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.

facelift scar improvement

again,  this is difficult.   fillers are a good idea,, dermabrasion or laser over the scar will help..  this may take several steps and a number of months but should improve

This can be improved. But you might have to have it opened and reclosed. The other option is to break up the tissue below it and add some tissue in there.

I would go back to your plastic surgeon. I think they can be revised to your satisfaction. It may require excisoin or dermabrasion or a combination.

Thank you for your question and the picture. From the photo, there is scar indentation and skin puckering close to the lateral canthus. You are 10 months out and the question would be to what longer, try a non surgical modality or surgically revise the scar. I think you should wait longer to give more time for the scar settle. You could try fillers like juviderm. to see if the depression will improve. but, even with that, I would caution you as you may not like the results of the filler. In general, scars take longer than a year to settle and it may take up to two years,

An incision and resultant scar that extends beyond the temporal hairline can be treated by  variety of approaches from re-excision to fractional laser resurfacing. They can be difficult to improve because the scar lies in an unnatural area where wrinkle lines do not normally exist. Which treatment approach is best is debatable and no one can say for sure which one will provide improvement for you. The good news is that they are all easy to do in the office. Because the scars re indented with a small dogear, I would opt for open scar revision followed by laser resurfacing shortly thereafter.