Can "bad skin elasticity" cause poor cosmetic surgery results?

I had a face lift and neck lift 7 years ago that did not turn out well either. My neck is lumpy. I have extra skin below my left ear. I had to have revision surgery because the skin on my right ear lobe was pulled down. My surgeon's response was that I have bad skin elasticity. It wasn't his fault. Do some people really have bad skin?

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8 answers to “Can "bad skin elasticity" cause poor...”

A: Skin Quality and Post-op Results

Steven H. Williams, MD

There can be different issues with "skin quality" and the effect on post-op results. The first is any tendecy towards scar problems.  This would include patients that tend to heal with keloids or hypertrophic scars.   Interestingly, patients that are older tend to have finer scars than... more

A: Is there such a thing as "bad skin"?

George J. Beraka, MD

There is no question that some patients' skin heals better than others, and produces less noticeable scars. Almost everyone heals very well in the face. There is greater variation in how noticeable a scar from cosmetic surgery will be on the breast or in the abdomen... more

A: Skin quality does affect the result a person receives

Richard P. Rand, MD

There are many issues with the skin that can make one patient's result from a facelift less optimal than they would like. Basically it comes down to elasticity in the skin. The better yours is, the better the result will be and the longer it will last. Factors that affect elasticity are your genetic... more

A: No such thing as "bad" skin

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

It is important to perform the procedure that fits the anatomy and the expectations, not the other way around. Too often a "standard" procedure is performed without customizing it ,or modifying it or the patient's expectations, to accompany the anatomical realities. Skin quality is variable for sure,... more

A: Sometimes the painting is only as good as the canvas!

Manish H. Shah, MD

When you evaluate the results of facial rejuvenation, there are technical (the surgeon) and physiologic (the patient) issues that need to be optimal to get the best, longest lasting results. Surgeons who perform facelifting surgery frequently are more likely to get reproducible results. There are many ways... more

A: There are multiple factors that contribute to the final...

Shahram Salemy, MD

There are multiple factors that contribute to the final result after facial rejuvenation surgery, and the quality of the patient's skin is indeed one of them. Other factors include age, smoking history, overall medical health, type of procedure chosen (there are multiple ways to rejuvenate the face, include... more

A: Skin quality can have an effect on results

Edgar Franklin Fincher, MD, PhD

Elasticity of the skin is an important predictor for outcomes.  The thinner and less elastic the skin, the less it is able to contract and tighten in response to various laser procedures and the less it supports in response to surgical lifting procedures. In general, younger skin has more elasticity... more

A: Without examining a patient, it is difficult to tell you...

Steven Wallach, MD

Without examining a patient, it is difficult to tell you this. In general skin quality can affect the results.  As one ages, the elasticity properties of the skin weaken.  This certainly can affect the long term results.   Other factors that can impact the quality of the tissues are... more

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