Can I have a mini facelift during preauricular pit removal?

Question

I need a preauricular pit removed and was wondering if that is something an ENT/Plastics doctor could do in one surgery ?

Carl Truesdale, MD · Answer

This is an interesting combination because the preauricular pit incision sits right where the front edge of a facelift incision typically goes. So combining them isn't anatomically impossible, but several factors decide whether it's the right move.
What makes this technically reasonable:
Shared incision territory. Preauricular pit excision uses an incision in front of the ear, in the same area where a mini facelift incision would be placed. A skilled surgeon can extend the pit excision incision to handle both purposes.
Same anesthesia, one recovery period. Combining means one operating room session and one recovery window instead of two.
Why it's not always the best move:
Tissue planning. The preauricular pit involves a sinus tract that may extend deep toward the auricular cartilage. Excising it cleanly requires meticulous dissection of an area with embryologic remnants. Adding a facelift dissection (which goes well beyond the immediate pit area) increases complexity in already-delicate tissue.
Healing risk. Preauricular pits are at higher risk for incision-line problems than virgin tissue because of the underlying remnants. Layering facelift tension on top of an excised pit area can affect scar quality.
Surgeon expertise. Most ENT surgeons removing pits don't do facelifts, and most facelift surgeons don't routinely excise preauricular pits. Finding a single surgeon comfortable with both is the practical bottleneck.
What I'd recommend:
If a mini facelift is something you want anyway: have the pit excision done first, let it heal completely (6 to 12 months), then do the facelift. Cleaner result on both.
If your main concern is the pit (with mild aging signs as secondary): excise the pit alone. Reassess facelift candidacy in a year.
If you're under 35 and considering 'mini facelift' mostly as preventative: hold off. Most patients under 35 don't need a facelift and the result rarely satisfies. Focus on the pit and use non-surgical maintenance (skincare, occasional Botox) for the face.
Surgeon hunt:Look for a facial plastic surgeon (dual-trained ENT + cosmetic) who handles both. They're not common, but exist. AAFPRS-trained surgeons are the natural fit.

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

As long as you have enough skin laxity so that the area of the preauricular pit will be lifted to the incision line, you can do them together. Make sure, though, that the surgeon doing it has a large experience performing mini facelift and facelift surgery.

Can I have a mini facelift during preauricular pit removal?

Answers (2)

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