Realistic Result of Scar from Facelift?

I'm a 54-year-old male who could use a facelift. However, I am afraid that the scars in front of the ears will become too obvious. I'm not a smoker and fair skinned. What is a realistic outcome for the scar in front of the ears?

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32 Doctor Answers | Asked by David Paul in Pomona, CA

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Excellent facelift scar in the hands of a good surgeon

The incision should be placed in little wrinkles in front of the ear for a male. The secret to having minimal to no scarring in the long run is in the technique of the surgery. When a good lift is done the deeper tissues are pulled tightly and skin just comes along with it. This way only the excess skin is excised and the incisions are closed with no tension at all, resulting in very thin lines. When the skin itself is pulled tight and sewn together, the risk of thicker, wider scars is... more

Facelift scar can be hidden in the ear canal and almost invisible with good healing

Careful surgical technique by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon should create very well healed scars that are not conspicuos. There is a specific technique for hiding the visible portion of the facelift scar inside the ear canal which can make the visible portion of the facelift scar almost invisible.

Facelift scars

For a male, it is critical to have inconspicuous scars especially in front of the ears. This requires excellent artistry on the part of the surgeon, a proper choice of placing the scar entirely in front o the ear or behind the tragus (the middle portion), absolutely no tension on the skin and with all tension placed on the deper layers of the tissue. Generally the "mini" procedures place more tension on the skin and are not as good for scars as are the proper full facelifts... more

Hiding the scars in a Facelift for Men

This is a great question, and one that comes up a lot in consultations. There are specific techniques that I use to hide facelift incisions in men and women. For men, the decision about incision placement is multifactorial, based on skin type, sideburn and facial hair preference/style, amount of hair loss or hairline recession, and the specifics of what needs to be lifted/corrected in the neck. Using meticulous closure techniques, postoperative care, and sun avoidance, the scars should be... more

Incisions for Males During Facelift Surgery

Scarring following facelift surgery varies from patient to patient and is dependent upon a multitude of variables. These include the type of facelift performed, the wound healing characteristics of the patient and the technical skill of the surgeon. The surgeon can influence several of these variables, but unfortunately has no control over the patients wound healing biology. For these reasons plastic surgeons make every effort to place scars where they are well hidden when... more

Facelift Scarring: Men vs Women

In my practice the only difference in scar placement between men and women is that in men the incision is placed in a natural crease just in front of the ear and closed without tension the scar should be barely perceptible where as in a woman it is placed within the ear (tragus area). The reason for this is so hair will not grow in a mans ear and makes shaving similar to before. In my experience this is not a problem and after the scar has matured it is not noticeable. more

Facelift and scar results

The skin in the face is relatively thin and well vascularized. This means that incisions in the face typically heal very well and an experienced surgeon can position the incision so that it is barely noticeable. The incision is usually concealed in the hairline. Techniques can be used to minimize hair loss. I typically use a retrotragal incision in order to conceal it even more. There are a few patient related conditions that increase the risk of scarring. These include patients with a... more

Todd C. Miller, MD

10 reviews

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.toddmillermd.com

Male facelift scars

If the incision is well-placed in the natural crease just in front of the ear and closed without tension the scar should be barely perceptible. When visiting a plastic surgeon for a consultation you should ask to see some pictures of male facelifts so that you can evaluate the scars for yourself. It is uncommon to have visible facelifts scars if the surgery is done by an experienced facelifts surgeon. Make sure that you are comfortable with the capabilities of your chosen surgeon and that... more

Scarring After Facelift

Most scars after facelifts are not an issue. They can be hidden in the pre and post auricular sulcus scar so that they are imperceptible in most cases. The scars are hidden around the earlobe and in front of and behind your ear. If you have eyelid surgery the scars will also be in the natural lines and creases of your eyelids. These will be minimally visible in most cases in 6-8 weeks. But wound healing depends on how you, as an individual, heal. As a board certified plastic surgeon, my goal... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

10 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Facelift Incisions

One of the biggest concerns for patients, in particular short haired patients or men, is the appearance of the facial scar. In men, I still perform a retrotragal incision (which is an incision behind the ear), as I find that the scar is much more difficult to see than a straight lined pretragal incision (incision in front of the ear). The keys in a male facelift are concealing the scar, avoiding hair loss, and achieving a robust change to the face and neck. Seek... more