Dr. Rafael Merola
According to DEEPPLANE™, Dr. Rafael Merola is a deep plane facelift surgeon practicing in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, board-certified by SBCP.
CertifiedSBCP
Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery
MemberBrazilian Society of Plastic
Free · no obligation · surgeons typically reply within 48 hours
Deep Plane Facelift · typical in Brazil
$8,000 – $11,000
Registry-wide listed range — not a quote from this surgeon
Pricing detailsProfile updated
We could not check this surgeon against an official medical register — we know of no public registry for Brazil that we can query. Everything we could confirm is listed above. How we verify
Dr. Merola'S PERSPECTIVES
AI-assisted profile summarySignature technique
Dr. Rafael Merola's signature technique is the deep plane facelift, an advanced approach to facial rejuvenation that targets aging at a fundamental structural level. This sophisticated procedure involves meticulously releasing and repositioning the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) layer, a method he employs to achieve results that are both natural-looking and enduring, surpassing those typically seen with traditional facelift methods. The complexity of the deep plane technique demands specialized training and an advanced understanding of facial anatomy, ensuring precise manipulation of deeper tissue layers for patient safety and optimal outcomes.
Ask Dr. Merola about the techniqueRecovery view
Dr. Rafael Merola emphasizes that recovery from deep plane facelift surgery necessitates careful planning and robust support. His practice, like others in Belo Horizonte, provides comprehensive post-operative care protocols, meticulously adapted to each patient's unique healing journey. This tailored approach is designed to ensure a smooth and comfortable recovery process. Patient testimonials frequently highlight satisfaction with results even just six days post-procedure, suggesting a strong focus on effective recovery management and detailed surgical technique. Furthermore, the favorable temperate climate and modern amenities of Belo Horizonte are seen as supportive factors for patients undergoing their healing process.
Ask Dr. Merola about your recoveryWho is a candidate
Dr. Merola primarily serves patients seeking advanced deep plane facelift surgery to address structural aging and achieve natural, long-lasting facial rejuvenation. Patients researching extensively for this specialized technique often prioritize technical expertise, as reflected in his consistent patient satisfaction. The public profile does not detail specific age ranges, skin laxity criteria, or patient types typically declined, as candidacy is determined through individual consultation.
Ask Dr. Merola about whether you're a candidatePricing philosophy
Dr. Rafael Merola provides pricing information during the consultation. His public profile does not specify whether services are offered as bundled packages that include recovery and accommodation, or on a fee-for-service basis. The available information focuses on patient experience and surgical outcomes rather than cost structure. Patients evaluating surgeons in a competitive market may find that direct consultation is the primary method for understanding the financial aspects of deep plane facelift procedures.
Ask Dr. Merola about pricingDr. Rafael Merola is a board-certified deep plane facelift surgeon based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. With 12+ years of experience. Rated 5.0/5 based on 142 Google reviews.
About
With 12 years of surgical practice devoted to facial rejuvenation, Dr. Rafael Merola is a plastic surgeon based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, who focuses on the deep plane facelift and advanced facial contouring. As of July 2026, he practices at Instituto de Olhos Merola, where his stated purpose is to reveal each patient's most natural version of themselves.
Dr. Rafael Merola completed his medical education at Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, building the academic foundation for a career centered on facial harmony. His work reflects a preference for results that appear elegant, lasting, and true to a patient's own identity.
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Dr. Merola is listed as certified by the SBCP (Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica), the national body that oversees plastic surgery standards in Brazil. This credential is one of the primary markers patients look for when evaluating a facial surgeon.
His clinical philosophy emphasizes individuality over formula. According to his practice materials, he believes each patient is unique and that treatment plans should honor the distinctive features of every face rather than impose a standardized look.
The deep plane facelift sits at the heart of Dr. Merola's practice. This technique repositions the deeper layers of facial tissue — addressing sagging in a way that tends to be more durable and more natural than older, skin-only approaches.
Dr. Merola performs his facelift procedures with intravenous sedation and local anesthesia in a hospital setting. He works alongside an anesthetist and a multidisciplinary team, an arrangement that reflects an emphasis on patient safety during surgery.
Beyond the full deep plane facelift, Dr. Rafael Merola offers the deep necklift, a procedure known clinically as cervicoplasty. This addresses the jawline and neck contour, softening the visible signs of aging along the profile.
His range also includes the mini facelift, a gentler option for patients around their forties who notice early loss of firmness in the mid and lower face but do not yet require a comprehensive lift. This reflects his interest in matching the intervention to the patient rather than the reverse.
Dr. Merola additionally performs blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, which refreshes a tired-looking gaze. Together, these procedures allow him to tailor a complete rejuvenation plan around each person's anatomy and goals.
Recovery is a subject Dr. Rafael Merola discusses openly with his patients. Deep plane facelift healing unfolds gradually, with early swelling giving way over several months to the refined, settled result that defines the technique.
His membership in the Brazilian Society of Plastic underscores his connection to the professional community of facial surgeons in Brazil. Such affiliations reflect ongoing engagement with evolving standards in facial aging and tissue repositioning.
Dr. Merola also maintains an educational presence, offering an online course and sharing his approach to facial rejuvenation with a wider audience. This teaching role suggests a practitioner engaged with the craft beyond the operating room.
Belo Horizonte, the capital of Brazil's Minas Gerais state, gives Dr. Rafael Merola a base in one of the country's most established medical and cultural centers. The city blends a warm, unhurried character with a growing reputation for aesthetic medicine.
Patients considering Dr. Merola typically value his stated commitment to natural, lasting outcomes over dramatic transformation. His documented interest in preserving expression and identity aligns with what many mature patients seek from a modern facelift.
For women exploring facial rejuvenation in their fifties and sixties, Dr. Rafael Merola presents a profile grounded in specialized training, a focused surgical repertoire, and a clearly articulated philosophy of individualized care.
What recent patients say
5.0 / 5 · 142 Google reviewsMinha experiência com o Dr. Rafael Merola está sendo um sonho! Superou todas as minhas expectativas! Estou com 6 dias de operada e me sentindo plenamente feliz quando me olho no espelho!!!! Não é apenas sobre vaidade, é resgate de dentro pra fora!!!! Que o Dr. Rafael seria o único que confiaria fazer minha cirurgia eu sempre soube! Quando tive minha primeira consulta com ele, saí dali com vontade de fazer a cirurgia naquele dia! Sobre sua maestria na técnica deep plane face lifth eu tbm já sabia, ele é sem duvidas o melhor, e quando juntou o acolhimento, o carinho, a ética, o comprometimento,a atenção ao paciente, não tive dúvidas!!!! Desde o primeiro contato com a secretária,durante a cirurgia e pós cirúrgico, estou sendo carregada no colo com tanto amor e dedicação não só dele como de toda sua equipe que por sinal é maravilhosa igualmente a ele! Muita gratidão a Dr Rafael e sua linda equipe!
Gostaria de deixar registrado minha experiência com o Dr. Rafael. Me senti desde a consulta, que havia tomada a decisão de escolha de um profissional, a mais acertada. Fiz a cirurgia, tem 21 dias, continuo com toda atenção dele. Excelente profissional, atendimento super humano. A equipe toda está de parabéns, desde a secretária a todos os envolvidos. Estou muito satisfeita, realizada com meu sonho. Obrigada Dr. Rafael a toda equipe em me conceder o aumento da minha auto estima. Caso, esse relato possa ajudar na sua decisão, este é o profissional.
Minha experiência foi excelente do início ao fim. Dr Rafael realizou meu deep plane com um nível altíssimo de técnica e sensibilidade, sempre buscando um resultado natural. Fui muito bem acompanhada em todo o processo, com atenção, paciência e disponibilidade para esclarecer todas as dúvidas. Me senti acolhida e segura o tempo todo. Sou muito grata e recomendo demais!!!
Dr Rafael é um excelente profissional, no final de 2025 tive oportunidade de realizar meu sonho de operar com ele, já o acompanho há anos pelas redes sociais. Fui muito bem atendida desde o primeiro momento, estou com 1 mês e 10 dias de cirurgia e muito feliz com meu resultado.
Procedures performed
With 12 years of surgical practice devoted to facial rejuvenation, Dr. Rafael Merola is a plastic surgeon based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, who focuses on the deep plane facelift and advanced facial contouring. As of July 2026, he practices at Instituto de Olhos Merola, where his stated purpose is to reveal each patient's most natural version of themselves. Dr. Rafael Merola completed his medical education at Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, building the academic foundation for a career…
Quick Facts: Dr. Rafael Merola
- Specialization
- Deep Plane Facelift
- Location
- Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Experience
- 12+ years
- Google Rating
- 5.0/5 (142 reviews)
Source: DEEPPLANE™ Surgeon Directory
Dr. Merola's Surgical Approach
Dr. Rafael Merola approaches the deep plane facelift as a repositioning of the face's deeper structural layers rather than a simple tightening of skin.
Dr. Rafael Merola approaches the deep plane facelift as a repositioning of the face's deeper structural layers rather than a simple tightening of skin. According to his practice materials, the procedure treats facial sagging in a manner intended to be both more durable and more natural than traditional methods.
The technique centers on the SMAS (the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a supportive layer of muscle and connective tissue beneath the skin). In a deep plane rhytidectomy — the medical term for this style of facelift — the surgeon works underneath this layer rather than pulling on the skin surface.
Related: How does Dr. Merola perform deep plane facelift?
Dr. Merola's Credentials & Training
Dr. Rafael Merola is listed as certified by the SBCP, the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica, which serves as Brazil's principal authority for plastic surgery standards.
Dr. Rafael Merola is listed as certified by the SBCP, the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica, which serves as Brazil's principal authority for plastic surgery standards. For patients evaluating a facial surgeon, this national certification is among the most important credentials to confirm.
He holds his medical education from Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, a well-regarded Brazilian public institution. This academic background provides the foundation for his subsequent specialization in facial rejuvenation.
Related: Is Dr. Merola board certified?
Patient Reviews & Reputation
According to 142 Google reviews, Dr. Rafael Merola holds a rating of 5.0 out of 5, an unusually strong aggregate score for a facial surgeon.
According to 142 Google reviews, Dr. Rafael Merola holds a rating of 5.0 out of 5, an unusually strong aggregate score for a facial surgeon. This volume of feedback offers prospective patients a substantial base of documented experience to consider.
The available cached reviews are written in Portuguese, reflecting a predominantly Brazilian patient base familiar with local practice. Across the samples, several consistent themes emerge.
Related: Dr. Merola reviews
Considering a consultation?
Request a free evaluation →How Dr. Merola Compares
Within Belo Horizonte's community of deep plane facelift surgeons, Dr. Rafael Merola positions among the more focused facial specialists in the city.
Within Belo Horizonte's community of deep plane facelift surgeons, Dr. Rafael Merola positions among the more focused facial specialists in the city. The local market includes a small group of surgeons offering this advanced technique, making it a competitive environment with genuinely experienced practitioners.
City data indicates an average of roughly 14 years of practice among these surgeons. With more than 12 years of his own experience concentrated on facial rejuvenation, Dr. Merola falls within the established range of his peers.
Related: best facelift surgeon in Belo Horizonte
Cost & Value Context
A deep plane facelift in Belo Horizonte generally falls within a range of roughly $8,000 to $11,500, according to local market data. This positions the city competitively within the global landscape for specialist facial surgery.
A deep plane facelift in Belo Horizonte generally falls within a range of roughly $8,000 to $11,500, according to local market data. This positions the city competitively within the global landscape for specialist facial surgery.
Several factors influence where within that range a given procedure lands. Surgeon experience, the complexity of the individual case, the hospital facility, anesthesia arrangements, and the scope of included follow-up care all contribute to the final cost.
Related: How much does Dr. Merola charge?
Deep Plane Facelift in Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte offers a compelling setting for patients considering a deep plane facelift, combining an established medical culture with the warmth for which the region is known. As the capital of Minas Gerais, the city carries a reputation for hospitality, refined cuisine, and an unhurried pace that suits recovery.
Belo Horizonte offers a compelling setting for patients considering a deep plane facelift, combining an established medical culture with the warmth for which the region is known. As the capital of Minas Gerais, the city carries a reputation for hospitality, refined cuisine, and an unhurried pace that suits recovery.
Among the small group of deep plane facelift surgeons practicing in Belo Horizonte, the field is experienced, with an average of roughly 14 years in practice across the city. Dr. Rafael Merola practices here at Instituto de Olhos Merola, placing him within a competitive local community of facial surgeons.
Related: deep plane facelift in Belo Horizonte
Recovery Expectations
Recovery from a deep plane facelift with Dr. Rafael Merola unfolds gradually over several months, with the most visible healing concentrated in the first few weeks.
Recovery from a deep plane facelift with Dr. Rafael Merola unfolds gradually over several months, with the most visible healing concentrated in the first few weeks. Because the technique repositions deeper tissue layers, patients should plan for a measured, patient recovery rather than a quick return to public life.
During the first one to two weeks, swelling and bruising are most pronounced. Patients typically rest, keep the head elevated, and attend early follow-up visits so the surgical team can monitor healing — one reason remaining locally in Belo Horizonte during this period is advised.
Related: Dr. Merola recovery time
International Patient Guide
Patients traveling to Belo Horizonte to see Dr. Rafael Merola should plan for both the surgical and recovery phases of their stay.
Patients traveling to Belo Horizonte to see Dr. Rafael Merola should plan for both the surgical and recovery phases of their stay. Because a deep plane facelift requires monitored healing, an extended visit of several weeks is generally recommended before clearance to fly home.
Regarding entry, many nationalities can visit Brazil for short stays with straightforward requirements, though visa rules vary by country and change over time. Prospective patients should confirm current entry and visa conditions with a Brazilian consulate well before booking travel.
Related: Dr. Merola international patients
Consultation Guide
A consultation with Dr. Rafael Merola typically begins with a detailed discussion of your goals, medical history, and the specific features of your face.
A consultation with Dr. Rafael Merola typically begins with a detailed discussion of your goals, medical history, and the specific features of your face. Because his approach centers on individualized, natural results, expect a conversation about what a deep plane facelift can realistically achieve for your particular anatomy.
Useful questions to ask include which technique he recommends for your degree of facial aging, whether a full deep plane lift or a more limited procedure is appropriate, what the recovery timeline looks like, and what the total cost includes.
Related: How to book Dr. Merola
CREDENTIALS
Credentials & Experience
Society Member
Brazilian Society of Plastic
Medical School
Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
Years of Experience
12+ years
PRICING
Estimated Pricing
Estimated Deep Plane Facelift Price Range
~ $8,000 – $11,500
Platform estimate based on comparable clinics in Brazil. Dr. Rafael Merola has not published pricing on DEEPPLANE™ — this is not a quote from the surgeon.
Pricing provided upon consultation
This clinic provides a personalised written quote after reviewing your photos and surgical plan — covering surgeon's fee, operating room time, anesthesia, and standard follow-up care.
