SA surgeon breaks down the deep plane facelift surge

Kris Jenner's “new face” has everyone talking — and it’s widely speculated to be the result of a deep plane facelift, a procedure now dubbed the gold standard in facial rejuvenation.

- STAFF REPORTER

Let’s not even get into how Khanyi Mbau's face broke the internet. The demand for natural-looking, sophisticated facial transformations has reached an all-time high, both globally and here in South Africa.

A global weight loss boom, fuelled by miracle diabetes drugs, has led to an unexpected side effect: the ‘O weight loss face, marked by hollowed cheeks, sagging jowls, and prematurely aged skin. In turn, this phenomenon has sparked a significant rise in demand for advanced facial rejuvenation, and particularly the deep plane facelift - what experts term ‘the facelift that lifts where it matters most.

“One of the most common complaints I hear from patients is: ‘I finally have the body I wanted, but my face looks 10 years older,” says Professor Chrysis Sofianos, one of South Africa’s leading plastic surgeons and experts in deep plane facelifts.

The Gauteng-based specialist notes that he has seen a meteoric increase in consultations from patients seeking to reverse the facial deflation and laxity caused by rapid weight loss.

“This is just one instance where the deep plane facelift truly shines, as it restores natural facial harmony by lifting and repositioning deep tissues, not just tightening the skin. By addressing the deeper structural changes caused by significant weight loss, this approach delivers far more natural outcomes and a timeless look.

What sets the deep plane facelift apart? Unlike traditional facelifts that only address the skin’s surface, the deep plane technique lifts beneath the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) layer of tissue to reposition and support the foundational structures of the face.