Wound behind ear one month after facelift. Incision line separated due to too much tension. (Photo)

This is a common area of wound breakdown after facelift surgery. I could be that the skin was pulled under too much tension or that the blood supply to the skin flap just was not robust enough to supply the skin, either way you have a wound and now it is time to help it heal. The good news is with conservative wound care this wound will heal over time unless you have some significant medical comorbitities complicating the situation. Good luck

This is a known complication of facelift surgery. This can occur even if standard surgical techniques were carried out.  Post facelift wound breakdown occurs more frequently in revision cases  or patients with diabetes or smokers.   Wound care and time will allow the  wounds to epithelialize and heal.  Ultimately a scar revision may be required.

Is this common?--- No.   Does this happen?.....yes.  The issue you are experiencing behind the ear is something seen in a small percentage of all patients having certain types of facelifts. When this situation happens the goal is to get the wound to heal up as quickly as possible.  There are many ways to treat this type of open wound.  It is best to talk with your  surgeon and follow their instructions.  Wounds in this area heal nicely with local care only.  Rarely, a small revision of the scar may be needed at a later date to make it look even better. The area will heal.  The key goal is to heal the area as fast as possible so you can enjoy the results.  

I have been fortunate not to have that happenunfortunately it is more common than it should bewith a high smas procedure the actions occurs at a deeper layer so less tension is at the skin levelthis makes these types of wound more rare

While it's relatively uncommon, issues with wound healing in this area can occasionally arise. Factors such as diabetes or smoking can contribute to these challenges.

At this point, prioritizing diligent wound care and proper cleaning is essential. In many cases, these wounds tend to heal on their own over the course of several weeks. However, if healing doesn't progress as expected, there are alternative options to consider, such as the potential for a skin graft.

Rest assured that addressing these concerns is a normal part of the post-operative process. I'm here to provide guidance and support to ensure your optimal recovery. Should you wish, I'd be glad to discuss your specific situation during a consultation.

If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to me at chopraplasticsurgery.com.