Demystifying the deep plane facelift technique with anatomical dissection in fresh cadavers

Introduction: Anatomy studies on cadavers have allowed a better understanding of the structures of the face and, consequently, greater safety when exploring the deep planes of the facial region. A good technique must be safe, reproducible, and respect anatomical points. The objective of this work is to demystify the deep plane facelifting technique through the dissection of cadavers and exposure of facial structures. Method: The reproduction of the “deep plane facelifting” technique was performed on 14 hemifaces of 7 pieces of fresh cadavers at the Instituto de Treinamento de Cadáver (Cadaver Training Institute) in Curitiba in 2021. The surgical technique was performed according to our clinical practice and reproduced on the cadaver. After the procedure, the facial anatomical structures were dissected to correlate their positioning with the anatomical spaces of the face. The positioning of the facial ligaments, vascularization, and branches of the facial nerve were evaluated. Results: The anatomical spaces relevant to the deep plane facelifting technique were identified, such as the inferior and superior masseteric spaces, prezygomatic space, buccal space, and cervical space. The facial nerve branches were identified in the sub-SMAS plane and correlated with the anatomical spaces and planes. Conclusion: The deep plane facelift technique can be reproduced safely as long as two parameters are respected. The first is the correct entry into spaces to respect the anatomy. The second is the use of blunt detachers for dissection in the deep planes of the face to avoid nerve damage to the branches of the facial nerve.