An Extended Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift repositions the deeper structural tissues of the face and neck — not just the skin — to restore the jawline, midface, and cervicomental angle in a way that looks natural rather than pulled.

The “extended” component means the dissection and repositioning address the midface, jowl, jawline, and neck as one connected anatomic unit rather than stopping short and relying on skin tension to compensate. This is what distinguishes Dr. Sturgill’s approach from more limited facelift techniques.

A traditional facelift often relies on skin tightening and superficial tissue repositioning. A deep plane approach works underneath those layers, releasing and repositioning the descended structural tissues that actually create jowls, lower-face heaviness, and the aged facial shape.

Think of it this way: a superficial lift pulls the carpet tighter across the floor. A deep plane lift fixes what’s underneath the carpet so the surface lies flat on its own. This allows more natural structural correction with less dependence on skin tension — which is one of the biggest reasons results look more natural and last longer.

Incisions are placed in natural creases around the ear and into the hairline where appropriate. The goal is scar placement that hides well and heals cleanly. Great scars come from good planning, minimal tension on the skin closure, and meticulous technique — not from pulling tighter.

In most patients, the hairline is not meaningfully affected. When hairline incisions are used, they are designed to preserve natural hair-bearing patterns and can be tailored to individual hairstyle preferences.

Dr. Sturgill’s Extended Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift is performed under general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist in an AAAHC-accredited surgical facility.

General anesthesia allows the surgeon to work with full anatomic control while the patient remains completely comfortable throughout the procedure. A dedicated anesthesiologist — not a nurse anesthetist working independently — monitors every physiologic parameter from induction through recovery. This is the safest, most controlled environment for a procedure of this scope and precision.

Most candidates are bothered by jowls, loss of jawline definition, heaviness through the lower face, and/or neck laxity or fullness. Chronologic age matters less than anatomy — some patients need a deep plane lift earlier because their descent is more pronounced, while others may not need it until later.

Ideal candidates want to look refreshed, not “different,” and understand that great results come from the right technique rather than the tightest pull. During consultation, Dr. Sturgill evaluates each patient’s specific anatomy and aging pattern to determine whether this procedure is the right approach — or whether something else would serve them better.

Often yes. Many facelift patients arrive after realizing that repeated non-surgical treatments are no longer meaningfully correcting the problem. Once tissues have descended enough, camouflage stops working — and continued filler or biostimulator use can actually distort the anatomy rather than improve it.

An Extended Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift addresses the structural root cause — tissue descent — in a way that no injectable or device can replicate. For patients at that threshold, surgery provides a single definitive correction rather than ongoing maintenance that yields diminishing returns.

Revision and secondary cases can be excellent candidates, but they require more planning due to scar tissue and altered anatomy from the previous procedure. Dr. Sturgill customizes the approach based on what was done previously and what needs correction now.

Deep plane revision is often about undoing the tension and unnatural pull left behind by a skin-only or superficial technique — and restoring normal anatomic position. Dr. Sturgill regularly performs complex revision and secondary deep plane cases that other surgeons refer to him.

That pulled or windswept appearance is typically the result of skin tension, lateral pull, or incomplete deep structural correction — exactly what Dr. Sturgill’s Extended Deep Plane technique is designed to avoid.

By repositioning the deeper structural foundation and letting the skin re-drape naturally with minimal tension, the goal is a face that looks structurally younger, cleaner, and less heavy — without obvious surgical stigma. The result should look like the patient, not like a procedure.

The Extended Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift is most effective for jowling and jawline blurring, heaviness through the lower cheeks, deepening nasolabial folds related to descent, neck laxity and loss of the cervicomental angle, and early platysmal banding.

When nasolabial folds or marionette lines are driven primarily by tissue descent and jowling, the lift alone can produce meaningful improvement. When the lines are also driven by volume loss or skin texture changes, fat grafting or skin resurfacing can refine the result further.

Neck banding is often improved, but the result depends on the anatomy: muscle bands versus skin laxity versus gland or fat. When bands are primarily platysmal in nature, deeper neck work can significantly soften or eliminate them.

Some patients may still see mild banding with certain expressions — because the goal is natural function, not a “frozen” or overcorrected neck. The neck plan is individualized for every patient based on their specific anatomy and goals.

That is the entire point. The goal is restoration — a sharper jawline, a cleaner neck, a refreshed midface — while keeping the patient’s facial identity intact. Patients should look like themselves, just rested and refined. Not like someone else, and not like someone who had surgery.

Recovery follows a predictable trajectory for most patients:

Dr. Sturgill provides every patient with a detailed recovery guide that covers activity restrictions, skincare timelines, and what to expect at each stage.

Most patients return to desk work in 10–14 days, depending on how public-facing their role is and how quickly bruising fades. For patients who are frequently on camera or in meetings, two to three weeks is a more comfortable target.

For out-of-town patients, Dr. Sturgill typically clears travel at two weeks post-op. Light walking is encouraged from day one, with a structured return to more vigorous exercise over several weeks.

Most patients describe more tightness and soreness than sharp pain. The first few days are the most intense, and then it improves steadily. The neck can feel especially tight early on — this is normal and temporary.

Pain management is straightforward for the vast majority of patients, and Dr. Sturgill’s team provides detailed post-operative instructions to keep patients comfortable throughout recovery.

No. This is non-negotiable. Nicotine in any form — cigarettes, vaping, patches, pouches, gum — causes vasoconstriction that directly compromises blood flow to the elevated skin flaps. The consequence can be tissue necrosis, wound breakdown, and severe scarring.

Patients must stop all nicotine products at least four weeks before surgery and remain nicotine-free for a minimum of four weeks after. Dr. Sturgill will not operate on a patient who cannot commit to this requirement. This is about protecting the result and protecting the patient.

Yes — and often it should be. Faces age through descent, deflation, and surface damage simultaneously. Addressing only one dimension can leave the overall result feeling incomplete. Common complementary procedures include:

Facial Fat Grafting to restore volume where deflation contributes to the aging pattern. Upper or Lower Eyelid Surgery to address excess skin or puffiness around the eyes. Endoscopic Brow Lift for forehead descent and brow ptosis. Lip Lift for select patients with elongation of the upper lip. Laser Resurfacing for skin texture, fine lines, and discoloration.

Dr. Sturgill builds the operative plan around each patient’s anatomy rather than applying a one-size-fits-all combination.

Not every patient requires fat grafting, but many benefit from it. Lifting corrects descent; fat grafting restores deflation. These are two different problems, and when volume loss is a meaningful part of the aging pattern, combining the two produces a more complete, healthy-looking result — not overfilled, but genuinely restored.

When done thoughtfully, fat grafting adds the fullness and softness that a lift alone cannot recreate. The decision is always based on what the anatomy needs, not a default protocol.

An Extended Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift provides long-lasting structural improvement because the deeper SMAS tissues have been repositioned rather than simply tightened at the skin level. For the vast majority of patients, results last 10–15 years or more — some even longer depending on genetics, skin quality, and maintenance habits.

The procedure does not stop aging, but it meaningfully resets the clock. Patients continue aging from a younger, stronger baseline. Sun protection, medical-grade skincare, and periodic maintenance treatments such as neurotoxin or light-based therapies help preserve the result over time. A secondary procedure, if ever desired, is typically 10–20 years out.

Meaningful improvement is visible early — most patients feel encouraged by the end of week two and have a good sense of the overall direction by one month. The result continues to refine over three to six months, especially in the neck and along the jawline where residual swelling resolves most gradually.

Most patients feel they look very good by six to eight weeks. The “finished” result — where everything has fully settled and softened — typically emerges closer to three months, with subtle refinement continuing through twelve months in some patients.

Common issues include skin-only tightening that relies on tension rather than structural repositioning, short-scar “mini lifts” that relapse within a few years, lateral tension that creates an unnatural mouth or cheek pull, and scar placement that is difficult to conceal.

These problems often share a root cause: the deeper tissues were not adequately released and repositioned, so the skin was asked to do the heavy lifting — literally. The result is a face that looks tight rather than young. Dr. Sturgill’s revision work frequently involves releasing that tension and restoring normal anatomic position through a comprehensive deep plane approach.