How can my ears be fixed after a facelift? (Photos)

Question

My FL was 1 year ago, my ears look terrible (tragus !) my scars behind them are huge as well. One doctor suggested a quick fix in 1 hr ambulant procedure, another a whole revision FL (to pull underlaying tissue more upwards). What should I decide?

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Best solution would be to remove current scars and place them in better position under less tension. This may require significant skin flap lift in front and behind ears to mobilize/rotate skin flap and address pixie ears. Sub-cuticular suture (not commonly used for closure of this area) may be better solution than running suture. Second opinion consultation with a prominent plastic surgeon with expertise in facial rejuvenation is recommended. Good luck.

Marc Pacifico, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Many thanks for posting your question.On the one hand, going ahead with a simpler procedure is probably worth trying, however, a lot of the time, without deeper internal support to achieve a further lift, there might be recurrence of the issue with the ear, due to tension on the skin. In that situation, a revision facelift would be needed.I hope this helps - good luck

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

Thank you for your question.You would not necessarily need another facelift and can address the concerns around the ear by redoing that area alone. Looking at your ear scars, the skin would need to be raised again and realigned. It does depend on how the rest of the face looks and if the jowls have returned as to whether a full repeat of the surgery is required.Sometimes scarring is such that it can pull at the ear lobes and patients can develop a pixie ear appearance. This can be adjusted by correcting it without having to redo the full facelift. I hope this helps

Ben Lee, MD · Answer

There are two signs that give away the fact that you have had a facelift. One is alteration of the tragus, and the other is the dreaded pixie ear, where the earlobe is pulled down. You appear to have both. They are not all that easy to correct and it is best to avoid them in the first place. A lot of surgeons will make an incision right on the edge of the tragus or slightly behind to hide the scar. This results in loss of the tragus, or making it overly prominent. I feel it is best to carry the incision in front of the scar, as the scar is hardly visible in most cases. That way, the natural anatomy of the tragus is left intact. As for the pixie ear, this is due to a lot of tension on  the skin flap. I don't view facelift as a skin tightening operation and I hope I usually avoid this (but of course, I am human). These can be corrected but I don't find it easy. I would consult a surgeon who has some experience at correcting these.

Bianca Knoll, MD · Answer

thank you for posting your question. In order to correct your scarring, enough tissue will need to be mobilized, advanced, and skin needs to be secured without any tension. Careful and precise surgical technique by placing scars in natural light reflexion zones, or in areas of pigmentation changes, will make scars, with proper healing, barely noticeable. In order to perform the surgery most patients benefit from moving the the underlying tissue as well (SMAS). It is hard to tell if you have enough tissue allowing to be moved based on the pictures you sent. Usually, ear deformities can be corrected this way.The old times, with broad long noticeable scars, pulled earlobes, distorted hairlines are a thing of the past thanks to advancements in aesthetic and plastic surgery.  Please discuss your options with your consulting plastic surgeon.Best of luckKind regardsBianca Knoll, MD Frankfurt

Sammy Sinno, MD · Answer

The scars around the tragus and the attached earlobe can be revised. It would require some elevation of skin to make sure there is not excess tension which would cause recurrent aggressive scarring.

Tom D. Wang, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi lilla100, you may benefit from scar revision with excision of the current scars around your ears and repeating the closure, hopefully under less tension.  Be sure to avoid sleeping directly on the scars after surgery to minimize irritation or inflammation.  Best of luck to you!

Keith Denkler, MD · Answer

Your scars and ears can be improved with further scar revision and re-suturing.This will need some more surgery most likely under local anesthesia.

Adam Goodwin, MBBS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

the tragus scar is realtively easy. I think you must have thick skin which means your tragus looks a little thick. Opening this scar and thinning out the skin and resuturing should sort that out. The pinching of the earlobe is a little harder but a similar approach under local anaesthetic should do the trick. Dont worry, this is not a big problem. Hope that helps Adam Goodwin

David A. Lickstein, MD · Answer

Best to discuss with your surgeon - scar revision can probably be undertaken to improve the appearance.

How can my ears be fixed after a facelift? (Photos)

Answers (10)

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