How to reduce white scarring around my ears after lower facelift 8 months ago? (Photos)

Question

I don’t know if it’s my rosacea making the scars look so bright but I am not comfortable with how noticeable they are.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars. 
 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Scar tissue from all causes is typically either off-white or ivory colored, which means that it is more prominent when the background skin color is darker or reddish, as in this case. So, yes, the flush of rosacea around the scars can make them appear more prominent. Treating the redness with topical agents is one temporary approach. For a more permanent improvement, I have personally found the use of professionally perfomred microneedling (no need for the additional expense and risks of performing RF microneedling, despite the marketing hype to the contrary) accompanied by the application of topical prescription tyrosine and pigment enhancing medications, such as lanatoprost. You would be wise to consult with a board certified cosmetic dermatologist who can help you both with the rosacea blush and the appropriate treatments for the scars. Hope this helps and best of luck.

How to reduce white scarring around my ears after lower facelift 8 months ago? (Photos)

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How to reduce white scarring around my ears after lower facelift 8 months ago? (Photos)

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Everything you need to know about Scar Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.