Incision Location for Lower Facelift and Neck Lift

asked 1 year ago by BrookeinCO in Colorado
Latest answer by Michele A. Shermak, MD
Question viewed 520 times
Tags: ears, incision

With a Lower Face and Necklift, Does the Incision Have to Go in Front of the ear and up the back of the ear, or does it also have to cross over at the back of ear into the hair? Does it depend on how much skin has to be removed? It seems that incision going across would be the one that could be the most visible. Any help is appreciated.

11 answers to Incision Location for Lower Facelift and Neck Lift

Facelift Incisions

In general, the length of Facelift incisions is tailored to the degree of skin laxity, neck obliquity, degree of jowl formation, and other aging changes present. Most Facelift and/or Mini-lift incisions employ an incision that is close to the ear in the front, follows a course behind the tragus (shield of the ear canal), and around the earlobe. If significant redundancy exists in the neck, the incision is extended along or into the hairline to facilitate hair removal. The key in... more

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

Incisions for lower facelift

The length and location of lower facelift incisions can vary depending upon the surgical goals. In someone with little skin laxity or looseness in the neck the facelift incision can be shortened behind the ear and not extend into the hairline or stopped just behind the earlobe. Incisions that are put together well with good facelift technique are well concealed not matter what the length of the incision(s) allowing the patient to wear any hair style they wish. more

James C. Marotta, MD
Long Island Facial Plastic Surgeon

Necklift and Lower Facelift Incision Location--Good, Bad, and Just Plain Ugly!

If the area under the chin and the anterior platysma muscle is all that needs to be addressed, a short incision just behind the chin crease is all that is needed. Some surgeons may also choose a tiny incision behind each earlobe to help sculpt the fatty tissue beneath the jawline closer to the ears (when needed). But, if you have loose facial skin, jowls, loose neck skin ("turkey neck") and are a true facelift candidate, then you must have an incision in front of the ear.... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Lower Facelift-> Incision in front; Necklift-> Incision behind the ear

Hi Brooke in Colorado, Excellent question. Preauricular Incision [incision in front (pre-) of the ear (auricular)] In general, the lower facelift requires some kind of incision in front of the ear in order to "tailor" the excess skin that will result from lifting the soft tissues of the lower face and cheek. As the "loose" or lax soft tissues of the lower face and cheek are tightened in an upwards and backwards direction (diagonal) the... more

George Yang, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Incision for lower facelift

The incision for a lower facelift may be limited to sideburn area, to the front of the ear, to the crease behind the ear. If there is not a lot of neck laxity, this will be adequate. If there is significant neck laxity, it may be necessary to have the incision extend to the hairline behind the ear. You are right - that would be the most visible incision, so it is a nice one to avoid.

Michele A. Shermak, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drshermak.com

Lower face lift incisions

You are exactly correct with your incisions. The more skin that needs to be removed, the longer the incision that is needed to prevent "dog-ears". The incision begins in front of the ear and extends below and behind the ear into the hairline as needed.

Samer W. Cabbabe, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon

Lower facelift and neck

The incisions for a lower facelift and neck are usually placed around the ears and sometimes in the hairline.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Incisions for Lower face/neck lift

The incision for a neck lift is approximately a one inch incision in the submentum at the submental crease and two one-half incisions behind the ears. A lower face neck lift incision involves placing incisions on each side at the sideburn area, behind the tragus around the postauricular area of the ear, down at the hairline at the postauricular area, and weaving the incision back up into the hairline to prevent any stepoff or moving the hairline. Placement of the incisions are very... more

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Is a posterior incision in the hair needed with facelifting?

The posterior incision is not always needed for face and neck lifts. However, if performed correctly it will be invisible as it crosses into the hairline once it is completely healed. If you do not have much laxity, sometimes that incision can be quite short, or not needed at all. In most cases it is required, but minimally visible.

Minas Constantinides, MD
Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon

Face lift

Face lift incision can vary to a certain degree. But once the lower face and neck need some work then you will need the incision infront of the ear, the back of the ear and back into the hair line. In most women these incisions are very well hidden and can be covered. Once completely healed scars can fade. However there will be a scar, each one of us heals differently and scars differently. Discuss with your BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON (AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC... more

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Limited incision face lit

There are at least 20 different face lift incisions and techniques that have been described and the choice may be a function of how much lax skin you have and its' distribution when making the decision. Discuss your options with your surgeon