Published Jun 24, 2026
5 minute read
Many of us show advanced signs of facial aging after age 40. It is only a matter of time before coarse wrinkles and sagging take the place of firm, youthful skin.
If your face has a jowly appearance, slack cheeks, or deeply etched wrinkles, it may be time to consider a facelift. Yet not all facelifts are equal. The method your surgeon prefers can affect how natural your results look and how long your results last.
Dr. Melanie Malone has found that her Deep Plane Facelift produces the most lasting and aesthetically pleasing results. Drawing on her specialized training in facial surgery, she offers her patients facelift results that look extremely natural and hold up beautifully over time.
Dr. Malone believes facial surgery should make you appear fresh and youthful, like you had a restful night of sleep. Her patients want a subtle refresher and results that look natural, soft, and balanced.
With her Deep Plane Facelift Facial Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Malone corrects signs of aging such as sagging jowls, a double chin, wrinkles, and loss of firmness from cheek to jawline without making it evident that you had surgery to look your best.
While older facelift techniques produced an excessively tight, windblown look, the deep plane facelift only lifts the muscle while leaving the skin attached so your face will appear firm, smooth, lifted, and never too tight. It also releases areas where the SMAS is tethered down. In doing so, it virtually eliminates the need for dermal fillers, which often accompany a standard facelift.
The SMAS facelift is an older surgical method that treats the skin and underlying soft tissues separately. The Deep Plane Facelift lifts and tightens the muscle and skin together as one unit for a more harmonious result. Instead of tightening the facial tissues horizontally, the deep plane method lifts vertically, thus avoiding the tight, pulled look most patients want to prevent. Many surgeons prefer the newer deep plane technique over the traditional SMAS facelift because it produces a more long-lasting and harmonious outcome.
Key benefits of the deep plane facelift:
Consider a Deep Plane Facelift with Dr. Malone if you:
Dr. Malone will let you know if her Deep Plane Facelift procedure is right for you. If you are not a candidate, she can tell you about alternatives that will achieve similarly age-defying results. In addition to facelifts, she also offers skincare, eye lifts, neck lifts, nano fat injections, and more to help you remain naturally ageless for years to come.
Dual Board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Melanie Malone, MD, FACS, is considered an authority on facial rejuvenation surgery. As a premier facelift surgeon, she believes your face deserves special attention as it is subject to signs of aging that others notice at a glance. In seconds, your face hints at your age, health, and mood.
Addressing facial aging concerns through plastic surgery is a complex undertaking. It takes a highly skilled surgeon to adjust the skin, fascia, and musculature so your facelift results look seamless and natural.
Given the complexity of the surgery, Dr. Malone has made the career-altering decision to focus exclusively on facial rejuvenation at her La Jolla practice. Her patients travel from across the world seeking her expertise.
As a dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Malone has a reputation for stellar aesthetic outcomes. She is a nationally recognized facial reconstructive surgeon with an elite level of training. In fact, she trained firsthand with Dr. Andrew Jacono, the inventor of the extended deep plane facelift.
She is also a diplomate of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, an honorable distinction bestowed on only a small subset of the finest surgeons.
Dr. Malone credits her mentor, acclaimed facelift surgeon, Dr. Andrew Jacono
Dr. Malone completed her fellowship training with none other than famed facial plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Jacono. He made groundbreaking contributions to the field of facial rejuvenation when he introduced his research-backed Deep Plane Facelift technique.
Dr. Jacono is consistently ranked one of America’s top facial plastic surgeons by Super Doctors, Harper’s Bazaar, Castle Connolly, and Consumers Research Council. From television appearances on Good Morning America, CNN, and CNBC to interviews in Oprah Magazine, Town & Country, and USA Today, he has long been regarded as a master of his craft.
To this day, Dr. Malone continues collaborating with Dr. Jacono authoring research papers. She brings his deep plane facelift to the West Coast.
If you are considering a facelift, speak with one of the most sought-after facial surgery experts in the United States. By choosing Dr. Malone as your facelift surgeon, you can rest assured you will receive world-class care and aesthetic outcome. Call her office at to book your private consultation for a deep plane facelift today.
