What Can Be Done About Behind my Ears for Red Skin, Ridges and Scars, Please, Now I Am 7 Months Post Neck/facelift? (photo)

Plastic surgeons usually pull the skin extra tight because based on their experience, there may be some skin regression as time passes. They also take into consideration the tension and closure of the incision and how that heals. Sometimes, despite the proper closure of the incision, scars become wide and thickened and this can happen in any part of the body, and it can happen in the face.

A maturing process in the skin called collagen remodeling or tissue remodeling happens within a year after surgery. This is an important part of the healing process so that there is enough skin to work with if a revision or any adjustment has to be made. If the skin is too tight, it may be hard to make any changes.

In cases where there is scar formation, it can be camouflaged by one’s hairstyle. Hair follicles can grow out through the scar as time passes by. In addition, you may consider a scar revision or the placement of hair follicles that would address the widening of the scar. A thickened scar may also be treated with the combination of 5-Fluorouracil and a drug called Kenalog that are injected to the area to soften and flatten the scar. However, in cases such as pixie ear deformity, minor surgery is done to tuck the ear back in depending if the patient has enough skin to work with. A combination management during the post-operative period and the maturity point a year after is important to avoid complications such as scars and regression. I hope that was helpful, I wish you the best of luck, and thank you for your question.

Thank you for the question and your pictures. It seems that the incisions around the ears were closed under a good deal of tension. This can give the tightness and discoloration that you are seeing. Wounds/incisions will remodel (change in texture, thickness, color, etc.) over about a year post-op.  I would recommend waiting until your 12 month visit and then considering a scar revision.

The wounds are still biologically active in will change. It looks as though the band might require a scar revision but I would advise against it until healing is complete.