Is It Possible to Have a Neck Lift/lower Facelift with Concealed Scars?

A neck lift/lower
facelift should
not produce obvious scars. If incisions are made strategically, it
should
reduce the visibility of surgical scars. During a neck lift/lower
facelift, the
incisions are made beneath the chin and behind the ears. Depending on
the
individual and extent of the surgery, short incisions may be made,
further
minimizing the chance of scarring. With scar management during the
healing process (protection from the sunlight and abrasion, for
example), the
incision lines generally fade to be barely perceptible. Less than 1% of
the population can have issues with scars such as keloid scars, this is
where in stead of the scars becoming finer, they thicken. Usually
patients know if they are prone to keloid scars from other minor
injuries, for these patients it is important to consider the use of
anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce potential for scarring after
surgery. In the majority of patients after facelift surgery, the scars
heal well when necessary care and attention has been taken to make the
scars discrete and difficult to see. Hiding the scars from facelift and
neck lift surgery often takes additional time and may take over 45
minutest to hide the scars on each side. Although short cuts can reduce
the length of surgery this is an area where meticulous care over detail
is required to ensure the scars are discreet and concealed.

Yes, it is possible to conceal your facelift scars to minimize the stigma of a facelift.  That's a very common question and concern in my patients.  We perform a natural facelift and natural minifacelift.  Because of the way the surgery is performed, the scars hide extremely well and are almost inconspicuous so the patient can wear their hair anyway they want afterwards.  Of course, there's a healing period because incisions turn red for a few weeks.  The lighter your skin, the longer the incisions stay red.  However, after the stitches come out, which is usually 7 days after surgery, you can cover the redness with makeup until the redness fades.  Once the redness fades, it's extremely difficult to find the scars. 

Patients who desire facial rejuvenation that is affordable, quick, and effective should consider the Lite-lift™. The LiteLift™ is an innovative facelift developed by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Larry Nichter and myself which benefits many male patients. The goal of the #LiteLift is to provide a less invasive natural looking option for both men and women desiring to refresh their appearance with less downtime and risks. The LiteLift® is a “real” facelift, which does address the underlying muscle, tissue and overlying skin.The technique requires limited incisions and takes a vertical lifting approach, in contrast to the traditional facelift, which requires extensive incisions and lifts or pulls the face towards the ears horizontally. The modern techniques used allow us to perform most LiteLift® procedures in the office under local anesthesia. Also, removing the risk of general anesthesia opens the door for more people to pursue facial surgery. All too often people do not move forward with undergoing the desires facelift surgery due to their overwhelming fear of the risks associated with general anesthesia.This is a modified facelift that can be performed in the office with a local anesthetic and improve signs of aging around the neck, jawbone and lower face. These procedures are not "Thread-lifts" or "String-lifts". We do not use the "barbed" sutures employed in these other lifting operations. The Lite-lift™ uses longer lasting techniques that are discussed below. Because the incisions are limited, there is less bruising, swelling and healing time for most patients. Many patients can be back to work in one to two weeks looking rested and more youthful.The best candidates for #LiteLift are non-smoking patients 35-60 years old with stable skin elasticity, well-defined bone structure but showing early changes of the lower face and the neck. Older patients who cannot or do not wish to have a longer operation or general anesthetic can be improved with a Lite Lift™. All in all, Lite Lift™ surgery is individualized for each patient.

The Concept™ Facelift cosmetic surgery procedure looks to address each of these 3 changes to revitalise and freshen the facial appearance. A good face lift aims at achieving a natural, youthful and fresh look without giving away any signs that the patient has had cosmetic surgery. There are many different types of face lift surgery which tends to confuse patients as to which is the best for them. Every individual is different, which is why our cosmetic surgeons look to discuss the best procedure that will suit your facial structure and assist you in achieving the look that you want.What makes the Concept™ Facelift so revolutionary is that you can have the same results as a traditional face life but can have you back to work within days rather than months. If you are looking for a procedure that will flatter and rejuvenate you, without too stark a difference post operatively, then a Concept™ Facelift is for youWe have had clients that have gone shopping a day or two after, with no one the wiser.Check out our website for more information.

Yes, it is possible to conceal scars with neck lift/lower facelift procedures by utilizing the laser. The Laser-Assisted Weekend Necklift is becoming known as a safe and
fast alternative to the traditional facelift while providing a natural,
non-surgical appearance. I create a small,
hidden incision is created in the natural fold under the chin. Then, instead of
using a scalpel, I use a laser, liposuction, and sometimes a
chin implant to improve the appearance of a sagging face, jowls, and neck.I suggest you consult a board certified facial plastic surgeon
to receive the highest quality knowledge, treatment, care and skill
available.A consultation provides you
the opportunity to relay your concerns and desired outcome to the surgeon while
the surgeon can assess your health profile and discuss his/her pertinent
advice.

When a facelift is performed correctly, the scars should be imperceptible. This is because they are placed in certain areas that keep them out of sight and the tension is placed in the deeper layers, not on the skin surface.

When performing lower facelift surgery, pencil-thin incisions are created in the hair (without altering the hairline or losing hair!) and inside the ear for imperceptible incision lines.  By 10-14 days, going out or seeing friends, family, or colleagues is possible with a little makeup. 

I regularly perform short incision lower facelifts in which the incision is very small and the resulting scar is almost invisible. Just be sure to visit an experienced facial plastic surgeon for the procedure to ensure minimal scarring. Your physical activity should be limited for about 3 weeks following the procedure.

The face is by no means the only area of our body that reflects the ravages of the passage of time. The neck, too, is vulnerable to assault from long-term ultraviolet exposure, the dictates of our genetics, gravitational effects, and changes in muscle mass and elasticity with chronological aging. A variety of surgical options exist for dealing with neck problems. These include full lifts, mini-lifts, minimal incision lifts, and S-Lifts. All are predicated on cutting away excess skin, shoring up the underlying tissue, and reinforcing the long, thin, sheet-like muscle layer, known as the platysma.

But all these methods of repair are true surgery, which are expensive, postoperatively painful, demand protracted recuperative times away from work and social activities, and risk permanent scars. Happily, The Nonsurgical 3D Vectoring Necklift offers a viable alternative for diminishing unsightly turkey necks and cords.

Like its facial counterpart, The Nonsurgical 3D Vectoring Facelift, which is discussed elsewhere in Realself, The Nonsurgical 3D Vectoring Necklift entails the strategic placement of "strands" or "strains" (i.e. threadlike deposits) of volumizing fillers (my favorite for this purpose being a combination of Radiesse, a calcium-based volumizer and Juvederm Ultra Plus XC, a hyaluronic based material) starting from the more "fixed' areas near the angles of the mandible down and outward across the jawline and extending inward radially toward the more mobile and lax central portion of the neck. The three dimensional result of creating these vectors (directions of force) in this fashion is to stretch the skin under the chin and smooth it.

Gratifying results are typically seen  immediately, and there is continued improvement in appearance over the course of the next four to eight weeks as the presence of the volumizing fillers within the tissues stimulates new native collagen formation leading to subsequent additional skin retraction and lifting of the target areas. The procedure typically takes about fifteen minutes to perform using only local anesthesia and typically entails little in the way of discomfort, bruising or swelling, i.e. little or no downtime.

Facelift scars can be minimized by creating a slightly irregular contour and placing the incision behind the tragus (on the back of the cartilage of the ear).  Your eye is drawn to a straight line so a slightly irregular contour will make the incision less noticeable.  Also avoiding tension on the incision will help prevent the scar from widening.  In general it takes about 2 weeks to heal to a degree where one feels comfortable going out to social events.