Tragus restoration: Is it possible to restore a tragus that is covered up with skin in a facelift?

Question

Is it possible to restore a tragus that is covered up with skin in a facelift. And put the scar in front of the ear instead? Due to a to tight facelift my ears are itching, tingeling and my ears fills up with water because the skin is so tight that it pulls my ear open. I am 2 years post surgery. This is so uncomfortable, its like my whole faceskin is beeing held up by the tragus and ear. I also have pixieears due to this botched facelift.

Evan Ransom, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question. Without photos, I can't say for sure what would be best. If you have residual laxity in the cheeks, lifting the skin and SMAS again may give enough length to cover the tragus and lift the earlobe. If there is not sufficient skin laxity to do this without causing a pulled look, you can open up the incision around the ear, move the post-tragal incision into the pre-tragal crease, and then place a skin graft in the space between these incisions. Initially there will be some mismatch in the color and texture, but over time this heals well. Best of luck and take care!

Alejandro J. Quiroz, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  It will be very helpful to see some pictures but depending of you are a male or female. Some times the  sideburn hair can be inside the tragus.  Also the normal skin that cover the tragus us change for fat thick skin covering the tragus.  Again one important question is if you have relax 2 cm that normally measures the amount of skin that covers the tragus.

Trevor M. Born, MD · Answer

Dear Artemisia75Thank you for your question and I am sorry that you are experiencing difficulties. It is difficult to determine what would help you - an in person consult is best .  The correction of the ears can be done in office if there is some laxity and you will trade for a scar , or if possible - a redo lift if there is enough laxity.With Warm RegardsTrevor M Born MD

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

It is very hard to comment on your question without in person evaluation or, at least, series of good photos. There are ways to correct tragus position/shape 2 years after face-lift but is has to be decided on individual basis. In person consultation with 2-3 board certified plastic surgeons with excellent reputation in face lifts would help. Good luck.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

An examination or photos of you would be needed to determine what options you might have to improve the issues with your ears after your facelift.  In general, revisions of the tragus and earlobes can usually be done to provide improvement.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Although you don’t show photos I have seen many patients with the same problem. I have converted the retrotragal incision to pretragal to give the ear a better shape. The pixie earlobe can be reshaped no your ear looks natural. Sometime those cases need the earlobe reduced as well. However to really get it right you need to have the facelift entirely redone. A minor touch up just won’t give you the tight look. Personally I don’t like retrotragal incisions , I like what most surgeons will tell you ) they often end up with an unnatural looking ear.

Matthew Kienstra, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, it is reasonable to consider this as well as fix the pixie ear deformity. I am sorry that this happened to you! I would recommend seeing an experienced, board certified surgeon and maybe getting a couple of opinions before proceeding. This might relieve some of the stress caused by your previous bad experience. I wish you the best!

Jason Pozner, MD · Answer

Please post photos. Most of these can be improved with reundermining and advancing the skinand smas. Repositioning the scar in front of the ear will probably not help

Tragus restoration: Is it possible to restore a tragus that is covered up with skin in a facelift?

Answers (8)

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