Hair regrowth after SMAS facelift? (Photo)

Question

Will the hair regrow in front of my ears after my facelift? I'm 2 months post op now. Will rogaine 5% speed up the growth?

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

The regrowth of hair is definitely possible. It depends on how the incision was created, meaning that there are techniques when performing the incision that would allow for hair growth.  If growth does not occur, Rogaine (Minoxidil) can stimulate growth but once usage is stopped hair will regress.  Hair transplants are the best option for hat area.  Best wishes.

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your pictures.  When the hair follicles are disturbed it can cause hair loss.  Unfortunately it can take up to 18 months for the hair to grow back and it some incases the scar may cause some hair loss. So please do give it time, if you hair transplant can resolve this issue.  All The Best

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

You may want to wait a bit more to see if your sideburns grow back on their own after your SMAS facelift (rhytidectomy). If not, hair transplants would be the best solution for regrowth, as Rogaine only leads to temporary hair regrowth. Although I can’t see your face fully in the photos, you appear to be female. In that case, you might consider leaving your temples as is, because many women actually shave their sideburns because they think it looks more feminine. The choice is yours. I hope this helps.

Miguel Mascaro, MD · Answer

2 months in, its still early on in the follicular cycle, so you may continue to see some hair grow in for the next few months.  Rogaine may not do much to be honest.  Giving it time will.  At that time you can assess how the follicles did during surgery.  A good prognosticator of what to expect would be your surgeon.  They will be able to tell you what they saw during surgery, as well as what they expect to see over the coming months.  Congratulations on your surgery, and speedy recovery!

Andrew G. Silver, MD · Answer

Hi dotsoncck,
Good work with the photos, they help!
The short answer is it depends. 
Depends on what you ask? The answer to that is IF  the hair follicles in the skin survived.
IF they DID survive, you can reasonably expect to see hair growth beginning in the next couple of months. Rogaine may help in this situation, but time will do the trick. 
IF they DID NOT survive, hair will not regrow there, and Rogaine will offer no help at all. In that situation, a hair transplant is your best option if you can't live without the hair.
Talk to your surgeon, as techniques vary in this region. He/she will have a better idea of the likelihood of follicle survival than I (or anyone for that matter) can tell from any photo.

Hope this helps!
dr. silver

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, I have performed many SMAS facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  From the photos, it appears that the facelift incision may have resulted in the removal of the front "tuft" of hair.  You can discuss that issue with your facelift surgeon.  If that is the case, the hair will not regrow and hair transplants would be required to recreate that front tuft of hair.  
 The reality is that there are many different ways to perform a facelift from incision length, incision placement, level of tissue dissection (skin only, SMAS, Deep Plane, Subperiosteal), different degrees of tissue undermining, how to lift and support (imbrication versus plication of the SMAS layer), how much excess skin to trim, is excess fat going to be reduced and finally will the overall shape of the face be made more feminine or masculine (while avoiding the over pulled, windswept appearance). 
 I avoid incision in the temporal hairline or within the posterior hair bearing scalp when performing the minimally, invasive SMAS facelift described below.  
 If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues and an indication for some form of a SMAS facelift.  The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last).  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.
 My most popular SMAS facelift is the minimally invasive, short incision SMAS facelift that has all the benefits of more invasive facelifts (traditional, mid-face, deep plane, cheek lift and subperiosteal facelifts) but with these added benefits:
very small incisions and no incisions extend or are placed within the hair.
minimal tissue dissection = less bruising and swelling = rapid recovery ( several days instead of weeks or months with the more invasive type facelifts mentioned)
can be performed in 90 minutes or less, with or without general anesthesia
no incisions within the hair = no hair loss
excess fat can be removed from the face and neck
excess skin removed from the face and neck
cheeks, chin and jaw line can be augmented with dermal fillers (I prefer Restylane Lyft) or facial implants
most patients fly back home to parts all over the world in as little as 3 days post-op
 I combine facial shaping with every facelift procedure.  When jowls are present, these should be done in concert and not alone or separately in order to create a naturally, more attractive face.
 Following my beauty principles, women look the most feminine, youthful and attractive with heart shaped faces.  Heart shaped faces have cheeks that are full and round in the front.  If the cheeks are flat or concave in the front, Cheek augmentation with a dermal filler or using cheek implants for a permanent enhancement will create full, round cheeks that will feminize the entire face.
 When the chin is weak, this creates an imbalance making the nose appear larger, the mid face top heavy and the lower face look short that de-emphasizes the lips and allows early formation of a double chin.  Chin augmentation using a chin implant will add projection to the chin creating harmony and balance to the lower face.   I have found that placement of a silastic chin implant, through a small curved incision under the chin (also allows excess skin removal) to be very safe, quick and highly effective.
Hope this helps.

Michael Carlisle, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

2 months post-op I would continue waiting for regrowth. It seems hair is growing in the area of concern by the photos so should fill in. Rograine will not help as much as time.

Hair regrowth after SMAS facelift? (Photo)

Answers (7)

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