6 weeks ago I had a lower face lift. The area behind my ears is pleated and deformed. (photos)

Hello.  Thank you for your question.  It is common to see some form of ridging after facelift surgery.  Not really sure why a drain is still in at 6 weeks, but that may be for another reason all together.  You should start applying warm compresses and epsom salts to the area to soften it followed by massaging.I would definitely speak with your surgeon.  I hope that you have seen a double board certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon.Good Luck

This can happen if the incision is not made long enough to account for all the extra skin that is needed to be removed. Chances are that it will go down, but its going to take time and some patience, and I would also ask your doctor if there is anything to be done if it doesnt, as it may require a procedure to remove the excess in case it doesn't  

Small pleats behind the ear following facelift surgery often go away with massage and time. This can take for five months postoperatively. However, larger pleats may not. This may require a revision which often includes extending the scar along the hairline. It is a longer scar but on the other hand much smoother skin and much less likely to be noticed. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon and he or she will be able to realistically tell you if he or she thinks your pleats will go away.

This may need a revision but it requires more time to settle before operating again. A longer incision along the hairline would likely help. 

It can take up to 6 months to have your final results with your procedure. Since you're concerned, I recommend following up with your Doctor. You most likely have swelling which is impacting your current results. In the mean time, thermage and venus legacy may give improvement. Best, Dr. Emer

Those scars are pretty thick and noticeable. There is a decent chance that they will go down on their own, but I would discuss with your surgeon and make sure there is a plan to treat them if they don't go down. 

This will smooth out over time, most likely. Pleating is not uncommon along the incision behind the ear because the incision is longer than the tightened skin being sewn into this area. There are occasions when a scar revision is necessary to correct persistent fold or irregularities. You will have a better idea what it is going to look like at eight weeks. Try to be patient and ignore the hypercritical comments.

If you had a significant amount of skin displaced during the facelift, it is sometimes necessary to gather skin when closing. This is often done behind the ear. In many cases, the smaller pleats will smooth out in time and massage can help this happen a bit faster. If the pleats are larger, sometimes a small revision can be necessary. This is often easy to do with local anesthesia in the office. I would wait a good 4-6 months before you do that if you don't feel too insecure. The more time you wait, the more chance you have of avoiding more surgery.

Dear Sekoni,While in general it is a good idea to let mild irregularities relax over time, it may be wiser to address things with a revision if they are difficult to conceal or if you think the final result will still need a revision. The problem with an early intervention is that the tissue may stay stiff and unyielding to a revision for a little while. I would massage like your surgeon suggested and have regular follow-ups to discuss the timing of a revision. 

so they are quite gathered but its surprising how even that level of creasing can sort itself out. I think there is a 50 50 chance that it doesn't and if not, its a relatively simple procedure under local anaesthetic to advance the skin to 'iron out' the crease. Hope that helps Adam Goodwin