DeepFrame Facelift™ in Santa Barbara
A proprietary deep plane facelift technique that works beneath the surface to restore natural contours; designed by Dr. Adam Lowenstein for results that feel balanced, not altered.
Schedule A consultation with Dr. Lowenstein
What is the DeepFrame Facelift™?
The DeepFrame Facelift™ is a refined surgical approach created by Dr. Adam Lowenstein, developed through years of deep plane facial surgery and anatomical precision. While based on the principles of a traditional deep plane facelift, the DeepFrame technique goes further, addressing multiple layers of facial structure in multiple directions, with the goal of restoring the face’s natural architecture.
Rather than simply lifting in one direction, DeepFrame takes a multi-vector approach, repositioning tissues vertically, laterally, and diagonally depending on where gravity has shifted volume over time. Each layer, from the skin to the SMAS, deep cheek fat, and platysma is treated based on its unique role in your facial structure.
The result? A face that looks refreshed, not frozen. Balanced, not distorted. And, most importantly, still like you.
Am I a Good Candidate for the DeepFrame Facelift™?
This procedure may be a good fit if you’ve started to notice sagging around the cheeks or jawline, deeper folds around the mouth, or a softening of the neckline. It’s often chosen by patients who are looking for a long-term result, but who want to avoid looking like they’ve “had work done.”
The best candidates tend to be in good health and understand that while surgery can make significant improvements, it can’t stop the natural aging process entirely. The DeepFrame Facelift™ may also appeal to patients who’ve previously had fillers or other temporary treatments and want a more lasting, structural solution.
What We Can Address with the DeepFrame Facelift™:
Descended cheek volume or flattened midface
Deep nasolabial creases (“smile lines”)
Jowling or softening along the jawline
Sagging or banding in the neck
Loss of facial structure from tissue descent, not just skin laxity
Types or Techniques or Different Areas of Use
What makes DeepFrame different is how it treats the face as a structural framework, not just a canvas. Dr. Lowenstein targets different layers of tissue, repositioning them in ways that reflect how the face has aged. For example:
Deep Plane Dissection: Beneath the muscle and nerve layer, the tissue over the cheekbone is carefully lifted to restore fullness to the midface without fillers or fat grafting.
SMAS Tailoring: This fibrous layer is adjusted based on your face shape. A narrow face may need SMAS folding for volume, while a fuller face might benefit from trimming to avoid a rounded look.
Platysma Management: The neck muscle may be divided, retracted, or reshaped based on where bands or fullness have developed.
Multi-Directional Vectors: Lifting happens not just up, but out and across depending on where each region of the face needs support.
What to Expect Through Your DeepFrame Facelift™ Procedure
Surgery is performed at Dr. Lowenstein’s private surgical facility in Montecito, where patients benefit from a discreet, high-standard setting. The procedure typically takes several hours under general anesthesia
Small incisions are made around the ears and sometimes under the chin. From there, each layer of tissue is addressed individually, starting with the deep plane beneath the cheek and moving outward to the SMAS and platysma. Once the foundation is restored, the skin is gently redraped without pulling, avoiding the tight or stretched look that can happen when too much tension is placed at the surface.
Because Dr. Lowenstein customizes the approach to your facial structure, the surgery is not templated or rushed. Every step is designed to maximize both safety and aesthetics.
Results and Recovery Process
Downtime varies, but most patients take 10 to 14 days before returning to normal social activities. Swelling and bruising are expected but usually resolve within the first few weeks. Discomfort is typically manageable and tends to improve quickly with rest, cool compresses, and medication as needed.
What stands out about the DeepFrame Facelift™ is how the results develop. Early on, patients often notice their face looks more upright, rested, or familiar, but not “different.” As swelling fades, the shape becomes clearer, and the results settle into something that feels like a more youthful version of yourself.
Because the deeper tissues are repositioned, not just tightened, the outcome tends to last longer than surface-level techniques. While no facelift is permanent, many patients enjoy their results for a decade or more.
Why Choose Dr. Lowenstein for Your DeepFrame Facelift™?
Dr. Lowenstein didn’t just adopt the deep plane approach, he evolved it. With over 25 years of facial surgery experience, he designed the DeepFrame technique to improve on what other facelifts lacked: control, balance, and long-term structure.
His method avoids fat grafting and fillers, choosing instead to return your natural tissue to where it once was. That means fewer surprises, fewer complications, and results that reflect who you are, not someone else’s idea of youth.
Patients come to him for a reason: because they want something more sophisticated than a standard lift, but they still want to look like themselves.
How Much Does the DeepFrame Facelift™ Cost?
The price of a DeepFrame Facelift™ depends on your anatomy, goals, and whether other procedures, such as eyelid surgery, are performed at the same time. In general, you can expect a range between $25,000 and $45,000.
A full quote will be provided after your in-person consultation and surgical evaluation.
Insurance Coverage for the DeepFrame Facelift™
As with other cosmetic surgeries, the DeepFrame Facelift™ is considered elective and is not covered by insurance. Our team can discuss financing options during your visit if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the DeepFrame Facelift™ different from other deep plane facelifts?
While the deep plane facelift generally targets tissue beneath the SMAS, the DeepFrame Facelift™ builds on this by integrating a multi-directional lift, customized SMAS manipulation, and specific techniques for restoring cheek volume, neck definition, and facial harmony. It also avoids shortcuts like fat grafting, which can produce unpredictable results over time. Instead, Dr. Lowenstein repositions your own facial tissue back to where it naturally belonged, before gravity and age shifted it.
Is the DeepFrame Facelift™ more invasive than a traditional facelift?
It’s more comprehensive, but not necessarily more invasive in terms of recovery. The technique works at a deeper anatomical level, but Dr. Lowenstein’s dissection methods are designed to minimize trauma. Many patients find that the recovery is comparable (or even easier) than what they expected based on past experiences or stories they’ve heard from others.
Does this procedure address the neck?
Yes. One of the strengths of the DeepFrame technique is how it treats the face and neck as a connected unit. The platysma muscle, which runs along the front and sides of the neck, is repositioned or reconstructed when needed. This allows for better neck definition and smoother contouring beneath the jawline.
How does this compare to fillers or fat grafting?
Fillers and fat grafting can add volume, but they don’t restore structure. They often treat symptoms of aging, not the cause. Over time, added volume in the wrong places can distort natural facial proportions. The DeepFrame Facelift™ avoids these issues by working with your own tissue. It repositions (not inflates) the areas that have descended with age. That’s why results often appear more authentic and age gracefully.
Is fat grafting used during this procedure?
No. Dr. Lowenstein believes in restoring your own tissue to its natural position rather than adding volume through grafting. This reduces long-term unpredictability.
How long does it take to heal?
Most patients feel socially presentable within 2 weeks. Full healing can take several months, though discomfort tends to resolve in the first couple of weeks.
Is facial nerve damage a risk?
All facial surgery carries some degree of risk, but the DeepFrame technique was designed with safety in mind. Dr. Lowenstein’s dissection method works below the nerve layer in the midface, helping to avoid injury while still achieving structural improvement.
Schedule a consultation
If you’re looking for a facelift that does more than tighten skin - one that restores your natural shape with careful, deep-layer correction, the DeepFrame Facelift™ might be worth exploring.
Dr. Lowenstein welcomes patients from across the country to his Santa Barbara practice. During your consultation, you’ll get a personalized assessment, have a chance to review real patient results, and learn whether this approach is right for you.
Call us at 805-969-9004 to schedule your consultation.
