Do I put anything on scabs after facelift?

Following facelift surgery, the incision lines in front and behind the ears are going to heal in a particular time line pattern. In the acute phase you want to keep the wounds clean and moist. Moist wounds heal better than dry wounds. This could be as simple as petroleum jelly or Aquaphor. Sometimes I use bacitracin ointment to cut down on the local bacterial count but you can't be allergic to bacitracin or this could stimulate a dermatitis. After the superficial skin is closed, about 4 weeks you can use a silastic jell with sun block. Lots available OTC.

It is not uncommon to have minor scabbing along the incision lines after a facelift, especially behind the ears. That said, this can also be indicative of something more serious like skin breakdown. Application of Bacitracin or another antibiotic ointment can be helpful to soften crusting. It is important, however, to see your surgeon for evaluation  to determine the cause of this crusting.

Congratulations on your recent procedure. The answer is no.  Speak directly with your surgeon first in regards to this question and any other concerns you may have post op. Only follow his/her instructions and do not experiment.  Thank you for your question and best wishes during your healing process.

Patients with questions and concerns about their healing process and possible scar creams should ask the plastic surgeon that performed the operation for advice/ recommendations. Patients should not apply any scar creams to facelift scars that is not approved by their surgeon to avoid compromising the healing process. 

Thank you for your question.If the scabs are dry, leave them alone, they act as a biological dressing and will come off naturally, as any other scabs do.If the scabs are wet or there is redness around the area (erythema), this could mean an infection is brewing and your surgeon should see you just to check to ensure this will not lead to cellulitis.All the best 

Usually you want to keep the incisions moist with antibiotic ointment during the healing phase.  If there are any scabs, these can be debrided by your surgeon or just allow them to fall on their own as the skin heals.  

I would recommend using an ointment, such as Aquaphor, on scabs after a facelift.  In general, it is always best to contact your particular surgeon because your surgeon has the most information about you and your procedure.  

Best to see your surgeon for detailed wound care instructions since he/she were the surgeons of record and should be happy to render post op care....

Thanks for your question however "scabs" can be dry crusted blood on the incision line or can indicate breakdown of the skin due to poor circulation and possibly excess tension.  No one can advise you properly through the Internet and you should seek consultation with your plastic surgeon to get his/her recommendations and act upon it.  You should be being seen regularly at this stage in follow-up at your doctor's office.Best wishes,Jon A Perlman M.D., FACSDiplomate, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)Beverly Hills, California

Your surgeon has his own post operative instructions for wound healing.  Scabs are usually a sign of poor healing and will need to be addressed by your surgeon.  In general, I would not use ointment on the scabs.