Deep Plane facelift and video-assisted facial surgery are often presented online as competing techniques. In practice, they usually address different regions and different anatomical problems. One may be used without the other, or they may be combined when the patient’s diagnosis supports it.
What each approach is designed to treat
| Approach | Primary regions | Typical concerns | Does not automatically treat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video-assisted surgery | Forehead, brow, temple and selected midface areas | Brow descent, upper-eyelid heaviness related to brow position, selected midface descent | Jowls, major lower-face laxity or neck anatomy |
| Deep Plane facelift | Lower face and selected midface tissues | Jowls, jawline loss and selected cheek descent | Brow position, eyelid conditions or every neck problem |
| Neck or Deep Neck procedure | Neck and submental region | Skin laxity, platysma bands or selected deeper fullness | Upper-face aging |
How video-assisted facial surgery works
An endoscope provides magnified visualization through limited scalp incisions. In Dr. June Favarin’s upper-face approach, access is commonly obtained through five scalp incisions—two temporal, one central and two paramedian—without removing skin at those access points. The brow and selected midface tissues can be released and fixed in a planned position.
Small scalp incisions do not make the operation risk-free. Swelling, numbness, hair changes around an incision, temporary pain while chewing, asymmetry and nerve weakness can occur. It is not simply a “scarless” or quick-recovery alternative to a facelift.
What Deep Plane facelift changes
Deep Plane facelift works through a deeper layer of the lower face, releasing selected retaining ligaments so the composite tissues can be repositioned with less reliance on skin tension. It can improve jowls, the jawline and selected midface descent. It does not inherently add volume, correct skin texture or treat every neck structure.
Deep Plane is not universally superior to SMAS or other facelift approaches. The safest and most effective plane depends on anatomy, previous surgery, tissue quality, the regions involved and the surgeon’s assessment.
Why the procedures may be combined
A patient may have brow descent, lower-eyelid changes, volume loss, jowls and neck laxity at the same time. Treating only one region can leave an imbalance. A combined plan might include video-assisted brow or midface surgery, Hybrid Blepharoplasty, facial fat grafting, lower-face lifting or neck treatment—but no component should be added automatically.
Previous injectables and recovery
Fillers, biostimulators, threads and permanent materials may affect swelling and tissue planes. A detailed history and, when indicated, dermatologic ultrasound help guide planning. Recovery depends more on the actual combination of procedures than on whether an operation is marketed as “minimally invasive.”
International patients should plan enough time in Criciúma for early monitoring. Belvivere coordinates surgery in a hospital environment and offers concierge support. Learn more about facial video surgery, Deep Plane facelift and realistic facelift recovery.
The correct question is not “Which technique is best?” but “Which regions and structures are responsible for this patient’s concerns?”
