Ear Deformity? 3 weeks after SMAS Facelift, this is how my ear looks now. I feel its doesn't look "normal". (photo)

Question

Dear Doctors, 3 weeks after smas facelift, this is how my ear looks now. I feel its doesn't look "normal". I believe its shows clear sign of the facelift. If there is any option to fix it? Thank you.

Garrett Griffin, MD · Answer

guitz: whenever doing facelifts, it is important to make the ear as natural looking as possible, and to make sure that the earlobe doesn't get pulled down into an "elf" shape as it heals.  To help prevent the elf shape, surgeons sometimes sew the skin extra high and tight under the earlobe. This may be what is going on in your case.  Give it time...the scars in front of the ear will become less obvious and the ear will look less like it is just stuck on the side of your face.  If after 3-6 months you are still unhappy, your surgeon can revise it, probably in the office.

Ryan Neinstein, MD, FRCSC · Answer

I would like to see your pre op picture. Your scars look great but I do not see much of a tragus but again hard to tell if that is different or not without a preop picture. I would wait a year for your scars to mature before any revisions

Paul F. Vanek Jr, MD · Answer

You are, unfortunately, going to need to wait a few weeks before you have your scar placed into the appropriate position in a retro-tragal scar position that most board certified plastic surgeons would elect to use in the first place.  Your immediate post-operative fibrosis and perhaps your skin tension will be such that you will need to wait probably a few months before that incision in the pre-auricular position has reached tissue equilibrium and is soft and supple enough to contemplate a re-elevation of your skin flap and advancement into its proper position.  I always counsel my patients against analyzing early results and I would like to make sure I reiterate that with you.  I don’t want to cast dispersions but it sounds like you may have been “quickly lifted” and I hope it fits your lifestyle . . . .

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

In an attempt to decrease the length of the incision some procedures try to sit in different lengths skin on either side of that incision. This can result in irregularities on the longer side. Most of the time a revision will be necessary. This revision will demand lengthening the incision.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Tragal pointer blunting may be an issue, but this is impossible to evaluate without preoperative pictures.  The scar appears to be well placed as well as the lobe position.

Ear Deformity? 3 weeks after SMAS Facelift, this is how my ear looks now. I feel its doesn't look "normal". (photo)

Answers (10)

Answer: Gathering up of skin at the bottom of the earlobe after a facelift is the product of unequal distribution of tension.

Answer: Gathering up of skin at the bottom of the earlobe after a facelift is the product of unequal distribution of tension.

Answer: SMAS Facelift Ear Abnormality

Answer: SMAS Facelift Ear Abnormality

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Ear Deformity? 3 weeks after SMAS Facelift, this is how my ear looks now. I feel its doesn't look "normal". (photo)

Answers (10)

Answer: Gathering up of skin at the bottom of the earlobe after a facelift is the product of unequal distribution of tension.

Answer: Gathering up of skin at the bottom of the earlobe after a facelift is the product of unequal distribution of tension.

Answer: SMAS Facelift Ear Abnormality

Answer: SMAS Facelift Ear Abnormality

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about SMAS Facelift

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