It's not just one wrinkle. It's not just poorer skin quality. It's the moment when the entire shape of the face begins to change.
The cheeks descend. The lower face becomes heavier. The jawline loses definition. Along the lower jaw, jowls appear. The neck begins to loosen, and in profile it is no longer so clear where the chin ends and the neck begins.
From the front, people often explain it away for a long time: bad light, tiredness, the camera angle, a few extra kilos. But the profile usually shows the change first.
The face no longer looks as firm. The lower face begins to descend. The neck loses its clean line and the expression starts to look more tired than you actually feel.
This is not just a skin problem.
It is the descent of deeper facial layers – the musculo-fascial layer, soft tissues, fat compartments and supporting structures that determine the shape of the cheeks, jawline and neck.
We perform Deep Plane facelift and necklift at Formé Clinic in Prague . This technique does not work only with the skin. It lifts the deeper, descended layers back upwards – closer to their original position. The aim is not to pull the face tight. It is to restore the shape that has gradually shifted downwards over time.
Not sure whether you need a facelift, necklift, eyelid surgery or something completely different?
You do not need to know the correct name of the procedure. Simply tell us what bothers you: jowls, a loose neck, a soft jawline, a tired appearance, your profile, or the feeling that your face has dropped . We can then guide you towards the right next step.
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Procedure at a glance
Deep Plane facelift
5 600 €
Deep Plane necklift
4 850 €
Facelift and necklift
10 000 €
Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia
Operation time
approx. 3–5 hours
Hospital stay
usually 2 nights
Back in public
approx. 2–3 weeks
Final result
develops over several months
Surgeon
Martin Ouzký
Deep Plane mainly treats descent of the deeper tissue layers, loss of a defined jawline, jowls and a loose neck. The exact scope is determined by the surgeon based on your anatomy, skin quality, neck, profile, previous filler treatments and the desired outcome.
You usually notice it first in profile
At first, it often does not look like a “facelift problem”. More like a series of small changes that are easy to explain away or ignore. Then, at some point, it is no longer one wrinkle that changes – it is the whole shape of the face.
Does this sound familiar?
your jawline no longer looks as defined in side-profile photos,
the lower face feels heavier than it used to,
you are developing jowls,
the neck is beginning to merge into the chin,
the cheeks no longer look higher and fuller, but rather descended,
fillers no longer help, or they make the face look even heavier,
from the front it still looks “okay”, but your profile bothers you more and more,
you do not look like a different person – just more tired, looser and older than you feel.
If you recognise yourself in this, wrinkles may not be the real issue. You may be dealing with tissue descent. That is exactly why a Deep Plane facelift may be considered for some patients.
Does this sound like you? Do not leave it as just a thought.
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Two simple self-checks you can try at home
These are not medical tests and they do not provide a diagnosis. Assessment must be carried out by a surgeon. They can, however, help you understand whether the main issue is skin quality, volume loss or descent of deeper tissues.
Test 1: gravity while lying down
Lie on your back. Use a small mirror or your phone and look at your face while lying down. Do not smile, raise your eyebrows or tense your neck.
Notice whether the jawline becomes clearer, the jowls look smaller, the cheeks feel lighter and the neck appears more defined.
If your face suddenly looks younger and firmer when you lie down, the issue may not be wrinkles alone. It may be tissue descent that becomes more visible when standing because of gravity.
Test 2: a gentle lift with your fingers
Place two or three fingers over the cheekbone – roughly below the temple, next to the outer corner of the eye. Gently lift the tissue upwards and slightly towards the ear.
Notice whether the jawline becomes clearer, the jowls reduce and the face looks less heavy.
If the face improves noticeably with a gentle lift, the problem may lie deeper than the skin alone.
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Wrinkle, volume or tissue descent?
Not every facial concern should be treated with a facelift. That distinction matters.
What bothers you?
What does it look like?
What is usually considered?
Skin quality
fine lines, texture, pigmentation, pores
laser, dermatology, skincare
Volume loss
hollow cheeks, a tired-looking midface
fillers, fat transfer
tissue descent
jowls, soft jawline, loose neck, heavy lower face
facelift / necklift
A cream can improve the skin. Filler can restore volume. But when the face itself starts to descend, the deeper structures need to be addressed.
Deep Plane explained simply
Deep Plane is one of the most advanced and complex facelift techniques in modern plastic surgery.
The difference is not that the skin is pulled tighter. The surgeon works deeper – with the layers that determine the actual shape of the face.
Professionally, this includes the SMAS. This is the musculo-fascial layer beneath the skin. For patients, the important point is this:
The skin is only the surface. The SMAS and deeper layers are like the internal framework of the face. When that framework descends, tightening the surface alone is not enough.
Deep Plane therefore does not just lift the skin. It elevates the deeper, descended layers as a unit – closer to where they used to be.
Do not pull back. Lift back up.
A poorly performed or poorly indicated facelift can look over-tightened. The face may be smoother, but the pull is visible. The expression can change. Instead of looking younger, a person can look “operated on”.
Deep Plane follows a different principle. The aim is not to pull the face backwards, but to lift descended tissues upwards.
Because the work is done in deeper layers, the result should not look like stretched skin. The face does not become a different face – it regains firmer contours, a clearer jawline and a younger, fresher and more natural appearance.
It is not about creating a new face. It is about restoring the shape that has gradually been lost.
Why Deep Plane is in a different category from a classic SMAS facelift
Deep Plane is not more expensive because the name sounds more modern. It is more expensive because the operation is longer, deeper and technically more demanding.
In a classic SMAS facelift, the surgeon works with the supportive layer beneath the skin. In Deep Plane surgery, the surgeon goes deeper and releases retaining structures that hold descended tissue in place.
Think of it like repairing a loose upholstery cover.
If you only tighten the cover, it may look smoother for a while. But if the problem is in the structure underneath, the real shape will not be restored.
A SMAS facelift tightens a more superficial supportive layer. Deep Plane works with the framework beneath it.
SMAS facelift vs. Deep Plane
SMAS facelift
Deep Plane
Depth of treatment
more superficial supportive layer
deeper layer below the SMAS
Main goal
tighten and firm
lift descended tissues
Best suited for
mild to moderate laxity
more pronounced descent of the cheeks, jawline and neck
Technical complexity
established facelift technique
more technically demanding procedure
Price
lower
higher due to the extent, depth and technical complexity
A SMAS facelift is not a bad technique. With the right indication, it can achieve very good results. Deep Plane makes sense when a more superficial tightening is not enough and the main problem is deeper descent of the cheeks, jawline and neck.
Why not simply choose the cheaper facelift?
With a facelift, the most important question is not: “Which option is cheaper?”
A more important question is: “What exactly has changed in my face?”
If the main problem is the skin, a simpler facelift technique may be enough. But if deeper layers of the cheeks, jawline and neck have descended, tightening the surface alone may not address the true cause.
A cheaper procedure may look more attractive at first. But if it does not treat the real cause, you may pay less and still not get the result you expected.
What Deep Plane treats
Descended cheeks
The cheeks shift downwards and the face loses its lightness and firmer shape.
Jowls along the jawline
Tissue gathers along the lower jaw and disrupts the clean contour of the profile.
Jawline
The jawline loses sharpness and the face looks softer, heavier and more tired.
Loose neck
The neck begins to merge into the chin and the profile loses the clean transition between face and neck.
This is not a procedure for every fine line. It is a surgical solution for the point at which the shape of the face.
What a Deep Plane necklift treats
The neck often reveals age before the face itself. Loose skin, a softer double chin, vertical neck bands or loss of the sharp angle between the chin and neck may appear.
With simpler techniques, treatment often focuses mainly on tightening the skin. In a Deep Plane necklift, the surgeon works deeper with the structures that actually support the neck.
For many patients, it does not make sense to rejuvenate the face and leave the neck untreated. If the face is rejuvenated but the neck remains loose, the result can look incomplete. That is why Deep Plane facelift and necklift are often combined.
Who is a good candidate for Deep Plane?
A Deep Plane facelift and necklift may be particularly suitable for patients with:
visible descent of the cheeks,
jowls along the lower jaw,
a softened jawline,
a loose neck,
a heavier-looking lower face,
good enough general health for general anaesthesia,
realistic expectations,
a desire for a longer-term surgical solution.
When Deep Plane is not the right choice
Deep Plane is not a universal solution. It may not be appropriate if your main concerns are:
fine lines,
skin quality,
pigmentation,
enlarged pores,
mild tiredness around the eyes,
a small double chin without significant skin laxity,
volume loss without tissue descent,
the expectation of an immediate result with no recovery time.
In these situations, laser treatment, dermatological procedures, eyelid surgery, double-chin liposuction, fat transfer or another procedure may be more appropriate. A good surgeon should not sell you Deep Plane simply because it is the more expensive technique. They should tell you whether you genuinely need it.
How to start: an in-person consultation or photos
An in-person consultation at the clinic is always best. The surgeon can assess facial movement, skin quality, the neck, profile, symmetry and how the tissues actually move.
Photos are still a good first step. They can help us estimate whether a Deep Plane facelift, necklift, classic facelift, eyelid surgery, double-chin liposuction or another procedure may make sense.
I would like an in-person consultation at the clinic
The best option if you want a precise recommendation and would like to discuss the extent of surgery, price, scars, timing and the specific surgeon directly.
With a Deep Plane facelift, it is not enough to say: “I want a facelift.” The surgeon first needs to assess what has actually changed in your face.
1
Assessment of the face and neck
The surgeon assesses the skin, cheek descent, jawline, neck, double chin, profile, symmetry and any previous filler treatments or procedures.
2
Choosing the right approach
Sometimes a Deep Plane facelift and necklift make sense. Sometimes a smaller procedure is enough. In other cases, eyelid surgery, fat transfer or double-chin liposuction may be added.
3
Surgical plan
Before surgery, the extent of the procedure, incision placement, hospital stay, recovery, price and realistic expectations for the result are confirmed.
4
Surgery and aftercare
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. After surgery, you usually stay at the clinic for 2 nights and go home with a clear plan for recovery and follow-up checks.
How the operation is performed
Deep Plane facelift and necklift are performed under general anaesthesia. Incisions are placed around the ear and within the hairline so that they follow the natural lines of the face.
The surgeon releases the deeper facial layers, repositions descended tissue upwards and removes excess skin without unnecessary tension.
The skin should not be the main structure holding the result. The support should come from deeper layers.
Depending on the findings, the following may be treated at the same time:
other complementary procedures according to the individual surgical plan.
Why you usually stay at the clinic for 2 nights
Deep Plane facelift and necklift are more extensive facial procedures. That is why we usually plan a hospital stay of 2 nights.
This is not a formality. The early postoperative period is important for monitoring swelling, bleeding, circulation, comfort and overall healing.
We do not send you home simply because the surgery is finished. We want to make sure the first phase is progressing properly and that you leave with clear instructions.
Facelift scars
The incisions are placed around the ear and within the hairline so that they follow the natural lines of the face.
When scars heal well, they usually fade significantly over time and blend into the lines of the ear, hairline and natural skin folds. After a well-healed facelift, they are generally inconspicuous in everyday life and often difficult to spot even at close range.
It is important not to place unnecessary tension on the skin. If the result is mainly held by pulling on the skin, this can affect both the natural appearance and the quality of the scars.
In a Deep Plane facelift, the main work is done deeper – in the tissues that support the shape of the face. The skin can then settle naturally rather than being pulled tight.
Recovery after a Deep Plane facelift
After surgery, swelling, bruising, a feeling of tightness, tenderness, pressure in the face and neck, or temporary changes in skin sensation are normal.
First few days: swelling, bruising, pressure, rest and a stay at the clinic.
Weeks 1–2: gradual reduction of swelling and bruising, with a controlled recovery regime.
Weeks 2–3: many patients begin to feel comfortable being seen in public again.
Weeks 4–6: a more substantial return to normal activities according to the surgeon's advice.
Several months: the result gradually settles, tissues soften and scars mature.
The result should not be judged too early. The face changes gradually after surgery. The first impression after the major swelling has subsided is not yet the final result.
How long does the result last?
A Deep Plane facelift does not stop ageing. The body continues to age naturally.
The difference is that the procedure can move the appearance of the face significantly backwards in time. With the right indication and good surgical execution, a patient can look many years younger – often as though the face has been taken back by 10 to 20 years.
Time keeps moving forward. The face is simply moved a little further back.
The result is influenced by age, skin quality, genetics, lifestyle, weight fluctuations and aftercare.
Risks and limitations of the procedure
A Deep Plane facelift is a surgical procedure performed under general anaesthesia. It is one of the more demanding facial operations and is not suitable for everyone.
As with any surgery, complications can occur, including bleeding, infection, delayed healing, asymmetry, more visible scars, prolonged swelling, changes in sensation or the need for further treatment.
Risk can be reduced by correct indication, an experienced surgeon, a high-quality surgical environment and following postoperative instructions. This is not a procedure to choose solely on the basis of the lowest price or the earliest available date.
Price of Deep Plane facelift and necklift
Deep Plane facelift
5 600 €
For descended cheeks, jowls and loss of jawline definition without a major need to treat the neck.
Deep Plane necklift
4 850 €
For a loose neck, double chin and loss of a clean transition between chin and neck.
Deep Plane facelift + necklift
10 000 €
For patients who need the face and neck treated as one unit.
The price is indicative. The exact amount is determined by the surgeon according to the extent of the procedure, the findings and the individual surgical plan.
Who performs the procedure at Formé Clinic?
Deep Plane facelift and necklift are among the most technically demanding procedures in aesthetic facial surgery. It is not enough to simply “know how to do a facelift”. The surgeon needs a detailed understanding of the deeper facial layers, retaining structures, the neck and how each tissue changes position with age.
Deep Plane facelift and necklift are Formé Clinic in Prague performed at Dr Martin Ouzký.
Plastic surgeon focusing on Deep Plane facelift, microsurgery and precise procedures aimed at a natural-looking result.
The surgeon's name is not the only thing that matters. With Deep Plane surgery, correct indication, a well-designed surgical plan, a safe clinical environment, anaesthesia and postoperative monitoring are all essential.
Related topics
Facial ageing is not defined by the name of one procedure. These pages can help you understand which solution may be appropriate for you.
›Before and after — examples of real transformations of Formé Clinic patients.
Frequently asked questions about Deep Plane facelift and necklift
Our answers about Deep Plane facelift and necklift are based on the experience of doctors at Formé Clinic who have long focused on facial and neck surgery – particularly Dr Martin Ouzký. The important thing is to understand whether your concern is mainly skin, volume or true descent of deeper tissues.
What is a Deep Plane facelift?
A Deep Plane facelift is an advanced facelift technique in which the surgeon works not only with the skin but with deeper facial layers. The aim is to lift descended tissues, restore jawline definition, improve the lower face and give the face back a firmer shape.
Is a Deep Plane facelift better than a classic facelift?
Not automatically for everyone. It is more complex and technically demanding, but the right choice depends on your anatomy and findings. For milder changes, a simpler technique may be sufficient. If the main issue is deeper descent of the cheeks, jawline and neck, Deep Plane may make more sense.
Why is Deep Plane more expensive than a SMAS facelift?
Because the operation is longer, deeper and technically more demanding. A Deep Plane facelift is not simply about tightening the skin. The surgeon works with deeper layers and structures that determine the shape of the face. That is why the extent, complexity and price differ.
Does Deep Plane treat jowls?
Yes. Jowls along the lower jaw are one of the typical reasons patients begin considering a facelift. It is still important to assess whether the problem is genuinely tissue descent or something else – for example fat, skin quality, or a combination of several factors.
Does a Deep Plane facelift also treat the neck?
A facelift mainly treats the face and lower face. If the neck is also loose, it is often combined with a necklift. For many patients this combination is logical because the face and neck age together.
Why are fillers not enough?
Fillers can restore volume. They cannot lift descended tissues back upwards. If more and more filler is used, the face can begin to look heavier or overfilled. At that point, the issue is often no longer adding volume but treating tissue descent.
Why are thread lifts not enough?
Threads may help with mild laxity, but they usually cannot correct more pronounced descent of the cheeks, jawline and neck in a lasting way. A Deep Plane facelift is a surgical solution for deeper and more significant changes in facial shape.
Will I look different after surgery?
The aim is not to change your face. The aim is to restore a firmer shape, clearer contours and a less tired appearance. A good result should not make you look like a “new person”. It should look natural.
Will the scars be visible?
The incisions are placed around the ears and within the hairline. When the scars heal well, they usually fade considerably and blend into the natural lines of the ear and hairline. After a well-healed facelift, they are generally inconspicuous in everyday life and often hard to spot even close up.
How long is the hospital stay?
For a Deep Plane facelift and necklift, we usually plan a 2-night stay at the clinic. It is a more extensive facial procedure, and we want to monitor the early postoperative phase carefully.
When will I feel comfortable being seen in public again?
Usually after around 2–3 weeks, depending on the extent of the procedure, swelling, bruising and individual healing. The final result, however, develops over several months.
How long does the result last?
A Deep Plane facelift does not stop ageing. It can, however, move the appearance of the face significantly backwards in time. Time continues, but after the procedure the face ages from a visibly better starting point.
Can a Deep Plane facelift be combined with eyelid surgery?
Yes, and this often makes sense. If the lower face is rejuvenated but the eyelids still look tired, the overall result can feel unbalanced. The surgeon decides on the combination according to your individual findings.
Are the self-checks reliable?
Not as a diagnosis. They are only an orientation tool and may help you see that the issue is not just the skin but possibly deeper tissue descent. The actual recommendation must come from a surgeon.
Who is Deep Plane not suitable for?
Patients whose main concerns are fine lines, skin quality, pigmentation or mild volume loss. It is also not suitable for someone expecting no recovery time, invisible scars or a completely new face.
Is Deep Plane facelift performed in Prague?
Yes. We perform Deep Plane facelift and necklift at Formé Clinic in Prague. The procedure is particularly suitable for patients with descended cheeks, jowls, loss of jawline definition and a loose neck. At Formé Clinic, these procedures are performed particularly by Dr Martin Ouzký.
Not sure whether it is already time for a facelift?
That is normal. Most patients do not decide on a Deep Plane facelift impulsively. They compare options, look for information and worry about an unnatural result. But the right question is not whether you are “old enough” for a facelift. The key question is: what has changed in your face – the skin, volume or tissue descent?
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Price of procedure
Deep plane facelift
5 600 €
Deep plane necklift
4 850 €
Deep plane face and necklift
10 000 €
The price is approximate and will be specified after a personal consultation with a doctor.
Procedure performs
Ing. Dr. Martin Ouzký, FEBOPRAS
Plastic surgeon
What you should know about a procedure
We pay maximum attention to the gentleness of all procedures and treatments. Your health is our highest priority.
We use the most modern devices and procedures to guarantee high-quality professional care from the best surgeons respected in our country as well as abroad
The price is approximate and may vary based on your specific needs and the scope of the procedure. It will be specified after a personal consultation with a doctor.
Price of procedure
Deep plane facelift
5 600 €
Deep plane necklift
4 850 €
Deep plane face and necklift
10 000 €
The price is approximate and will be specified after a personal consultation with a doctor.
What our clients say
One month ago I underwent a face surgery with Dr. Vašek. I already see a big difference. My
double chin is gone and my face is tightened. Scars are now pink, but really light. Thank you very
much and greetings to everyone in Formé.
We're still open. Formé clinic is a medical facility. The visit to the clinic and all procedures are in accordance with the current government measures COVID-19 valid in the Czech Republic. We will send you a confirmation letter of your doctor's visit for your smooth journey.
Do you have a question or do you want to arrange a consultation?
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