There are many types of faceless, each representing a certain variation of how the deeper tissue planes below the skin are manipulated. Even though a plastic surgeon may perform a certain type of facelift, such as deep plane facelift, extended SMAS, etc., he or she performs it in their own idiosyncratic way that may differ from it's strict description that was originally printed in a textbook or scientific paper. Should you feel the need for further clarification go back to your original surgeon and ask them to explain it to you.

It's difficult to explain what your surgeon means by these terms. The best option is to go back and discuss this further. For additional information, you can go to -

http://drkulick.com/procedures_vfl.php

You'll find a description of various techniques which may be helpful for you.

Dear Wendy, Deep plane was defined as dissection below the SMAS. There are defined strategies as Deep layer or composite layer facelifts which lift essentially a very thick flap. Many surgeons do skin lifts and address the SMAS with suture lifts. Some also dissect a second layer of deep plane, under the SMAS. Usually this is called two layer, multilaminar, duel layer, etc. This requires the most experience and allows the most flexability. Most American Facelift Experts use some form of this facelift. Henry Mentz

There is so much confusion, even amongst the surgical community, about definitions for the various techniques employed for facelifting procedures. In general, a deep plane facelift means lifting very little (3-5 cm) skin flap and then elevating beneath the thick connective tissue (SMAS) to reposition the tissues. By modified, he may mean he lifts a longer skin flap, doing less elevation in the subSMAS plane or some combination of these. Technically therefore, their is no "standard definition" of a "modified deep plane facelift". All these answers are speculating what your surgeon was telling you and you should clarify this question with your surgeon.

Deep plane face lift means lifting the skin and the deep muscles of the face in one layer. There are some doctors who are still doing the deep face lift but, this operation has some nerve injury danger if not done by experts

A deep plane facelift involves surgically lifting the face by cutting deep to one of the muscle layers of the face. This is done by loosening this muscle layer over a relatively large part of the face and then suturing the layer to create tightening and lift.
It differs from techniques that pull only on the skin or which suture the muscle layer without cutting deep to the muscle.
There is no standard "modified" deep plane facelift, so it would be best to ask your surgeon what he/she means when he/she says "modified."
It is normal and routine for a good plastic surgeon to modify a technique to best suit the unique needs of an individual patient.