Will I have visible scars from a facelift?

Scars after a facelift are always visible but typically not noticed. The scars are generally inconspicuous and fairly well hidden. But even under the best of conditions with ideal scars, if a person were examined closely the scars can always be found. This is one reason why hair stylists can always tell if their client has had a facelift. They know where to look for the scars and will find them if they are present. Fortunately, most people are not going to examine you as closely and diligently as your hair stylists and therefore these scars are not usually noticed.
I hope this help you understand the surgery just a little better. Good luck and enjoy your procedure.

Its unclear and unpredictable. If you develop bad scars, there are solutions. Keloid management must follow a protocol approach. Our office uses a
combination of Vbeam laser, Kenalog IIT, scar modulation, scar serum
therapy, and enucleation. 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Thank you for your question. In most healthy people without a history of healing irregularities, the surgical scars resulting from a well-performed facelift are rarely an issue. Incisions are designed to result in scars that are concealed within natural curvatures in around the ear and at or within the hairline. Most patients consider those scars to be acceptable with makeup within 1-2 weeks. Scars mature naturally over months. Once mature, most scars are imperceptible in normal social interactions, although not invisible upon closer scrutiny. Ultimately, the vast majority of patients consider the results of the facelift and appearance of facial rejuvenation to be a very acceptable trade-off for typically inconspicuous scars.

Thank you for your question. While scars will always be present, much
can be done to make them as subtle as possible. Facelift incisions can be
managed using a multimodal approach:
1) Scar massage - starting as soon as the surgical dressings come off and the incisions are sealed
2) Silicone sheets or scar gels for about six months to year
3) Fractionated lasers to help blend the scar into the background -
done as a series, starting about 4 weeks after surgery and repeated
every four weeks for six months.
4) Sunscreen to prevent the scars from darkeningYour incisions
should be very subtle based on the placement of the incisions, but may
need a full 6 months to 1 year or more to fade.

The scars from a facelift are in front of and behind the ears. They all fade nicely and are barely visible after one year post op.

Anytime a surgical incision is made, scarring is an inevitable consequence. Plastic surgeons use meticulous surgical techniques and attempt to place incisions where they will be well-hidden, but even these maneuvers don't always make them disappear.
Facelift incisions are placed in front of the ear, behind the ear, underneath the chin, and in areas of hair growth. These areas are chosen because scars are minimally visible in these locations. Furthermore, hair growth, make-up, and jewelry can also help to make scars less noticeable in these locations.
Wound-healing is also important and varies from patient to patient. Patients with lighter skin coloration tend to have less noticeable scar formation than patients with darker skin tone. This genetic variation accounts for many of the differences we see in how wounds heal.
Wound healing goes on for a year following facelift surgery and during this period, gradual improvements can be expected. Scars will tend to flatten and lose their redness as time passes.
It's important to remember that scarring occurs in all facelifts. Scar revision may be necessary in rare cases if scarring is noticeable. In most facelifts, scarring is minimal and patients report high satisfaction rates.