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MACS Facelift Scar Healing Time?

asked 2 years ago by Tammi79 in AZ
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 6,850 times
Tags: female, bumps, healing, raised, recovery, scar

I had a MACS Facelift done exactly a month ago. One side of my face seems to be healing well and the other seems like it may have not been stitched up properly. There are raised bumps and 2 tiny holes in my skin. Should I give it more time to heal or is this something I should worry about? How long does it usually take the scar to heal?

31 answers to MACS Facelift Scar Healing Time?

+1

MACS facelift scar healing time.

You need to see your surgeon to determine why the scars is wide and depressed. Properly closed the hair does not cause cysts or depressions. If after 3 more months the scars are wide they may need to be revised.
Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

+3

Healing after Facelift

Proper healing takes time and is rarely symmetrical: one side almost always heals differently than the other. What you describe is not unusual, and may be a result of some ingrown hair or extruding sutures. Your patience will be rewarded.
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+3

Early scar from facelift

Scars look the worst one month after surgery, which is where you are now.  Two weeks ago, it wasn't even a scar, just a "wound." This is an early scar--inflamed, red and lumpy.  This is perfectly normal.  Stiches inside have yet to dissolve completely and may cause lumps as the body is dissolving them. Irregularities and "pleating" are not unusual because there is a difference in actual length on each side of the scar.  All this usually... more
Joseph Rabson, MD

Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon
+2

This is not exceptional

Dear lady, I am one of the original authors of the MACS-lift technique. The problem you have experienced is not exceptional neither truly worrysome. The smal holes are either caused by hairs attempting to growh through the scar, which is actually the purpose in the MACS-lift sideburn incision, or they are due to a reaction to resorbable stitches which you have reacted to. In the latter case your surgeon will have to pick the small remnants of this stitch out, after which the wounds will... more
Alexis Verpaele, MD

Belgium Plastic Surgeon
+2

Healing after a MACS lift

The problem may either be hairs growing back through the incision (which will help conceal the scar in the long run) or a reaction to dissoluble sutures.  It will get better with time.
Michael Philbin, MD

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

MACS Facelift Scar Healing

There are a few possible explanations that are most common and should self correct over time. The smal holes are either caused by buried sutures about to extrude or if self absorbing then close to the skin or hairs attempting to grow through the scar, which is a good thing. Although it may be a sub-clinical infection or the beginning of a hypertrophic scar it is less likely. Regular followup with your Plastic Surgeon is suggested until this concern resolves. more
Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scar healing after a MACS lift

It appears from your photos that you have some degree of suture or hair irritation in the hairline. If there are any deeper sutures that can be removed, they should be. That will allow the incision to heal but it might need a small revision done in the office under local anesthesia at some point. At times if the deeper sutures used to close an incision can become infected, or hair gets caught in the incision, that can happen and then the incision looks like yours does.
Julio Garcia, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

lvcosmeticsurgery.com

+1

MACS lift healing concerns may be ingrown hairs along the scar.

I agree with my friend Dr. Verpaele, who is one of the developers of the MACS facelift, and who has co-authored an excellent textbook on his technique. By one month, most types of dissolving suture will have completely reabsorbed, but there are a few kinds of long-acting suture that may have been used to maintain tissue tension, incision integrity, and decrease scar widening. This could be one source of the tiny holes and incomplete healing. The bumps may be the knots below the... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

+1

MACS lift and two small holes inthe skin

Without seeing photos I could not say what the two holes are?  I suppose it could be some skin slough at the site of sutures?  But I could not be sure without an exam or at least photos.  See your doctor.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Alternatively, if you would like me to give an opinion on to the best way forward I'll be happy for you to email a photo of the

It's slightly unseal for to you have one side healing much slower than the other but it does sounds as if you have got some areas of delayed healing on one side. I would advice you to schedule a consultation with your original surgeon so they can assess the area and that you know whether they would recommend further treatment be performed on this region or whether it would be best just to let it heal naturally. Alternatively, if you would like me to give an opinion on to the... more
Adrian Richards, MD

London Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scar healing after surgery

I agree with the previous authors stating that the scar healing takes between 6-12 months and in some cases longer. It is also not uncommon for one side of the body to heal faster than the other. There is an interesting theory that right handed people heal faster on the right side and that left handed people heal faster or better on the left side. I do not necessarily subscribe to this theory, however overall one side usually heals faster for some reason. The scar healing is a... more
Boris Volshteyn, MD, MS

Reno Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scars after facelift surgery

Scars from facelift surgery will undergo changes in appearance as part of the normal healing process, which may take up to a year or longer. However, if you are worried about the appearance of the scars or have any open areas in the skin, you should have your plastic surgeon examine you to make sure there is no other issue.
Olivia Hutchinson, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

All incisions take time to heal

All incisions take time to heal.  At one month post-op, your incisions have not even reached their maximal tensile strength.  I would definitely schedule an appointment with your surgeon and have a discussion with him/her.   Incisions can take months to heal completely.  Don't worry.  
Raghu Athre, MD

Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.athresurgical.com

+1

Scars Healing Time

Unfortunately, poor planning can lead to poor scar formation.  Surgeons who place too much tension on incisions will invariably lead to a poor scar formation.  If a surgeon places too much tension on the skin, a widened red scar can be seen creating a hypertrophic scar.  If no tension is placed on the skin, even in ethnic skin, it is uncommon for a hypertrophic scar to occur in front of the ear.  A lift should be done by lifting the deeper tissues of the face, not by... more
Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Healing time

The incsions should be partially healed by 2 weeks. The complete healing process for the incisions takes several months. They appear very red. This may due to your skin type or other issues. I would pay your surgeon a visit to make sure everything is ok.
Andres Bustillo, MD

Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery after MACS facelift

Incisional healing is usually in a few weeks, provided there was uncomplicated healing. Scars then take one year to fully mature and fade to normal skin color. Sometimes you can see delayed healing from poor circulation to a skin edge or suture reactions. It appears in your case, you make be reacting to deeper suture material which can cause localized inflammation similar to an ingrown hair or pimple. Treatment requires extraction of the suture material, then the skin is allowed to heal over... more
Hayley Brown MD

Henderson Plastic Surgeon
+1

MACS Lift Healing

The picture you show displays above average erythema (redness) at 1 month, probably related to ingrown hairs along the incision line.  Definitely follow up with your Surgeon and follow his/her advice.  Scars take a full year to mature, so there is still a lot of healing to do.  This is the "watching the grass grow" phase of healing; it will probably happen less quickly than you like, so less focus on this point and more camouflage is advised.  Good luck! more
Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

+1

Scarring after facelift

MACS lift is an excellent facelift procedure in the appropriate candidate.  At one month, I would consult with your facelift surgeon to obtain recommendations on scar treatment.  It is important to ensure that you do not have any suture material causing a superficial skin reaction.   Otherwise, Scarguard therapy, sunscreen >30 spf,  gentle massage to your scars three times a day are common recommendations.   You may also want to consider silicone sheet therapy to... more
Paul S. Gill, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Facelift Incisions

Facial incisions are usually healed at the surface in about 10 days.  It appears that you have some delay in healing.  The face well heal but you may have scar quality the is not ideal.  I would give the incision up to 12 months to correct it self before I recommend an invasive revision.  Along the way to scar maturity you can inject steroids and/or use silicone sheeting to improve final scar quality. Dr. ES
Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scarring After Any Facelift Takes Time To Heal

I would suggest talking with your surgeon. Any facelift has similar incisions. These will be red for a time period - sometimes six months or longer. It appears that you may be having a slight hypertrophy of the scars which can be due to tension during closure or a result of some other process. It also appears that you have some open wound along the top edge and I would worry about a possible infection resulting in a persistence hole. In either case, evaluation by your surgeon is warranted. more
D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

innovationsfps.com

+1

Incisions Following MACS Facelift

As many of the other plastic surgeons have pointed out here, one month is quite early in terms of the healing process. The incisions are bound to go thru an evolutionary process that can include redness, itching, and even hardening of the scar before things improve. Your photos do look to demonstrate more than average redness that might indicate an over-exuberant healing process (referred to as hypertrophic scarring). This can be seen more commonly in patients with thicker, ethnic skin like... more
John M. Hilinski, MD

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

MACS lift scars are usually not a problem.

MACS lift scars are usually not a problem when done properly. The concept of a MACS lift is that all of the tension and lift is placed on the internal suspension sutures and not on the skin.  This takes all of the tension off the skin and results in a fine, nearly imperceptible scar in front of the ear.  If tension is placed on the skin, the scar will be more noticeable, and may take longer to fade.  The end result may not be determined for six to twelve months.  When a... more
Steven L. Ringler, MD

Grand Rapids Plastic Surgeon

www.stevenringlermd.com

+1

Scar hypertrophy

Evaluation of your photo demonstrates evidence of scar hypertrophy. This usually comes as a result of excess tension on the closure. Or sometimes - just bad luck. In either case they next step would be for your surgeon to inject some steroid (kenalog) to help reduce the scaring.
Benjamin C. Marcus, MD

Madison Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.uwhealth.org

+1

Scars from Face Lifts

Most face lift scars heal extremely well with time. The key to having well healed scars that fade beautifully with time is to minimize tension on the skin closure. You incision seems to be slightly raised and inflammed. I would recommend following up with your surgeon and would consider some silicone gel to the scars. 
Ankit Desai, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scarring after face lift takes time to mature

It is true that scarring after a face lift, or any procedure for that matter, takes time to mature.  The inflammatory phase of wound healing is peaking at about 4-6 weeks, and so this is the time that the redness of scars may seem the worst.  That being said, from your photo, there seems to be a lot of irregularity in the inflammation of the incision.  If the incision on the other side of your face looks the same, then I would think that this represents the way that your body... more
Adam David Lowenstein, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
+1

Healing from a MACS lift

As the others have said, it takes 3-4 months to fully heal from a lift.  Massage the scars, stay close to your surgeon through the process and all should be fine.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Healing after MACS facelift

"Tincture of time" will do it. Be patient and follow up with your surgeon. Hairs within the scars irritate the scar but it will resove. Good Luck!
Guido P. Gutter MD

Evansville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Healing time for MACS face lift scars

The incision on this type of facelift is going to take three to four months to finally settle down and heal. It seems as though the incision site itself is red, swollen, inflamed, and may have ingrown hairs in the sideburn area. The scar also appears hypertrophic. Consideration for dilute cortisone shots into the scar in the sideburn area may be of some benefit.
William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

+1

Temple scars after facelifting procedure

Often despite our best efforts, no two sides of the face heal exactly the same. I use the rule of six's with my patients. At six days scars look good, at six weeks they look the worst and at six months they look the best. I would be patient at this time and ask your surgeon about things that can be done to improve the appearance of the scars during the healing process. I hope this information helps.
Scott Trimas, MD

Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Healing after a MACS face lift

Erythema of the incisions following a MACS facelift is not particularly uncommon. The incision is placed in the location below the hairline in order to preserve the sideburn. From your photograph it appears that you may have a little prolonged erythema of the scar and perhaps a little hypertrophy. I would suggest using a silicone gel sheeting product on the incisions over time your incisions should heal imperceptibly.
Philip S. Schoenfeld, MD

Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

MACS lift face lift scars

The advantage of the transverse scar is that it preserves the temporal hair. The disadvantage is that the hair sometimes causes cysts as it grows through the incision and may expose some of the deeper stitches. These tend to be absorbable and with time you should have an excellent scar.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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