How do you determine if you need a revision? Have pixie ears, some lateral lines when I tense mouth, and wide scarring (Photo)

Question

43 yo. Post op 5 months. Not sure what went wrong here - ears are embarrassing, sweeping look when I tense my mouth, hypertrophic scaring behind ears. Is the pixies considered “severe” or mild? How much could the scarring be improved? Does the sweeping look expected to get better with time, or only with a revision? Should I have to pay for a revision with my initial surgeon with these results?

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

Those of us who perform a lot of facelift surgery can almost immediately spot the work of Surgeons who don't.  And your result is in this category.  Pixie ears are one of the easiest stigma to avoid in facelift surgery.  The degree of hypertrophic scarring suggests excessive tension on the skin during skin closure, another big "no-no" for this particular technique.  See a facelift expert.

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

All of these are excellent reasons to undergo a revision facelift. The best way to treat the pixie ear deformity is to lift the deeper tissues and alleviate the tension on the ear lobule/face skin interface. I would also re-excise those scars behind the ear and re-close them without any tension. Poor scarring in facelift incisions is usually due to excessive skin tension at the time of closure.

Charbel Medawar, MD · Answer

Severe Tension was put on the skin when it was sutured back together, thus you had hypertrophic scarring. This is Typical when a facelift is done without properly lifting the "Deep Plane".I would recommend for now to do steroids injections / laser treatments and not venture with haste into another surgery

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Based on your nicely posted photos, you do have a pixie ear deformity with hypertrophic scarring. If after 68 months postop, the scars are not improved or second surgery with correction of pixie or deformity is indicated done by your initial surgeon only anesthesia, and operating room fees to apply these could be in the range of $2000-$3000. If you go to an addition, a different Surgeon Fees range from $4000-$6000. Virtual consult with for better explanations regards.

How do you determine if you need a revision? Have pixie ears, some lateral lines when I tense mouth, and wide scarring (Photo)

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