Can Facelift Scars Be Successfully Covered with a Permanent Tattoo?

Hello! Thank you for the question!  While tattoo is an option, it typically is not necessary.  It is common for scars to fully mature for up to a year. In the meantime, there are a few things that may help to ameliorate your incision/scar. The most proven (as well as cheapest) modality is simple scar massage. Applying pressure and massaging the well-healed scar has been shown to improve the appearance as it breaks up the scar tissue, hopefully producing the finest scar as possible. Other things that have been shown to add some benefit, albeit controversial, are silicone sheets, hydration, and topical steroids. In addition, avoidance of direct sunlight to the incision will significantly help the appearance as they tend to discolor with UV light during the healing process. If unsightly scars are still present after approximately a year's time, other things that your surgeon may consider are intralesional steroid injections, laser, or just surgical revision of the scar itself.Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

the vast majority of facelift scars are practically inconspicuous. If the scar is worthy of coverage by a tattoo is probably also worthy of a scar revision.

Tattooing face lift scars should not be necessary after a facelift. See  a very experienced facelift surgeon to remove and close the incision in such a way that there's no need for tattooing.

You shouldn't need to hide facelift scars if the procedure was done well. Of course, as everything in medicine, there are always exceptions. In my experience, tattoos to hide scars usually make the scars more apparent. I have had great results in repairing facelift scars for other surgeons using scar revision and hair transplantation to cover the scars.

Depending on the time since your surgery, facelift scars may improve for a year and sometimes longer.  If the scar is very wide, then revision or excision may be the answer.  Deep fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing has been used to improve the appearance of scars including older facelift incisions.  By injuring the scar with a laser, two things happen.  First a portion of the scar is removed and secondly, local cells are recruited to help re-populate the scar with normal tissue

Although it is possible to tattoo these scars, I would first consider a scar revision, injections, or laser.  Best to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

Rather than tattooing your facelift scars, it may be better to have them revised.  

Plastic surgeons with a special interest in revisional facelifts may be able to make your incisions minimally visible so you won't have to contemplate tattooing them.

Facelift, LiteLift™, Minilift and incision healing (scars) -Scars are not common, but can be visible, red or spread. Healed scars are white. Red scars can be treated with lasers and injections.
Poorly placed scars can be revised.Tattoos can be done but this is not commonly needed.

Absolutely. Thankfully, properly placed and carefully closed facelift scars typically heal very nicely. However, if you have any widening of the scar or if it's placed in an area that is not well camouflaged permanent makeup can be used to camouflage the scar. Seek an expert who has alot of experience with scar camouflage. I can recommend someone in your area that I have alot of experience with if you message me via RealSelf. I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,

Stephen Weber, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Weber Facial Plastic Surgery

Permanent tattooing of a facelift incision can help with color balance in the skin when there is dark pigmented skin and a very white scar. The tattoo only helps with a color balance to camouflage. There are other options such as hair transplantation, and scar revision if there is enough facial laxity to remove the old scars and placed the incisions in and more inconspicuous place without tension