McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Date posted — 12.05.25
Facelift procedures have seen a significant rise in popularity in recent years, thanks to growing awareness, advances in surgical techniques, and increasing demand for subtle, rejuvenating results. The most pivotal change has been the re-popularisation of the deep plane facelift, which has now reached consensus among surgeons as the gold standard method of performing a facelift. However, it is a more complex procedure, and most of us would prefer a quicker, easier fix, such as a mini facelift.
If you’re considering a facelift but are unsure about which treatment will deliver the best results for your needs, you’re not alone. At McKeown Medical, we understand that choosing the right facelift can feel overwhelming. In this article, we’ll break down the differences between a mini facelift and a deep plane facelift, highlight the pros and cons of each, and help guide you toward the best option for your aesthetic goals.
A deep plane facelift is an advanced surgical technique that repositions the deeper layers of facial tissue, not just the skin. This method allows for a more natural, longer-lasting result by lifting the cheeks, jawline, and neck in one comprehensive movement. Unlike traditional facelifts that are performed more superficially, a deep plane facelift avoids the “pulled” look by going deeper into the face and releasing the retaining ligaments to allow the face to be truly repositioned, rather than just stretched around the sides.
A full facelift is essentially a combination of procedures that address different aspects of facial ageing. In addition to the deep plane facelift, a full facelift will usually also include eyelid surgery (or blepharoplasty), brow lift, or lip lift surgery. This is designed to produce the most comprehensive rejuvenation of the entire face and neck.
Benefits:
Recovery:
Patients typically require two to three weeks of downtime, with swelling and bruising gradually subsiding. The full results continue to refine over several months.
A mini facelift is a less invasive version of the traditional facelift. With the mini facelift, there is much less dissection, and the lifting effect relies on placing tension in the tissues around the sides of the face.
Benefits:
Recovery:
Most patients can return to work and social activities within a week or two. However, the improvement is typically more modest and may not address deeper structural issues or neck laxity.
While a mini facelift may seem appealing due to its lower cost and shorter recovery, the lifting effect tends to be short-lived, and because the technique relies on tension being placed on the tissues, it is more likely to look pulled or stretched than the more complex deep plane technique, which focuses on releasing and repositioning the deep tissues of the face.
For patients who desire meaningful, long-term improvement, a mini facelift may not offer the scope needed to achieve their goals.
The ideal facelift technique will depend on the degree of facial ageing, your aesthetic goals, and your individual facial anatomy.
Our team can assess your facial structure and recommend the most suitable treatment plan, whether that’s surgical or non-surgical.
Choosing the right facelift procedure can be life-changing, not just in terms of appearance but also in confidence. At McKeown Medical, our highly qualified and experienced team will work closely with you to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment tailored to your needs.
With years of expertise and a commitment to natural-looking results, we’re here to help you look and feel your best. Check out our before-and-after gallery to see real patient transformations after their facelift treatment journey.
Ready to find out which facelift is right for you?
At McKeown Medical, we can help get you the results you are looking for. Book a consultation today to discuss our available treatment options and get advice on how to move forward to get the look you want.
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We’ve shown you lots of side profiles from the Quantum Lift, but what does it look like from the front?
This lovely patient is just four weeks after her procedure, and I think the front view really shows how much we can change while still keeping the face looking soft and natural.
As part of her Quantum Lift, we removed unwanted fat from beneath the chin and around the jowls. Rather than simply discarding that fat, we used some of it to restore volume to her chin and jawline, helping to replace some of the volume she had lost over time and bring back a little of the youthful softness to the lower face.
You’ll also notice a small amount of lumpiness beneath the chin. At four weeks, this is very common after liposuction in this area and is part of the healing process. She’s now using firmer massage to help soften this over the coming weeks, and we would expect the result to continue settling and refining.
Most importantly, she’s absolutely over the moon with the change, and we are too!
What do you think of the front view?
Once again, the combination treatment wins the day!
This patient came to us hating her neck and jowls, but she would not consider anything invasive. Treating the neck is always a challenge especially with non-invasive treatments only.
For this patient we first of all reduced the fat under the chin using CoolSculpting, then we did some hyaluronic acid under the mandible to define the jaw and finally we did some Sofwave to tighten the skin.
The patient is over the moon with her results. What do you think?
There is no single "best" facial rejuvenation treatment - only the treatment that`s right for the individual patient.
For patients with more advanced facial ageing, significant jowls and loose skin of the neck, a deep plane facelift remains the gold standard. In the right hands, it can achieve results that more significant than what we can do with less invasive treatments.
This is one of our recent patients following deep plane face and neck lift surgery, performed by the incredibly talented @bramhallplasticsurgery. It`s always a privilege to work alongside Russell and see the exceptional results he consistently achieves.
One of the things I`m most proud of at McKeown Medical is that we`re a genuinely multidisciplinary team. We don`t believe every patient needs fillers. We don`t believe every patient needs surgery either. We offer injectables, lasers, minimally invasive procedures like the Quantum Lift, and facelift surgery because different patients, at different stages of the ageing process, need different solutions.
Our job isn`t to sell you a procedure - its to help you choose the right one.
If you want to have a conversation about which option is right for you, you can send us some pics by PM.
#DeepPlaneFacelift #Facelift #NeckLift #FacialRejuvenation #PlasticSurgery #AestheticMedicine #NaturalResults #McKeownMedical #Glasgow #PlasticSurgeon
I genuinely think the Quantum Lift is changing what is possible for patients who want to improve their jawline and neck, but do not want to undergo facelift surgery.
I have used earlier generations of skin-tightening technology and, honestly, I was often underwhelmed by the results. This is different.
By combining precise power-assisted liposuction, targeted treatment of the neck muscle where needed, and QuantumRF skin tightening, we can address the three things that most commonly age the lower face and neck: muscle, fat and skin.
This patient is shown just 24 hours after treatment. There is still swelling to settle, but the early change in her jawline and neck contour is already clear.
I have also included clips from the procedure for anyone who likes seeing the technical side of what we do.
Would you consider a minimally invasive alternative to facelift surgery for your jawline or neck, or would you rather go straight to surgery?
And this is why we LOVE combination treatments in the clinic!
Different parts of the face age in different ways. And even different layers of the same part sometimes age differently, which is why we often need to combine treatments to achieve the best overall effect for each patient.
This lovely patient first underwent some laser resurfacing to her eyelid area to take away the lines and wrinkles and tighten the skin. Then we used some HA to blend the contour below the eye and cheek. Finally, we addressed the lower part of the face and neck with some Sofwave to tighten the skin and Sculptra to give her more connective tissue support.
She is over the moon with her improvement. What do you think?
The biggest mistake I see after weight loss? People choose a treatment before understanding what`s actually causing their loose skin.
Not all "loose skin" is the same, which is why the right treatment for one person can be completely wrong for another.
If you`ve lost weight and aren`t sure which option is right for you, the first step isn`t choosing a device. It`s getting the right diagnosis.
Looking for some advice? Send us a DM to get started.
The Quantum Lift!
We introduced this new technique only a few weeks ago and, well, it’s going even better than expected. This is one of our patients before and immediately after. I always warn my patients that I cannot give them a surgical facelift result with a procedure that doesn’t involve cutting but honestly, in this case, I think we got pretty close to a facelift result and closer than I was expecting.
First we remove some fat from under the chin and jawline before the quantum goes in to tighten the skin. I have included a picture of the neck after the we had removed fat from both sides, but only applied the quantum to her right side. You can see how much difference there is when I try to pinch the skin. In the non-treated skin I skin still pinch an inch (or two) but on the treated side there is very little to pinch, because the tissues have shrunk down so much.
The patient tolerated the procedure very well under simple local anaesthetic without sedation and we had a nice chat throughout. Afterwards she had a cup of tea and then went home with her husband half an hour later.
I have been very excited about The Quantum Lift for a while, but I’m only getting more excited the more I do. I really believe this is a massive step towards an effective way to rejuvenate the lower face and neck whilst avoiding traditional facelift scars.
Everyone knows we do lots of sophisticated facial work in the clinic. But did you know we also now do a lot of breast work too?
This is one of our patients who wanted breast augmentation. She specifically wanted more upper pole fullness so Kavita selected a 325cc high profile implant from Mentor, but placed them under the muscle to give a more natural take off. Mentor are considered the gold standard for breast implant quality and we only use their implants in the clinic.
The patient is just a few weeks post-op, so there is still a little bit of settling to go but she is already delighted with the shape and size. The key to breast surgery is listening to the patients concerns and then tailoring the procedure to get them the result they want - which is something the very fabulous Miss Kavita excels at.
What do you think?
The SMAS Facelift is back at McKeown Medical!�
Patients tell us all the time that they want to get rid of their jowls and facial sagging, but are hesitant about a lengthy surgical procedure or taking several weeks away from work and social commitments. The SMAS Facelift is an excellent alternative for patients who want meaningful improvement without the bigger commitment. �
It`s a technique that lifts and repositions the deeper tissues of the face while removing excess skin. Until Deep Plane became more popular in the last 10 years, SMAS was the gold standard. Compared with Deep Plane, it takes about 3 hours instead of 6-8, can be done under local anaesthetic, has a shorter recovery, and lower risk of nerve injury. For many patients with moderate facial ageing, it produces excellent, long-lasting results at £12,000, all performed by the phenomenal @bramhallplasticsurgery.�
This is one of our patients who had a SMAS Facelift with eyelid surgery five years ago. She`s maintained her results with HA fillers, like many of our surgical patients do, but otherwise her results are still going strong. That`s what SMAS can give you.
Every face ages differently and every patient has different circumstances. Some need the extensive correction of Deep Plane, especially if they have a heavy neck. Others are better suited to SMAS, particularly if you want a less invasive option with quicker recovery.
The right choice depends on your anatomy, your concerns, and your lifestyle. If you’d like to know more about the SMAS facelift, drop your questions in the comments or send us a DM!