A deep plane facelift takes one operating day. Healing from it runs on a longer clock, counted first in days, then in weeks, then in months, and patients who see that clock in advance can plan their work, their social calendar and their help at home around it.
The practice of Leo Lapuerta, MD, FACS, a triple board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 30 years in practice, publishes a stage-by-stage recovery outline for deep plane facelift surgery in the Houston area. The practice frames it without spin: recovery is real, and it is manageable when patients prepare well. The account below follows that outline.
The extra depth, and its cost
A deep plane facelift works beneath the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the support layer under the skin known as the SMAS. The surgeon releases the deeper tissue, lifts descended fat pads and lower-face tissue into a better position, then redrapes the skin and trims the excess with restraint. The lift relies on repositioned support instead of skin tension.
That extra depth carries a cost the practice states in its own comparison of options: compared with lighter lifts, the deep plane approach means more involved surgery and a more involved recovery. The operation is usually performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical setting. Dr. Lapuerta owns and operates a QuadA accredited facility and works with physician anesthesiologists, not nurse anesthetists or anesthesia assistants. Like any surgery, it carries risks that belong in the consultation.
Days one to three
The opening days bring tightness, swelling, bruising and rest. Temporary numbness is common. The practice describes the sensation for most patients as more tightness and soreness than sharp pain.
Preparation pays off here. The practice asks patients to arrange for a friend or family member to drive them home and stay with them after surgery. It also recommends a recovery area set up for sleeping with the head elevated, prescriptions filled ahead of time, and a stock of soft foods, water and cold compresses.
- Sleep with your head elevated.
- Use cold compresses as directed to reduce swelling.
- Follow the incision care instructions to the letter.
- Avoid bending, lifting and strenuous activity until cleared.
The first two weeks
The first week is the most limiting in social terms. Bruising and swelling are at their most noticeable during the first one to two weeks, and the practice notes that most patients prefer to skip events, meetings and dinners during that stretch.
Walking starts early. Heavy lifting, vigorous exercise and motions that increase facial pressure have to wait. By the second week, many patients feel more comfortable being seen in selected settings. Makeup can help later, though the practice advises patients to plan public visibility with honesty about how they will look.
Weeks three to six
In this window the facial contours begin to look more refined. The practice describes this stage as better definition and less obvious postoperative change. Once the major swelling starts to resolve, the jawline often looks cleaner and the lower face less heavy.
Moderate exercise returns on Dr. Lapuerta’s timeline. The practice’s aftercare guidance asks patients to wait until he says it is safe, and to keep the incisions out of the sun.
Months two through six, and after
Tissues continue to settle and soften between the second and sixth months. The practice describes months two and three as the point where the result looks more stable and polished, and month six onward as a period of ongoing softening, scar maturation and final settling. The cheeks, neck and folds keep refining over that span.
The scars sit around the ears and along the hairline. Early on they may look pink or firm, and over time most soften and fade. Incision care, sun protection and patience all influence how they mature.
The result is long-lasting, according to the practice, though the face keeps aging. Skin quality, sun exposure, weight stability, facial anatomy and the strength of the underlying tissues all shape how long the improvement holds. The last item in that aftercare guidance is the plainest: attend every follow-up visit.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Results vary from patient to patient. Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon or your physician about your own situation. Written in partnership with Joseph Lambert, a publicist working with Leo Lapuerta, MD Plastic Surgery.
