact-fa...
951-719-2950
25220 Hancock Ave STE 115, Murrieta, CA 92562
SAN DIEGO
https://www.drbalikian.com/contact-fa...
858-230-8938
1431 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
-----
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTE LIFT™ PRESERVATION DEEP PLANE FACELIFT
https://www.drbalikian.com/skin-care-...
LEARN MORE ABOUT DEEP PLANE FACELIFT SURGERY
https://www.drbalikiansandiego.com/ed...
SEE BEFORE AND AFTER RESULTS FOLLOWING DEEP PLANE FACELIFT SURGERY
https://www.drbalikiansandiego.com/be...
LEARN MORE ABOUT DOUBLE BOARD CERTIFIED FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON DR. RICHARD V. BALIKIAN
https://www.drbalikian.com/facial-pla...