The Science Behind Dr. Andrew Jacono’s Facelift Innovation

Facial aging is a structural problem. Fat pads that once supported the cheeks descend. Ligaments that held tissue in youthful positions lengthen. Skin follows these deeper changes, folding and sagging in predictable patterns. For most of cosmetic surgery’s history, the surgical answer addressed skin rather than structure. Dr. Andrew Jacono‘s extended deep-plane facelift changed that calculus.

Operating Below the Surface

The SMAS, or superficial musculoaponeurotic system, connects facial muscles to overlying skin. Traditional facelifts tighten this layer from the outside. Dr. Jacono works beneath it, entering the deep plane and releasing the retaining ligaments that anchor soft tissue to the underlying bone. Once freed, the midface, jawline, and neck structures can be repositioned vertically, restoring the geometric relationships of youth. Skin is then redraped without tension over a rebuilt foundation.

The mechanical difference produces a measurable clinical difference. Dr. Andrew Jacono’s published outcomes from over 153 patients showed a 3.9% revision rate and roughly 1.9% hematoma rate, both below field averages. Facial nerve injury, often cited as the principal risk of deep dissection, occurred in only 1.3% of cases on a temporary basis. Research supports this finding: deep-plane work preserves the nerve’s anatomical relationships better than superficial approaches, where blind tissue manipulation poses greater risk.

Built for the Long Term

Results from the extended deep-plane technique last 12 to 15 years, a durability advantage that stems from addressing structural causes rather than surface symptoms. Dr. Jacono performs roughly 250 procedures per year, a volume that allows for ongoing technical refinement. His 2021 textbook documents insights gathered from more than 2,000 procedures, making the technique’s accumulated knowledge available to the surgical community. The work drew international attention through master classes and conference lectures where Dr. Jacono trains surgeons in the method. Refer to this article for related information.

Watch for more information about Dr. Andrew Jacono on https://www.youtube.com/c/drandrewjacono