If you are researching the best deep plane facelift surgeons in Australia, you will quickly find a short list of names. Australia has a small number of FRACS-certified specialists with genuine deep plane expertise. This guide covers who they are, what their procedures cost, and where an Australian patient can make a well-informed comparison with the alternative: having the same surgery in South Korea.
What to Look for in the Best Deep Plane Facelift Surgeons in Australia
Before looking at specific names, it helps to know which factors actually matter for this procedure specifically, not facelift surgery in general.
- FRACS certification in plastic and reconstructive surgery. In Australia, this is the relevant qualification. FRACS (Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) with a specific specialty in plastic surgery indicates completed specialist training. Not all surgeons advertising facelifts hold this credential.
- Deep plane case volume specifically. A surgeon who performs 80 facelifts a year but only 5 of them are deep plane is a different proposition to one for whom it is the primary technique. Ask specifically how many deep plane procedures they perform annually.
- What technique they actually use. Terms like "deep plane," "high SMAS," "extended SMAS," and "preservation facelift" are related but distinct. Some surgeons use these terms interchangeably in marketing while describing different technical approaches. Ask your surgeon to explain specifically what plane they dissect in and whether the zygomatic and masseteric ligaments are released.
- Waiting list reality. The best Australian deep plane surgeons typically have 6 to 12 month waiting lists for consultations, with surgery further beyond that. Factor this into your planning.
Australia's Top Deep Plane Facelift Specialists
The following are the best deep plane facelift surgeons in Australia based on published credentials, publicly available patient reviews, and verifiable surgical focus, based on published credentials, publicly available patient reviews, and verifiable surgical focus.
Dr Scott J Turner
Sydney (Bondi Junction and Manly) | FRACS Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Dr Turner is one of Australia's most publicly recognised deep plane facelift specialists, with a practice focused exclusively on facial surgery. The deep plane facelift is described on his website as one of the most commonly performed techniques at his practice. He holds FRACS certification and consults across Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, and Newcastle. His all-inclusive deep plane facelift with neck lift is priced at approximately $45,000 AUD, covering surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia, and all post-operative appointments. He also offers a "Vertical Restore Facelift" incorporating deep plane techniques with brow work, blepharoplasty, midface lifting, and fat grafting as a single procedure. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 71 Google reviews.
Dr George Marcells
Sydney | Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dr Marcells is cited as the first surgeon in Australia to offer deep plane facelifts. With over 20 years of surgical experience, deep plane facelift and neck lift are described as his most commonly performed procedures. He is also a master trainer to surgeons internationally in facelift techniques. Patient reviews on RealSelf describe natural results with faster than expected recovery times.
Dr Jack Zoumaras
Sydney (Edgecliff) | FRACS Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Dr Zoumaras trained in deep plane facelift techniques in New York, including with internationally recognised facelift surgeon Dr Andrew Jacono. He has presented alongside Dr Jacono on facelift techniques at international conferences. His practice describes the deep plane facelift as a procedure he performs exclusively for patients seeking this technique.
Dr Jason Roth
Sydney | Specialist Otolaryngologist and Head and Neck Surgeon
Dr Roth uses the deep plane facelift as his primary facelift technique. His background is in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery rather than general plastic surgery, a training pathway that produces surgeons with deep anatomical familiarity in the facial region. This is a recognised pathway for facelift specialisation, distinct from FRACS plastic surgery certification.
Dr Michael Kernohan
Sydney (Southwest Sydney and Surry Hills) | FRACS Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Dr Kernohan is a specialist plastic surgeon with a particular focus on deep plane facelift and facial surgery in Sydney. He has a strong online presence including public educational content on the deep plane technique on YouTube, which reflects a genuine focus on patient education around this procedure.
Dr Chris Moss
Melbourne | Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dr Moss is one of Australia's most experienced facial plastic surgeons, with over 20 years of practice. Facelifts and rhinoplasty comprise the majority of his work, and he is well-regarded internationally for his approach to natural-looking results. He is based in Melbourne.
Dr Howard Webster
Melbourne | Senior Plastic Surgeon
Dr Webster holds the record for the most five-star reviews on RealSelf among Australian surgeons. A senior plastic surgeon with decades of experience, he combines deep plane techniques with a considered approach to facial ageing. He is based in Melbourne.
Dr Lee (Elite Plastic Surgery, Seoul): revision deep plane facelift, neck lift, endotine forehead lift, brow lift, SMILE lower blepharoplasty and upper cheek lift. 13 days post-op.
What Does a Deep Plane Facelift Cost in Australia?
Based on publicly available pricing from Australian specialists, costs break down broadly as follows.
| City | Typical Cost Range (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $30,000 to $50,000 | All-inclusive quotes available from some practices; others itemise separately |
| Melbourne | $30,000 to $45,000 | Range reflects surgeon experience and facility costs |
| Brisbane | $28,000 to $42,000 | Lower facility costs than Sydney in some cases |
| Complex or combined (all cities) | $45,000 to $70,000+ | When neck lift, blepharoplasty, or fat grafting are included |
Dr Scott J Turner's all-inclusive deep plane facelift with neck lift is priced at approximately $45,000 AUD. This covers surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia, and all follow-up appointments, which makes it a useful benchmark for a truly all-inclusive Australian quote.
A note on comparing quotes: always ask whether the figure is all-inclusive or whether hospital, anaesthesia, and aftercare are billed separately. Two quotes of $35,000 can represent very different total costs depending on what is inside them. For a full breakdown of how to read Australian facelift quotes, see our guide to deep plane facelift cost: Australia vs South Korea.
How Australia's Best Deep Plane Facelift Surgeons Compare to South Korea
This is the comparison most patients doing serious research eventually arrive at. It is worth being straightforward about what the data shows.
Qualifications
Australian FRACS-certified plastic surgeons hold equivalent or comparable qualifications to Korean surgeons certified by the KSRPS (Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery). Both require a medical degree followed by at least 6 years of specialist surgical training. The certification pathways are different but the standard is comparable. Neither country has a monopoly on well-trained surgeons.
Deep plane-specific volume
This is where the comparison becomes more specific. Dr Lee Youngjin at Elite Plastic Surgery in Seoul has performed over 6,000 deep plane facelifts. Dr Kim Sung-Sik at JK Plastic Surgery performs approximately 300 facial lifting procedures per year, with 2 to 3 deep plane facelifts every week. Australian surgeons with a genuine focus on the deep plane technique are excellent practitioners. But in terms of the number of deep plane procedures performed specifically, the case volumes in Seoul's Gangnam district do not have a direct equivalent in Australia.
This is not a criticism of Australian surgeons. It reflects the size of the market. Australia has approximately 27 million people. South Korea has 52 million, and Seoul's aesthetic surgery district attracts patients from across Asia and beyond. The volume that comes with that market produces a different type of procedural experience.
Cost: the full picture
A deep plane facelift with neck lift from an Australian specialist typically costs $45,000 to $70,000 AUD. Through Glamjet in South Korea, the same procedure runs $18,000 to $35,000 AUD with aftercare, translation service, and recovery therapies included.
But the more meaningful comparison involves what patients actually need, not just a single procedure. Most patients Glamjet works with arrive having been quoted $70,000 to $140,000 or more in Australia to have upper blepharoplasty and brow work, lower blepharoplasty, facelift, and neck lift done together. In South Korea, surgeons approach the face and neck as a complete canvas: forehead, brow, upper and lower eyelids, cheeks, jawline, and neck addressed as a single surgical plan. A full face and neck package including hotel and flights with Glamjet runs $35,000 to $70,000 AUD depending on which surgeon and Patient Advocacy Service tier you choose.
Korean surgeons also work closely with in-house dermatologists to offer supporting treatments during the same visit: stem cell therapy, PDRN injections, fat grafting, and ultra-clear laser to improve skin quality alongside the surgical result. Some Glamjet patients have added Re20 skin boosters for the neck and fat grafting to the hands to complete the rejuvenation. These combinations are not standard in Australian practice and are rarely available through a single provider at this cost.
Waiting time
The best Australian deep plane surgeons have 6 to 12 month waiting lists for a consultation, with surgery scheduled well beyond that. Glamjet clients typically wait around 3 months from initial enquiry to procedure.
| Factor | Australia (Top Specialists) | South Korea via Glamjet |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon qualification | FRACS Specialist Plastic Surgery | KSRPS Board Certification |
| Deep plane case volume | High relative to Australia | Among the highest in the world |
| Cost (with neck lift) | $45,000 to $70,000 | $18,000 to $35,000 |
| Wait time | 6 to 12+ months | Around 3 months |
| Aftercare included | Basic follow-up (6 weeks) | Tiered recovery packages; patient chooses level of support |
| Travel required | None | 10 to 11 hours, 10 to 14 day stay |
How to Choose: Key Questions to Ask Any Surgeon
Whether you are seeing one of the best deep plane facelift surgeons in Australia or a Korean specialist through Glamjet, these are the questions worth asking before you book.
- How many deep plane facelifts specifically do you perform each year?
- Do you release the zygomatic and masseteric retaining ligaments as part of the procedure?
- What is your approach to the anterior neck and platysma: is a neck lift included or a separate procedure?
- Is the quoted price all-inclusive, or are hospital, anaesthesia, and aftercare additional?
- Can I see a range of before-and-after results for patients at a similar stage of facial ageing to mine?
- What is your complication rate for this specific procedure?
Glamjet's Recommended Surgeons in South Korea
For patients who decide that South Korea is the right choice, Glamjet's partner surgeons have been vetted specifically for deep plane facelift experience and volume. Online consultations are available with Glamjet's partner hospitals in South Korea and Vietnam for Glamjet clients before travelling.
- Dr Lee Youngjin, Elite Plastic Surgery: over 20,000 facial lifting procedures with 6,000 specifically deep plane. Glamjet's most recommended surgeon for this procedure.
- Dr Kim Sung-Sik, JK Plastic Surgery: over 26 years of experience, approximately 300 facial lifting procedures per year with 2 to 3 deep plane facelifts weekly. JK Plastic Surgery holds KAHF accreditation for three consecutive terms.
- Dr Ryu Min Hee, RNWood Plastic Surgery: double board-certified in South Korea and the United States, over 200 facelifts per year.
- Dr Hyeong Jun Kim, Nana Plastic Surgery: 22 years of practice, member of the KSRPS.
- Dr Kyunghyun Do, Sinsang Plastic Surgery: 7 years of dedicated facelift surgery experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best deep plane facelift surgeons in Australia?
Among the most publicly recognised specialists are Dr Scott J Turner (Sydney, FRACS), Dr George Marcells (Sydney), Dr Jack Zoumaras (Sydney, FRACS), Dr Jason Roth (Sydney), Dr Michael Kernohan (Sydney, FRACS), Dr Chris Moss (Melbourne), and Dr Howard Webster (Melbourne). All have a documented focus on facelift surgery and publicly available patient results.
How much does a deep plane facelift cost in Australia?
From $30,000 to $70,000 AUD depending on the surgeon, city, and what is included. Dr Scott J Turner's all-inclusive deep plane facelift with neck lift is approximately $45,000. Always confirm whether the quoted figure includes hospital, anaesthesia, and post-operative follow-up appointments.
Are Australian deep plane facelift surgeons as good as South Korean surgeons?
In terms of training and qualifications, yes, they are comparable. The meaningful difference is case volume. South Korean specialists working in Seoul's Gangnam district perform significantly more deep plane procedures annually than their Australian counterparts. Whether that volume difference matters for your decision is worth considering carefully.
How do I choose between having surgery in Australia or South Korea?
The main factors are cost, waiting time, case volume, and what you need done. A full facial rejuvenation in Australia can exceed $140,000. The same scope of work through Glamjet in South Korea, including hotel and flights, runs $35,000 to $70,000. South Korea also offers closer collaboration with dermatologists for skin-quality treatments during the same visit. For a detailed comparison, see our guide to the best country for a deep plane facelift.
What accreditation should I look for in a facelift surgeon?
In Australia, FRACS with a specialty in plastic and reconstructive surgery is the relevant credential. Membership of ASAPS (Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) is an additional indicator of commitment to ongoing training in aesthetic surgery. In South Korea, KSRPS (Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) board certification is the equivalent. For hospitals in South Korea, KAHF accreditation indicates the facility has been evaluated specifically for serving international patients.
Find Out Which Option Suits You
A free quote with Glamjet gives you personalised surgeon recommendations matched to your goals, a cost breakdown for your specific procedure, and honest guidance on whether South Korea makes sense for your situation. You will receive:
- Matched surgeon profiles with documented deep plane facelift case volumes
- A personalised cost breakdown
- An honest comparison of your options
- Details on financing including weekly payment plans and superannuation access
References
Turner, S.J. (2026). Facelift Cost Sydney 2026. drturner.com.au. https://drturner.com.au/blogs/what-is-the-cost-of-facelift-surgery-in-sydney-2026/
Turner, S.J. (2026). Deep Plane Facelift Sydney. drturner.com.au. https://drturner.com.au/procedures/face/deep-plane-facelift/
Zoumaras, J. (2025). Deep Plane Facelift Sydney. artisteplasticsurgery.com.au. https://www.artisteplasticsurgery.com.au/procedure/deep-plane-facelift/
Roth, J. (2018). Deep Plane Facelift Sydney. drjasonroth.com.au. https://drjasonroth.com.au/face-neck-procedures/deep-plane-facelift/
Korea Health Industry Development Institute. (2024). KAHF. Visit Korea Medical Tourism. https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/thingsToDo/medicalKorea/medical_view_enjoy.do?vcontsId=137726