What is the best way to get rid of scars from my deep plane neck and facelift? (photos)

Question

I had a deep plane neck lift and mid facelift on March 6th, 2023. I had open wounds behind and below my ears which I was told looked necrotic. They are now painful itchy scars.

Manish H. Shah, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello ai62,
You have hypertrophic scars that are under too much tension as shown by your postop wound healing issues. You will need the scars surgically removed and revised under minimal tension. It is important that you avoid smoking/smokers, eat well before and after surgery, and have all of your medical conditions under strict control before and after surgery. I also recommend avoid too much head/neck turning in the first 2-3 months after revision surgery to reduce tension on the new incisions as they heal.
I hope this helps?
Dr. Shah

Carey Nease, MD · Answer

It look like you developed hypertrophic scarring, which is fairly common. I would treat that with a combination of steroid injections (kenalog) and fractional CO2 laser, likely a series of 3. This usually helps a lot. Light massage my help a bit also. Good luck!

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

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thank you for your question. I am sorry to see that you have experienced difficulties with your facelift scars. 
The images show scar hypertrophy rather than keloid, which should respond relatively quickly to steroid injections. Silicone gel applications can also assist in the process.

Once the scars have softened, it should be possible to revise them under local anaesthesia.

Zachary Farhood, MD · Answer

I think the best option for you would be a scar revision. The scars would be excised and resewn. you would likely need to have extensive skin undermining to reduce tension on the incisions.

What is the best way to get rid of scars from my deep plane neck and facelift? (photos)

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What is the best way to get rid of scars from my deep plane neck and facelift? (photos)

Answers (10)

Answer: Facelift scars

Answer: Facelift scars

Answer: Facelift scar revision

Answer: Facelift scar revision

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Deep Plane Facelift

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