Facelift Q&A
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Horizontal Incision Along Hairline Behind Ear
asked 1 year ago by NHaven in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 674 times
Tags: ears, incision, SMAS
In a few days I am scheduled for a facelift revision. My surgeon did a SMAS but did not undermine the neck and jowls so the facelift failed. This time he wants to add a horizontal incision behind my ear along the hairline. He said this time he would undermine my jowls and neck and redo the SMAS facelift and start over. What is this extra incision sight about? This time I want to ask questions and be more informed.
24 answers to Horizontal Incision Along Hairline Behind Ear
+1
If a patient has excess neck skin they need to have that incision.
The only way to remove excess skin of the neck while doing a facelift is to make an incision around the back of the ear and down the hAirline or into the hair.
+4
Incisions and Facelifts and Questions about Redos.
It sounds like your first face was possibly a little conservative. Your surgeon is very nice to do the second and plan a more complete procedure. The facelift incision behind the ears varies from patient to patient and doctor to doctor. A nicely done hairline incision heals beautifully and defies detection. Alternatives incisions are available, but I am okay with the hairline and sometimes use it myself. The important combo is to have the right...
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+2
Face lift incisions
The incisions behind the ear you are describing are very common and will help your surgeon obtain a better result
+2
Palm Beach Facelift vs Palm Beach Minifacelift
The incision in front of the ear addresses the cheek and the jowls. In order to address loose neck soft tissue effectively, an incision behind the ear is typically needed. There are several methods for making the post-auricular incision. While the horizontal incision along the hairline is popular, I prefer an incision that follows up along the groove behind the ear and then turns backwards into the scalp but not along the hairline. I find this hides the incision better. Too often when a...
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Anita Mandal, MD
Palm Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon
Palm Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Facelift Incisions
Hi NHaven-
Incisions placed behind the ear are designed to give access to the tissues of the neck. If you desire improvement to the contour of your neck then an incision behind the ear is appropriate. In general these incisions heal very nicely.
Sincerely,
Tom Kaniff
+2
Facelift and Incisions
Facelift surgery is designed to restore the tissue to the areas from which they descended. The lax skin did not descend from the area behind the ear, but from the lateral cheek region. An incision along the hairline behind the ear is rarely indicated during a Facelift. If you are concerned, you may want to seek a second opinion.
Michael Sullivan, MD
Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
Columbus Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Post-auricular incision & facelift
It sounds like you had a mini facelift the first time, rather than a full facelift. The mini-lift procedure is good for the cheeks, but not powerful enough to address the neck.
Now it sounds like you are getting a full facelift, with the longer incision, extending behind the ear, and into the hairline area.
The longer incision will allow for greater access to the neck and jowl area, better redraping of the skin, and hopefully, a better result for your problem areas.
...
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+2
Consider a second opinion
I always get concerned when a patient has an unexpected result from a facelift. In experienced hands, a surgeon should be able to determine if a specific technique will acheive the expected results, and if not, then the surgeon should be able to discuss the limitations of the procedure with the patient before the actual procedure is performed. If you didn't get the result you expected, I would recommend a consultation with a surgeon who is experienced in multiple techniques of facial...
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+2
Incision behind Ear for Facelift
Your surgeon may have initially performed a "mini facelift" or "short scar facelift" which is designed to address the jowls and cheeks but not the neck specifically. By creating a longer incision behind the ear he may be able to better address excess skin of the neck.
Roy A. David, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Horizontal Hairline incision
As previously mentioned, the addition of the horizontal portion of the incision behind the ear allows for smoother skin redraping of the neck after resuspending the SMAS and platysma muscle. It is very difficult to lift any neck skin in a smooth fashion without this additional incision. It sounds like your first procedure involved some minimal jawline and neck work with more focus in front of the ear.
Gregory J. Vipond, MD
Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon
Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Facelift revision
In order to gain more access to lift the jowels and neck area, an incision is made behind the ear into the hairline or along the hairline. This allows a greater trajectory of pull in those areas. The good news is that the incision behind the ear is usually very well hidden and if done well, the hairline incision not very noticeable. Have your surgeon show you some pictures of scars - that should help you visualize it better.
Dr. Cat Begovic M.D.
Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Facelift technique
I totally agree with Dr. Rand. Incisions are entry points to mobilize your soft tissue. This mobilization allows repositioning of the tissue to a more youthful position, and creation of more youthful appearing features. To achieve harmony of face and neck, both areas need to be repositioned, and underlying structures altered, e.g. muscle and fat. These surgical maneuvers are only possible with adequate exposure, necessitating appropriately positioned incisions.
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+2
Facelift incisions
The doctor should be explaining this to you, not us on line. Especially if your previous surgery "failed". Basically the extra incisions are to facilitate exposure and for skin removal.
+1
Posterior incision behind ear for Revision face Lift
The SMAS and jowls can be tightened through the anterior incisions sround the front of the ears, however, to tighten the neck muscles and remove neck skin...incisions need to continue around the back crease of the ears and into the posterior scalp...for what is called a Neck Lift.
+1
Horizontal incision behind ear is required for Facelift to correct jowl and tighten neck
Your surgeon is correct, a horizontal incision behind the ear into the hairline is required for the Facelift procedure to adequately tighten the jawline, jowls and neck. Often an incision beneath the chin (sub mental incision) is also required to suture tighten the muscle causing the bands (Platysmal Bands) hanging below the chin if you have them.
Trying to adequately tighten the jaw line and neck during a Facelift with only a hidden incs ion behind the ear very often results in...
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+1
Horizontal Incision Along Hairline Behind Ear
When a face & neck lift is performed, it is typical to extend the incision behind the ear to have access to the neck and jawline tissues. This will allow your surgeon to tighten these areas. These scars can be placed either midway behind the ear, or an "ogee" approach where the scar follows the back of the ear all the way to the top where it meets the hairline. This way if you wear your hair back, there will be no visible scar. Good luck!
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+1
Incisions
These incisions will be concealed and are used to gain access to the jawline and neck. It is a standard approach and will allow your surgeon to improve the jowl and neckline
Marc Schneider, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
+1
Incision Into or Along Hairline Behind Ears
With facelift surgery, including a necklift incisions are usually placed into or along the hairline behind the ears. The incision typically heals very well.
+1
Facelift incisions behind ears
Incisions in face and neck lift serve two main purposes:
Access to facial areas for deeper tissue work (lifting and sculpting)
Removal of skin excess with skin re-draping
Have your surgeon explain his goals and reasons for these incisions. Most likely, it is because of 1. and 2.
+1
Hairline incision
A full facelift usually incorporates some form of posterior hairline or mastoid incision. This is used to redrape the neck skin after undermining.
+1
Horizontal Postauricular Incision
It is very important to ask questions to your surgeon and ensure you have a good understanding of the proposed procedure and expected outcomes. By adding the horizontal component to your incision behind your ear, the surgeon will be able to more widely undermine your neck and jawline skin, and reposition the underlying muscle. This should lead to a more profound result in your neck and jawline.
Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1
Hairline incions behind ear are called posteriro cervoca
Many surgeons use this approach to perform a posterior cervicoplasty which is essentially a neck lift.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Behind the Ear Incision
This incision will help your surgeon to treat the neck and jowls. Fortunately this incision can be well camouflaged and easily hidden. Please visit with your surgeon to get a better understand of his/her treatment plan.
+1
Facelift Incision behind ears
The incisions for a full Facelift traditionally extend behind the ears and into or along the hairline. This is to allow re draping of the excess face and neck skin that is lifted. Discuss with your physician exactly where the incisions will be placed so that you are properly informed.
Louis M. DeJoseph, MD
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon
Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon
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