Can a Face Lift Scar That Was Cut Horizontally, Below the Temple, Be Fixed? (photo)

You need to have the excess skin removed with a scar revision and reconstruction of your sideburns.  This should be done by someone very experienced in this type of surgery which we escribed in our textbook. 

The good news is that the scar appearance CAN be improved. The simplest option would be some kind of resurfacing procedure such as dermabrasion or laser resurfacing vs a more aggressive option of excising or removing the scar and carefully suturing the skin edges together or a combination of both. Discuss these options with your surgeon. 

Hello! Thank you for the question! 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!

   Fillers could help the depression.  Laser may help as well.   The scar could be reexcised and closed in a more linear fashion without depression.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Facelift scars in the temple are are not unusual. However, they should ideally skirt the hairline and the cut should be bevelled so the new hairs grow through the scar, thus hiding it. The scar should not extend out to the middle of the temporal region as yours does.

The good news is that it can be fixed with a scar revision that would reorientate the scar into the preferred position with a little extra tightening of the skin in front of it. This may need to be in 2 stages, but both are minor procedures.

But please, please go to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area.