9 months post facelift - how can I improve my scars? (Photos)

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

It’s understandable to feel discouraged when scars remain noticeable after such a big procedure, especially since they can affect how confident you feel with the overall result. At 9 months, your scars are still in the healing and remodeling phase—scars can continue to mature and fade for up to 12–18 months, so there’s still room for improvement.

For now, treatments that can help include silicone gels or sheets to soften and flatten the scars, steroid injections if the scar is raised or thick, and laser treatments (like fractional or vascular lasers) to improve both texture and color. Microneedling with or without PRP can also encourage collagen remodeling in the scarred area. For scars behind the ear, these treatments work as well, but camouflage with hairstyling can also help in the meantime.

Because you’re Asian, it’s important to be cautious with treatments since skin of color can sometimes develop pigmentation changes. Working with someone experienced in scar management for Asian skin is key. The good news is that scars usually continue to fade and blend in over time, especially with the right care.

I am sorry that you are having this problem. At least from the photos provided, it appears that some portions of the scars are elevated. If so, these can be flattened via the use of intralesional injections of various anti-inflammatory agents.
As for the hypopigmentation, this can be addressed via the use of professionally performed, manual microneedling (no need for the added expense or risks of RF microneedling) accompanied by the application of Rx pigment enhancers, such as topical tyrosine, in order to better blend in color and texture the scars with the surrounding normal skin.
You would be wise to consult with a board certified cosmetic dermatologist scar treatment specialist and best of luck.

Hi there, and thank you for your question. If you have already tried topical scar treatment gels, and found that they did not improve your scars, you can always ask your surgeon if they offer microneedling. These are treatments done in office, typically in a series, spaced out over the course of 4-6 weeks. I find that patients see a great amount of improvement in their scars after completing treatment.

Yes, revision of your scars can be accomplished best of virtual concert with. But if expect fees to range approximately four to $5000 this can be done under local anesthesia of desire again best of virtual consult with.