Deep Plane Facelift in Dubai – The Ultimate Anti-Ageing Technique

A deep plane facelift releases the deep facial retaining ligaments and lifts muscle, fat pads and skin together as one unit, instead of pulling the skin tight. It suits moderate to advanced ageing of the midface, jawline and neck, typically lasts 10 to 15 years, and most patients return to light social activities after 7 to 10 days.

For patients searching in Dubai, the operation is performed by Dr. Paulo Michels, a Brazilian board-certified plastic surgeon awarded the ISAPS Gold Medal for Best Body Contouring at the World Plastic Surgery Olympiads 2025, at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi. There is no Dubai clinic; consultation, surgery and follow-up all take place in Abu Dhabi.

What is a deep plane facelift, and how is it different?

Beneath the skin lies the SMAS (superficial musculo-aponeurotic system), a structural layer of facial muscle and fascia. A traditional SMAS facelift tightens that layer and the skin without releasing the deep ligaments that tether the face.

The deep plane facelift goes beneath the SMAS and releases the retaining ligaments — specifically the zygomatic and masseteric ligaments. Once they are freed, the midface, jawline and neck can be lifted as a single structure, and the skin is closed without tension.

That difference shows in three places:

• Appearance — the face is repositioned rather than stretched, so expression is preserved and the “windblown” look is avoided.
• Longevity — typically 10 to 15 years, against around 5 to 7 for a traditional facelift.
• Scars — with no tension on the skin, the incisions are less likely to widen over time.

The comparison is covered in more depth in deep plane vs SMAS facelift.

Who is it suited to — and when is a smaller lift enough?

The deep plane facelift suits moderate to advanced facial ageing, usually after 45, although age is not a strict limit. The typical concerns are:

• loss of jawline definition and significant neck laxity;
• deep nasolabial folds and a descended midface;
• hollow cheeks and loss of youthful contour;
• marionette lines running down towards the chin.

Because the fat and muscle of the cheeks are lifted upwards, nasolabial folds and marionette lines soften without the skin being pulled tight.

Which lift you need is decided by what has descended, not by your age. When the midface, jawline and neck have dropped together, the deep plane facelift treats them as one structure. When the changes are earlier and more limited, a mini facelift or a neck lift may be the proportionate answer.

Can it help after weight-loss medication or years of fillers?

Two specific situations are worth knowing about.

Facial deflation after GLP-1 medication (“Ozempic face”). Rapid weight loss can leave hollow cheeks and deep folds that skin-pulling cannot fix. Here the deep plane lift is combined with autologous fat grafting — transferring your own fat — to rebuild the lost volume.

Filler fatigue and failed thread lifts. Patients who have relied heavily on hyaluronic-acid fillers or PDO threads can develop distorted contours, a “pillow face” appearance and internal scar tissue. The deep plane facelift repositions the facial structures anatomically, which removes the need to keep adding these temporary fixes.

How is the operation performed?

• Duration — 3 to 5 hours, depending on complexity, at Elyzee Hospital.
• Anaesthesia — general anaesthesia is available, but twilight (conscious) sedation with local anaesthetics is frequently used, which reduces cardiovascular strain and post-operative nausea.
• Nerve protection — continuous real-time facial nerve monitoring is used throughout the operation, because the deep plane dissection travels close to the facial nerves.
• Incisions — around the ear and inside the hairline, following natural skin folds and the direction of hair growth.

The jawline, neck and midface are treated in a single operation. It is frequently combined with a deep neck lift, blepharoplasty, otoplasty or autologous fat grafting.

What does preparation involve?

Before surgery there is a full medical work-up: blood tests, an anaesthesiology evaluation and a detailed facial examination.

Two rules are strict. Smoking, vaping and shisha must stop completely 4 to 6 weeks before surgery, because nicotine constricts blood vessels and can lead to serious tissue complications during deep-tissue healing. Alcohol is avoided for 14 days beforehand.

For melanin-rich skin (Fitzpatrick types IV to VI), which is prone to hyperpigmentation and keloid scarring, the protocol includes pre-operative tyrosinase inhibitors such as hydroquinone and post-operative Pico Laser treatment.

What does recovery look like?

Patients either go home the same day or stay overnight for 24-hour observation. Drainless, no-wrap techniques are used, so there are no heavy head bandages after the first 24 hours.

• Days 1 to 7 — complete rest, prescribed medication and cold compresses; mild swelling and bruising are normal.
• Days 7 to 10 — most patients feel comfortable returning to work and light social activities.
• Weeks 4 to 6 — strenuous exercise and normal sun exposure resume.
• Months 2 to 6 — residual swelling reduces noticeably and the contours refine.
• Around 1 year — the final, settled result is evident.

Younger patients usually heal faster, with swelling and bruising settling sooner. Older patients need more time, because skin elasticity and blood flow lessen with age, so the care plan is adjusted to age.

For recovery in the summer heat, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is available to support healing. Patients who wear a hijab or niqab receive guidance on breathable silk or fine cotton fabrics that avoid friction on fresh incisions.

How long do the results last?

Typically 10 to 15 years. The deeper layers are repositioned rather than tightened, so the structure of the lift holds. Ageing continues from that point; the operation does not stop it.

What determines the cost?

A deep plane facelift costs more than a standard facelift, reflecting the technique and the longer operating time. The final figure depends on:

• the extent of the lift and the operating time;
• any complementary procedures in the same surgical plan, such as fat grafting or eyelid surgery;
• the hospital and dedicated anaesthesia services.

It is quoted after the consultation, once the plan is known.

How do I choose a facelift surgeon?

Ask which technique the surgeon actually performs, and why it suits your anatomy. Check board certification and society membership. Ask where the operation is performed, who administers the anaesthesia and how the facial nerves are protected during surgery.

Finally, ask for the trade-offs — scars, recovery time, what the operation cannot fix — to be explained as plainly as the benefits. Dr. Paulo Michels is board certified by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP) and a member of ISAPS, ASPS and EPSS.

Patients from Dubai

Many deep plane facelift patients come from Dubai. All consultations and surgery take place at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Where possible, the consultation, pre-operative tests, anaesthesia review and surgical date are arranged to minimise separate journeys, and follow-up reviews are scheduled together. The first days after surgery are spent in Abu Dhabi under clinical monitoring. More on how patients from Dubai are seen.

In Dr. Paulo Michels’ practice

Dr. Paulo Michels chooses the deep plane facelift when the midface, jawline and neck have descended together, and says so when they have not: for earlier, more limited changes he recommends a mini facelift or a neck lift instead of the larger operation. For patients whose faces have deflated after GLP-1 weight-loss medication, he combines the deep plane lift with autologous fat grafting rather than relying on the lift alone.

He frequently operates under twilight sedation with local anaesthetics, with general anaesthesia available, and uses continuous real-time facial nerve monitoring throughout. He does not proceed unless smoking, vaping and shisha have stopped completely for 4 to 6 weeks, and alcohol for 14 days.

His protocols are adapted to patients in the UAE: tyrosinase inhibitors before surgery and Pico Laser afterwards for melanin-rich skin, drainless and no-wrap techniques for the summer heat, and care plans adjusted to the patient’s age and healing speed.

The questions patients commonly bring are whether the result will look windblown or artificial, how recovery works in the Gulf summer, and whether a hijab can be worn while the incisions heal.

Frequently asked questions

Who should I see for a deep plane facelift in Dubai?

Look for a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs deep plane dissection routinely, plans the operation around your individual facial anatomy, and can show a track record of natural-looking results. Dr. Paulo Michels meets that standard and operates exclusively at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where consultation and surgery both take place.

Where can I get a deep plane facelift near Dubai?

Dr. Paulo Michels performs the deep plane facelift exclusively at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi; he does not operate from a Dubai clinic. Patients from Dubai routinely travel to Abu Dhabi for their consultation, the surgery itself and their follow-up appointments, which are grouped where possible to minimise separate journeys.

What is the difference between a deep plane facelift and a traditional facelift?

A deep plane facelift repositions the facial muscles, fat and skin together, while a traditional facelift tightens the skin and superficial layer without releasing the deep facial ligaments. Because the lift comes from the deeper layers, the result follows the natural contour of the face rather than pulling it tight, and it holds for considerably longer.

How long do deep plane facelift results last?

Deep plane facelift results typically last 10 to 15 years, compared with around 5 to 7 years for a traditional facelift. The durability comes from repositioning the deeper support structures rather than tightening the skin alone. Ageing itself continues.

Who is a good candidate for a deep plane facelift?

Good candidates have moderate to advanced facial ageing — loss of jawline definition, neck laxity, deep nasolabial folds or a descended midface — want natural rather than overdone results, and are in good general health. Most are over 45, though age is not a strict limit. When the changes are earlier and more limited, a mini facelift or a neck lift may be the proportionate answer.

Is a deep plane facelift painful, and what is recovery like?

Mild swelling and bruising are normal in the first week, managed with prescribed medication and cold compresses. Most patients return to work and light social activities after 7 to 10 days, strenuous exercise and normal sun exposure resume at 4 to 6 weeks, and the final, settled result is evident at around one year.

Can a deep plane facelift look natural?

Yes. The technique lifts the deeper tissues instead of stretching the skin, so the face is repositioned rather than pulled. That preserves natural facial expressions while restoring the relationship between the cheeks, jawline and neck, avoiding the tight or windblown appearance associated with skin-only facelifts.