Realistic Result of Scar from Facelift?

In non-smokers, the incisions lines can be performed so they are hidden in the hairline, inside the ear canal and behind the ears so that even with a short hair cut or the hair in a pony tail they cannot be seen.

Thank you for your question. In most healthy people without a history of healing irregularities, the surgical scars resulting from a well-performed facelift are rarely an issue. Incisions are designed to result in scars that are concealed within natural curvatures around the ear and the hairline. Most patients consider those scars to be acceptable with makeup within 1-2 weeks although full scar maturation takes many months. Once mature, most scars are imperceptible in normal social interactions, although not entirely invisible upon closer scrutiny.    

Ultimately, the vast majority of patients consider the results of the facelift and appearance of facial rejuvenation to be a very acceptable trade-off for typically inconspicuous scars.

The scars related to a facelift are placed within the contours of the ear in order to hide them.  In a male the trade off of this scar placement is placing beard tissue closer to the ear.  The other option is to place the scar in a crease in front of the ear; however, this scar is more visible.   Generally, facelift scars, after healing, are very acceptable..

Facelift incisions almost always heal well and become very difficult to find once they mature, even in men. Each surgeon's technique will vary slightly when it come to the incisions, particularly in male patients. In almost all cases, the scars heal very well even when placed in front of the ear. In the event that the scars do not have as nice of a cosmetic result as desired, there are many different things that can be done to improve them over time, depending on the issue (color, raised scars, etc).
All the best,

Hi David PaulThanks for your post. Scarring is always a common question and it's very helpful to the RS community when others post similar. If it is done well, the scarring should be minimal and with time, likely to be almost invisable, providing no infection is present, and no complications happen.Our Concept Facelift is less invasive than a traditional facelift and there is less scarring, bruising and swelling for a significantly quicker recovery period. This innovative procedure combines the latest surgical techniques with the use of local anaesthetic to dramatically reduce the risks associated with traditional facelifts, while significantly reducing the bruising and downtime of your recovery, from months to a matter of days.This is a combination of a SMAS lift and skin tightening that allows the procedure to have it's longevity without the trauma and invasiveness of a traditional facelift. There is minimal bruising and swelling, especially when compared to traditional faceliftsAs the procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, you can go straight home following the procedureFull recovery in a matter of days rather than monthsSignificantly less risk than Facelifts performed under general anaestheticFresh, youthful and long lasting results

The amount of scarring left behind after a facelift depends on the technique of the surgeon. A double board certified facial plastic surgeon with experience and skill is able to perform a facelift in such a way as to result in almost invisible scarring. At my practice, my facelifts involve lifting of deep tissue, which is then secured with sutures. The skin comes along with the deep tissue, excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is secured without any tension, which results in an easier healing process and almost invisible scar. In addition to this technique, I place incisions in less visible or noticeable areas, and a scar cream can be used to help healing as well. I understand how important it is especially for men with short hair to have scarring that is not obvious, and one of my goals is to help you achieve the most natural looking results with the most minimal scarring possible.Incision location is different on a male than a female.For a male, the incision will be hidden in a crease in front of the ear to prevent moving the location of the beard.

Thank
you for your question.  Face lift scars can be very inconspicuous.  Consult with a highly skilled surgeon and view many before and after photos. Scars can be improved with laser resurfacing, silicone
products, and massage.  Unfavorable scars can be
revised after a year. Best Wishes

Thanks for sharing.  Done properly facelift incisions should be very difficult to notice.  A well trained and experienced facelift surgeon will place the incisions very carefully so as to make them hard to see.  Also the experienced surgeon will know special techniques to close the incision under little tension to ensure proper healing.  Ask to see before and after photos and how many facelifts your surgeon has performed.  

Most men are concerned about scarring, as they should be. However, I find that most men eventually have a barely perceptible scar for some reason. Of course, this varies from person to person. One comment I would like to make is that many surgeons here have suggested placing the incision in the tragal region ( the cartilage in front of the ear canal) in the ear canal itself. This is a pet peeve of mine. Very rarely can this be done without distorting or losing the tragus definition altogether. This is one of the telltale signs of a facelift and I feel it is worse than a barely visible scar in front of the tragus. Also, in men, hair bearing skin from the beard region is brought into the tragus, resulting in hair growth in a very unnatural place

In the hands of an appropriately trained and experienced plastic surgeon, a facelift scar should fade very quickly to become almost imperceptible. The key to this is closing the wound with little or no tension (tightness) across it. 

The scarring from a facelift is usually surprisingly minimal, since they will be carefully placed and typically turn out to be quite flat and narrow. Your exact scars will vary depending on factors like genetics and nutrition, but you can help minimize them by not smoking, avoiding unprotected sun exposure, and carefully avoiding infection. Scar massage and corticosteroids will also help reduce scarring.  I would suggest scheduling a consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon to determine what options are best for you and answer any other questions you may have.