Signature Extended Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift
Natural rejuvenation built on repositioning, not pulling. See why Dr. Sturgill’s Signature Lift will make you re-think facelifts.
Midwest address
World-class technique
The Gold Standard in Facelifts
You don’t want to look “different.” You want to look like you—just restored.
A sharper jawline, a cleaner neckline, less heaviness through the midface, and a result that doesn’t announce itself as surgery. That is the goal of Dr. Sturgill’s signature Extended Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift: to lift what has truly descended, without placing tension on the skin.
As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon serving Carmel and Indianapolis, Dr. Sturgill has built one of the busiest facelift practices in the country by specializing in one thing: the face and neck. Patients often arrive after extensive research—and many travel from out of state—because they are looking for a technique that prioritizes structure, not shortcuts.
If you are looking for natural results that hold up over time, you must start with the work beneath the surface. Click below to see real results for yourself.
What is the Extended Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift?
To understand why this technique is the gold standard, you must understand how the face ages. Aging isn’t just loose skin; it is the descent of the deeper soft tissues, muscles, and fat pads.
Many facelifts (such as SMAS-plication or skin-only lifts) rely on tightening the muscle or pulling the skin to hide this descent. The problem? Tension. When you pull tissues against their natural anchors, the result can look "windswept," stretched, or widened. Furthermore, because skin is elastic, tension-based results often fade quickly.
The Deep Plane Difference: Release and Reposition
The "deep plane" refers to the anatomical layer beneath the SMAS (the structural layer of the face). In Dr. Sturgill’s approach, he performs a complete release of the retaining ligaments that tether your facial tissues to the bone.
Think of these ligaments like anchors holding a boat. If you want to move the boat, you cannot just pull harder on the rope (tension); you must lift the anchor (release).
By releasing these ligaments, Dr. Sturgill can reposition the entire face and neck complex vertically to where it used to be. Because the heavy lifting is done structurally, the skin is simply re-draped smoothly.
No tension on the skin.
No "pulled" look.
Results that last.
Tina’s Story:
A natural refresh for a once-in-a-lifetime weekend.
When Tina found out her daughter was getting married, she searched the country for the best deep plane facelift surgeon and chose Dr. Sturgill for his exceptional results and care.
Before
After
Wedding Day
Why “Extended”? - Dr. Sturgill’s Approach
The term "deep plane" is often used loosely in marketing. Dr. Sturgill performs an Extended Deep Plane Lift, which distinguishes itself through comprehensiveness. He treats the face and neck as one integrated unit.
Customization, Not Templates
Your anatomy determines the plan—no “one-size-fits-all” facelift
The extended deep plane is the foundation, then refined based on what you need
May include strategic volume restoration (fat grafting) when deflation is part of the problem
May include skin refinement to address texture and quality, not just descent
Deep Structural Neck Work
Deep neck contouring to sharpen the cervicomental angle and provide a “snatched” jawline.
Goes far beyond simple liposuction and muscle tightening
Designed to match the face (so the neck doesn’t look “left behind”)
Full Ligament Release
Complete release of key retaining ligaments
Midface + jawline move together (not separately)
Repositioned tissues, not “pulled” skin
Your First Night: Staying at Meridian Plastic Surgery Center
Following your surgery, you will spend your first night in the comfort and safety of our state-of-the-art Meridian Plastic Surgery Center. Dr. Sturgill’s facility is fully accredited and equipped with private overnight suites, ensuring that you receive the highest level of care during your initial recovery period. Our dedicated nursing staff will be on hand to monitor your recovery and attend to any needs you may have, allowing you to rest and begin your healing process with peace of mind.
Complementary Procedures
Faces age in three ways:
Descent (sagging/gravity)
Deflation (volume loss)
Damage (skin texture)
A facelift only corrects descent. To create a truly natural result, Dr. Sturgill often combines the lift with other procedures.
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Restores the “deflation” side of aging by replacing lost volume in areas like the midface, temples, around the mouth, and under-eye hollowing. Fat is your own tissue, so it blends naturally and softens transitions that a lift alone can’t fix. Dr. Sturgill performs fat grafting in about 90% of facelift cases.
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A facelift improves the neck, lower and mid face, but it does not lift the brow or open the upper eyelid/brow complex. An endoscopic forehead lift repositions the brow through small hidden incisions, creating a brighter, more rested look without changing your identity. Dr. Sturgill combines this in about two-thirds of facelift cases.
Click Here to Learn More about Endoscopic Forehead Lifts
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Resurfacing addresses the “damage” part of aging—fine lines, texture, sun damage, and dullness. A peel or laser can sharpen skin quality so the facelift result looks more complete and more youthful.
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A lip lift shortens an elongated upper lip and restores youthful lip show and shape, which can fade with age. It pairs well with facelift surgery because it improves the central face in a way a facelift alone can’t. Dr. Sturgill performs a lip lift in about one-third of facelift cases.
Click Here to Learn More about Lip Lifts
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Upper blepharoplasty removes excess upper lid skin that can make you look tired or heavy. Lower blepharoplasty improves under-eye bags and restores the contour between the lower eyelid and cheek. Combined with a facelift, eyelid surgery helps the entire face look consistently refreshed.
Click Here to Learn More about Eyelid Surgery
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For the right candidate, reducing buccal fat can refine lower-cheek fullness and improve facial shape. The goal is subtle definition, not a hollow look. Dr. Sturgill performs buccal fat reduction in about 50% of facelift cases.
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Earlobes can stretch and elongate with age (and earrings), and they can look out of place next to a rejuvenated jawline and neck. Earlobe reduction restores proportion and helps the “details” match the rest of the facelift result. Dr. Sturgill frequently performs this procedure with his Extended Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift.
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The face isn’t the only place that shows age. Hands are one of the most common “give-aways” because they’re always visible—when you’re driving, texting, holding a glass, or wearing a ring. And unlike the face, the hands tend to look older fast because they lose volume, thin out, and show sun damage over decades.
The biggest change is deflation: as volume fades, the skin becomes thinner and looser, and the tendons and veins become more prominent. Even after a beautifully natural facelift, hands that look hollow or vein-heavy can quietly clash with an otherwise refreshed appearance.
Hand rejuvenation with fat grafting restores a smoother, more youthful contour by placing small amounts of your own fat over the back of the hands to re-create the natural “padding” that time takes away. The goal is not to make hands look puffy—it’s to make them look healthy, hydrated, and age-appropriate alongside the face.
This is an elegant add-on because it’s done using the same concept as facial fat grafting: replace what was lost, not tighten what’s already thin. When the face and hands are treated together, the overall result reads as more complete, more believable, and more naturally youthful.
Before & After Gallery
You can read about technique all day, but the truth is in the outcomes.
Revision & Secondary Facelifts
Expert Solutions for Complex Cases
Revision facelift surgery is higher-stakes than a first-time lift—whether you’re seeing aging years after a prior facelift or correcting an unsatisfying result elsewhere.
About 50% of Dr. Sturgill’s practice is dedicated to revision and secondary extended deep plane face and neck lifts.
Common concerns Dr. Sturgill corrects include:
Early relapse after “mini” or skin-only lifts
“Windswept” tension causing an unnatural sweep or widened mouth
Pixie ear deformity from downward-pulled earlobes
Visible or misplaced scars
Why Deep Plane Works Well in Revision
Revisions are difficult because of scar tissue. Dr. Sturgill’s Extended Deep Plane approach works beneath the SMAS, often allowing access to less-scarred (untouched) planes to fully release retaining ligaments and reposition tissues without relying on skin tension, producing a result that looks natural and lasts longer than the original lift.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Sturgill
Patients travel to Carmel from across the country for Dr. Sturgill’s care. They choose him for three specific reasons:
Specialization: He is a double board certified facial plastic surgeon. He focuses exclusively on the face and neck, performing deep plane lifts at a volume that ensures consistency and mastery.
Truth & Transparency: No sales pressure. No "magic" wands. Just honest assessments of what anatomy and surgery can achieve.
The "Unoperated" Look: His aesthetic goal is for you to look like yourself—just rested, refined, and restored.
Schedule Your Consultation
The consultation is where Dr. Sturgill evaluates your anatomy and builds a surgical plan around your specific goals.
Virtual consultations are available for out-of-town patients.
Read what Real Patients have to say about Dr. Sturgill
Ready to take the next step? 
Your consultation is a planning session - not a sales pitch.
What to expect at your consultation:
Dr. Sturgill will evaluate your facial anatomy, discuss your goals, and give you an honest assessment of what surgery can—and cannot—achieve. You will leave with a clear understanding of whether this procedure is right for you.
Review your concerns and goals in detail
Receive a facial analysis with personalized surgical plan
See before-and-after photos of what YOU will look like after surgery
Have all your questions answered directly
Consultations typically last around 45 minutes.
Your Questions, Answered
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It means the lift comes from restoring anatomy—not tightening skin. When deeper tissues are released and returned to where they belong, the result looks like you—just more rested and structurally refreshed.
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Incisions are placed in natural creases around the ear and into the hairline when needed. The priority is hiding scars while preserving natural ear and hairline shape—and achieving a result that doesn’t look surgically “done.”
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Yes. The goal is not to change your identity—it’s to restore structure: cleaner jawline, refreshed midface, and a more youthful neck contour, while keeping your natural features intact.
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Most patients plan for 2 weeks away from work. Physical activity can restart 2 weeks after surgery.
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Week 1: swelling, bruising, tightness; you’ll look clearly post-op
Weeks 2–3: big improvement; many feel comfortable being seen socially with light makeup/hair styling
Weeks 4–6: most swelling is down; you look refreshed, not “recovered”
Months 3–6: ongoing refinement, especially in the neck and jawline
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Most patients describe tightness and soreness more than sharp pain. The neck can feel tight early on. Discomfort typically improves quickly after the first several days.
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