Do I need to search for a surgeon who specializes in revisions to re-do facelift & fix pixie ears? (Photo)

Thank you for your question. I would say the answer depends on whether you just want the ear lobes revised, or if you want a revision facelift in addition. If just the ear lobes, a fellowship-trained facial plastic or plastic surgeon will be able to perform a correction. If choosing to undergo a revision facelift, while both of the above are great, the stakes and complexity are higher and you may want to seek out someone who has experience with revisions. I'm sorry you're going through this, but I hope this information helps.
-Dr. P

I would recommend obtaining a second opinion from an experienced aesthetic plastic surgeon who actually does lots of facial surgery. I would personally perform a revisionary complete high SMAS composite "deep plane" facelift and neck lift. You have to take tension off the skin infront of the ear. Mini-lifts do not work nor last as they do not appropriately address the deeper tissues and redrape the skin without tension. These are all my own opinions based on the photos provided. I would recommend seeing a plastic surgeon who has great training and experience in aesthetic surgery.

The key to this will be to advance the skin underneath your ears back further to take the pressure off pulling on the earlobes. If you have skin laxity it is readily done in the office. It is possible that the facelift can be revised at the same time as these scars and shape issues.

It’s truly amazing to me that so many surgeons don’t know how to prevent or fix pixie ears. It’s really simple if the surgeon knows how and that that a big IF. Search for a surgeon who can show photos of pixie ears they have fixed and who has a solid plan. I have three before and afters on my IG showing how it’s done.

If you had a mini facelift in 2000 you are probably due for another facelift. If it was a mini facelift then most of the planes of dissection that are entered in a sub SMAS or deep plane facelift have not been violated and the revision surgery should not be terribly complex. Fixing the Pixie ear deformity will be a great deal easier after some the soft tissue in your neck and face is recruited to relieve the tension in the skin around your ear lobe which caused the Pixie ear deformity in the first place.

Thank you for your question. Pixie ears are a result of excessive tension on the earlobes, a problem that is fairly easy to avoid with a Surgeon who specializes in Facelifts. So, the answer is a resounding "Yes". See a Facial Plastic Surgeon who performs a lot of facelifts (100 plus per year) and who is comfortable wit revisions. Here in SWFL, 25-40% of my facelift patients, depending on the year, are revisions.

Fixing pixie ears after a facelift is normally a relatively simple procedure that can be done in the office with just local anesthesia. It is unclear from your pictures if you would need a revision to the facelift as well or not. If you did need a revision to the facelift, this would be a more involved procedure. I would say that most surgeons that perform facelifts are also well-suited to perform revisions, so in my opinion, you would not necessarily need to have a surgeon who specializes in revisions.

Look for surgeon who performs lots of facelift procedures, that look very natural especially without the pixie ear deformity. Study your prospective surgeon's before and after facelift photo Gallery, and make sure the hair is pulled back behind ears in the after photos, so that you can look at how the earlobes are contoured. In addition to pixie earlobe repair, you may need a revision facelift after 20 years as well. A full set of facial photographs would make that determination.

Very nicely posted photos. To "fix" is not really hard, it is a very easy revision under local anesthesia. Fee $4,000. Best to virtual consult with...

Hello! The pixie ear deformity can be challenging to correct but not impossible. Improvements can certainly be made. If the facelift needs to be redone, the earlobes can be done at the same time unless there is concern for blood supply issues. If the latter is true, the earlobes can be done in clinic at a separate setting. Many surgeons who perform facelifts have encountered revisions before. A revision specialist may be worth consulting with if you can find one who exclusively performs them. Seek the opinions of several Facial Plastic Surgeons to learn more. Hope this helps you!