Del Mar · 92014
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Balikian Facial Plastic Surgery
1431 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
Deep Plane Facelift in San Diego
Compare Deep Plane Facelift providers in San Diego across La Jolla, Carlsbad, Del Mar, and neighboring areas, with typical local pricing and public Google ratings for each one. See the range before you call.
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Deep Plane Facelift in San Diego typically starts at $30,000, with most procedures ranging to $54,000 all-in.
Top Deep Plane Facelift providers in San Diego
Vista · 92083
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Moradi MD Cosmetic Surgery
2023 W Vista Way STE F, Vista
La Jolla · 92037
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Malone Facial Plastic Surgery
4150 Regents Park Row UNIT 280, La Jolla, CA, 92037
Encinitas · 92024
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Verve Plastic Surgery
700 Garden View Ct Ste 208, Encinitas, CA 92024
San Diego · 92130
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Salvatore J Pacella, MD Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery
12395 El Camino Real Ste 112, San Diego, CA 92130
San Diego · 92122
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Restore SD Plastic Surgery: Katerina Gallus, MD, FACS
8899 University Center Ln UNIT 200, San Diego, CA, 92122
San Diego · 92121
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Robert Kearney, MD, FACS
4510 Executive Dr #103, San Diego, CA 92121
Coronado · 92118
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Jaibaji Plastic Surgery
1001 B Ave Suite 108, Coronado, CA, 92118
San Diego · 92101
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Avalon Liposuction San Diego
2445 Fifth Ave #220b, San Diego, CA 92101
This page lists 9 Deep Plane Facelift providers across Del Mar, Vista, La Jolla, Encinitas and nearby areas. All of them have public Google ratings shown above.
Pricing shown is estimated based on San Diego regional averages unless marked "Provider verified." Ratings and review counts are public Google ratings. Always confirm pricing directly with the provider.
What is a Deep Plane Facelift?
Beneath the skin and fat of the face sits the SMAS, a sheet of fibrous tissue connected to the muscles of facial expression. It is anchored to the bone by retaining ligaments. A standard SMAS facelift tightens that sheet and pulls it backward, leaving the ligaments attached. A deep plane facelift dissects underneath the sheet and releases the ligaments, so the skin, fat and SMAS move together as one connected unit and the cheek is repositioned upward rather than backward.Because the skin is not being pulled tight to create the lift, the result tends to look repositioned rather than stretched, and the correction reaches further into the midface and the folds beside the nose than a SMAS-only lift generally does. Both are full facelifts performed under general anesthesia through similar incisions. This is major surgery, not a step up from a non-surgical tightening treatment.
One thing worth knowing before you compare quotes: "deep plane" is not a regulated term. Practices advertise extended deep plane, modified deep plane, high SMAS and composite lifts under the same banner. Ask the surgeon to describe exactly what they release and where.
How much does a Deep Plane Facelift cost in San Diego?
A deep plane facelift in San Diego typically starts at $30,000, with most procedures ranging from $30,000 to $54,000 all-in. That figure covers the surgeon's fee, anesthesia and facility costs for the facelift itself.
Quotes vary more for this procedure than almost any other we track, and the biggest reason is what else is bundled in. Many surgeons quote a deep plane facelift with a neck lift, fat grafting or eyelid surgery included in one price. Ask what is and is not in the number before you compare two of them.
Deep plane facelift only
$25,000‑$37,500
With neck lift
A common combination
$30,000‑$45,000
Surgeon fee
$16,300‑$29,300
Anesthesia & facility
4 to 6 hours under general
$8,750‑$15,800
Total all‑in
What you actually pay
$25,000‑$45,000
Last updated August 2026. Estimates reflect San Diego regional averages and Get Clear Beauty provider data — read how we estimate prices.
What to ask your provider
- Are you board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery?
- How many deep plane facelifts do you perform in a year?
- Based on my anatomy, would a SMAS facelift give me a comparable result?
- What exactly does your quote include, and is a neck lift part of it?
- Which retaining ligaments do you release, and how far into the midface do you dissect?
- What is your hematoma rate, and what happens if I develop one overnight?
- Can I see before and after photos of patients with my facial structure, at least a year out?
- How long before I look presentable in public, and how long before I look normal to people who know me?
- What happens if I have facial weakness after surgery, and how long would you wait before acting on it?
- What is included if I need a revision, and what would I pay?
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a deep plane facelift and a regular facelift?
A standard SMAS facelift tightens the fibrous layer under the skin and pulls it backward, leaving the face's retaining ligaments attached. A deep plane facelift dissects beneath that layer and releases the ligaments, so the skin, fat and underlying tissue are repositioned together as one unit. Because the lift is held by the deep layer rather than the skin, it reaches further into the cheek and the folds beside the nose. Both are full facelifts performed under general anesthesia, and the right choice depends on your anatomy and your surgeon's assessment.
How much does a deep plane facelift cost in San Diego?
A deep plane facelift in San Diego typically starts at $30,000, with most procedures ranging from $30,000 to $54,000 all-in. That total covers the surgeon's fee, anesthesia and facility costs for the facelift itself. Quotes vary more for this procedure than almost any other, largely because many surgeons bundle a neck lift, fat grafting or eyelid surgery into a single price. Ask what is and is not included when you compare.
How long does a deep plane facelift last?
Most surgeons cite roughly ten years of improvement, though this varies with genetics, skin quality, sun exposure and smoking. Releasing the retaining ligaments repositions your tissue, but it does not stop aging, and your face continues to change afterward. There is no strong comparative evidence that a deep plane facelift lasts longer than a well-performed SMAS facelift, so treat any specific longevity guarantee with caution.
How long is recovery from a deep plane facelift?
Plan on two weeks off work at minimum and three weeks to feel comfortable. Swelling peaks around days three to five, bruising clears by day ten to fourteen, and most people return to desk work in that same window. You will look presentable in public at about two weeks and normal to people who know you well at about three to four weeks. Roughly 90% of swelling is gone by six weeks, and the final result settles over six to twelve months.
Is a deep plane facelift better than a SMAS facelift?
Not automatically. A systematic review of 47 studies covering 10,766 patients found comparable safety between the two and could not establish that either technique produces better results, and one masked randomized comparison found no superiority for deep plane in patients under 70. Deep plane does reach the midface more effectively and has a lower rate of skin healing problems. The strongest predictor of your result is the surgeon's experience with the technique they are recommending, not the name of the technique.
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