Is there always a scar in front of the ears after lower facelift? And how long does it takes for scars to fade?

Most facelift approaches do require some incision in front of the ear. Fortunately we can camouflage this by bringing it behind the tragus (cartilage flap in front  of the ear canal) and into the opening of the ear canal. In addition, this is an area that heals very well- even without make-up, this incision, when well placed and executed, is hard to detect.Healing will take a full year to see the final result. By two weeks, however, most patients should be able to camouflage all incisions with make up.

In order to be able to tighten the muscles in a lower facelift, an incision will have to be placed in front of the ear. The length of the incision can vary based on the type of lower facelift being done. At your consultation,  you should discuss the type of incision that your surgeon plans on using. They should be able to show you pictures of their patients' incisions at different stages of the healing process.  As they heal, incision lines will be permanent but should be barely noticeable. Every patient heals at their own pace.  The incisions will go through an inflammatory phase and then a remodeling phase. They can stay pink for a few months but should be easily concealed with cover up if needed. Patients tend to be happy with how their incisions as soon as 1 week after surgery.  It can take up to a year for the incision to completely heal. See the link below, 

A lower facelift can be done through a posterior ear incision in some cases. It maybe best to do an anterior incision to hide the scar, any bulging and for the SMAS which lifts the fascia nd muscle for a longer lasting result. See a board certified ASAPS plastic surgeon in consultation. Good luck...

Believe it or not, plastic surgeons have little control over your wound healing biology. It is important to close the wound with as little tension as possible, but other than that, your scar healing is largely determined by your genetics. Nevertheless, I am always impressed at how well most facelift incisions eventually heal. Although there is initially some redness to the incision while healing, in most people it is very will hidden.

In a typical facelift, the incision comes down in front of the ear, but behind the tragus so it is broken up nicely. Just like with any incision, a little redness can be evident for a few weeks but makeup can cover it up. Just be sure to see a facelift specialist because he/she will be the most experienced at obtaining scars that are well hidden and difficult to detect.

In regards to facelift surgery, traditionally the incisions are made in front of the ears. For lower facelift sometimes the incisions are made under the chin. There will be some type of scar because of the incisions made however, the incisions should be small and should be hidden well. I highly recommend consulting with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon .Fading of scars and how pigmented scars are, are dependent on the patient and how they heal individually. For my patients, I usually offer scar revision post-surgery, if necessary. Thank you for your question and have a great day!

Thank you for your question.  Facelift incisions are typically placed in front of and behind the ear.  This is necessary in order to have adequate access to the deep tissues of the face, and to allow redraping of the excess skin.  The incision in front of the ear can be placed in front of or behind the tragus of the ear, and usually fades until it is nearly unnoticeable. This can take several months to completely fade away.  Be sure to consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who specializes in facelifts.  Also ask to see Before and After pictures.  I usually take a close-up of all incisions in my patients to show how they are healing. I hope that this helps!-David Gilpin

Facelift scars can vary with technique, but in general the scars are in front and behind the ear. The behind the ear scars are sometimes the most noticeable, though they will fade over a 6 month period. Short scar facelifts do limit scar length, though the result can be compromised with the inability to re-drape the skin.

Scars for a mini-facelift, lower facelift or traditional facelift always include an incision in front of the ear.  This scar can be minimized by hiding the scar in the natural lines in front of the ear or even moving the scar behind the tragus (small structure right in front of the ear canal) to break up the line of the scar and make it less conspicuous. For women, I typically allow them to put makeup over the scars as early as 1 week.  fading will occur over several months.

Hello and thank you for your question. There are many options for incision placement in a facelift and mini facelift.  If good technique is used,
this can be done with minimal scarring and can result in a natural look, not
over-done look, with rejuvenation of your face.  Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results. The most important aspect
is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek
consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate
you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon