Does a facelift cause hair loss? Will I need a hair transplant after?

The facelift procedure techniques have developed over the years to ensure you will not suffer from hair loss. In older techniques the incision would be placed in front of your ear in the middle of your side burns and then round the back into your hair lone. This could cause hair loss. However nowadays the incisions are placed much closer to the ears and tucked round the back. In all of my surgeries for the the Facelift procedure i do not go near the hair line at all. I have performed hair transplants on patients who had a facelift elsewhere and had hair loss. 

Thank you for your question.  The short answer to your question is, no; a facelift should not cause hair loss.  The incisions for a well executed facelift are placed to minimize any hair loss.  All incisions after the procedure should heal imperceptibly.  Older techniques used for facelifting sometimes would leave a patient with hair loss around the temples, or behind the ear.  However, the techniques we used today will not do this.Be sure to consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who specializes in facelifts.  Be sure to look at it before and after photographs of previous facelift patients, as well.I hope that this helps!–David Gilpin

Hi ballet8988 and thank you for your question.  A facelift does not typically cause hair loss and in my 20+ years of experience I have not had a facelift patient require a hair transplant following their facelift procedure.  In theory, and depending upon where your incisions are placed, there is the potential for temporary hair loss or shedding if the incision extends into the hairline and is closed with tension on the incision.  This hair loss is typically not permanent but careful surgical planning should help to reduce this risk.  Please consider scheduling a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who is well-experienced in performing facelifts for an evaluation and to determine your candidacy for the procedure.  At the time of your consultation your concerns can be best addressed.  I hope this helps and I wish you all of the best!