I have wide white scars under my ears and into my hairline after a face lift in July 2017. Why has this happened? (Photo)

Question

A mini face lift has left me with scarring. Flat, white and wide in my hair line,jn front of and behind do my eats. I cannot wear my hair up or put my hair behind my ears ad they are very visable. Why has this happened?

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question!Unfortunately, I cannot see from the above your scars a the picture quality isn't great. However, scars worsen when too much tension is put on the skin which causes the scars to stretch and drop mainly due to unacceptable technique in position the scars correctly.If your scars have matured, be sure to refer back to your surgeon/certified board of plastic surgeons to revise and neaten them round the area. Referring back to your surgeon, revision surgery shouldn't cost anything in addition as it seems the first surgery didn't go to plan with the technique used. Revision facelifts require specialist skills to achieve a harmonious, attractive and natural-looking result.Good luck!

Charles Nduka, MD · Answer

It would be best to consult with your surgeon directly as he knows your condition best and could give you scar management options like scar revision. Schedule an appointment with your surgeon for an in-person examination.

Babar Sultan, MD · Answer

Your scars likely resulted from too much tension on the skin.  If the scar is mature, it can be revised.

All the best!

William Marshall Guy, MD · Answer

Hello Elluss11,Sorry to hear about your scarring issues.  I am not sure if you meant to write 2016 instead of 2017 for the facelift.  If you just had your facelift it is important to give things time to heal.  If you already have wide scars at three weeks they would likely continue to worsen as the healing continues.  The reason you see wide scars is from excess tension.  This is more common with skin only lifts as opposed to ones that address the deeper tissue.  Whether your "mini lift" involved just the skin or did tighten the deeper tissue may have been a predisposing factor for this.  The fact that you have wide scars essentially everywhere would either be from a technical aspect of the surgery or inherent to how you heal.  The way to distinguish the two is if you have poor scars elsewhere or only in the areas where this surgery was performed.I'd recommend you follow up with your surgeon to express your concern and possibly get a second opinion from a facial plastic surgeon about what can be done to improve your scars.

Julio Clavijo-Alvarez, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

Congratulations on your procedure and thanks for sharing your question. I can appreciate your concern.
Unfortunately, scaring is a must when removing excess skin. The width of the scar depends on the tension that was placed to the skin, when removing the excess skin. Thick scars are more likely on minifacelift, since this procedure is focus on the skin only, and not so much in the deepper tissues. 
Finally, make sure that your doctor is aware of your process. He should be able to guide you best in your care.
  
Wishing you the best in your journey

Douglas McGeorge, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Ultimately, the quality of scars is down to your genetic make up and the way you heal.
Please go back and see your surgeon to discuss whether revision might help matters.  There is usually less tension on revised scars, which might make a difference to the final result.

Laxmeesh Mike Nayak, MD · Answer

Your picture did not upload properly -  please upload again. In general, depending on the appearance, this may be caused by poor planning of skin excision, or by poor genetics.

Leslie Kim, MD, MPH · Answer

Thank you for your question and photo.  You appear to have a widened, atrophic scar which can be a result of too much tension on the skin closure.  I recommend consulting with your surgeon and discussing your concerns.  He/she may discuss a scar revision with you.  Hope that helps, best of luck to you!

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

Sorry to hear about your scarring issues.   Unfortunately, the quality of scars is down to your genetic make up and the way you heal.  Discuss scar revision with your surgeon.

Jon A. Perlman, MD (retired) · Answer

Most probably there has been excess tension placed on your surgical incisions rather than on the deeper tissues of the face (ie SMAS).  After a year, enough time has probably passed to make revision of your scars or, if necessary of your facelift a consideration.  Consider getting a second opinion and showing your before pictures to allow for assessment of your results.  The video below discusses methods to avoid an obvious look as a result of a properly done facelift.Best wishes,Jon A Perlman MD FACS 
  
Certified, Am Board of Plastic Surgery 
  
Member, Am. Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) 
  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
  
Beverly Hills, Ca

I have wide white scars under my ears and into my hairline after a face lift in July 2017. Why has this happened? (Photo)

Answers (11)

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