Thank you for your question. While scars will always be present, much can be done to make them as subtle as possible. Facelift incisions can be managed using a multimodal approach:1) Scar massage - starting as soon as the surgical dressings come off and the incisions are sealed2) Silicone sheets or scar gels for about six months to year3) Fractionated lasers to help blend the scar into the background - done as a series, starting about 4 weeks after surgery and repeated every four weeks for six months.4) Sunscreen to prevent the scars from darkeningYour incisions should be very subtle based on the placement of the incisions, but may need a full 6 months to 1 year or more to fade.
The scars from a facelift are in front of and behind the ears. They all fade nicely and are barely visible after one year post op.
Anytime a surgical incision is made, scarring is an inevitable consequence. Plastic surgeons use meticulous surgical techniques and attempt to place incisions where they will be well-hidden, but even these maneuvers don't always make them disappear. Facelift incisions are placed in front of the ear, behind the ear, underneath the chin, and in areas of hair growth. These areas are chosen because scars are minimally visible in these locations. Furthermore, hair growth, make-up, and jewelry can also help to make scars less noticeable in these locations. Wound-healing is also important and varies from patient to patient. Patients with lighter skin coloration tend to have less noticeable scar formation than patients with darker skin tone. This genetic variation accounts for many of the differences we see in how wounds heal. Wound healing goes on for a year following facelift surgery and during this period, gradual improvements can be expected. Scars will tend to flatten and lose their redness as time passes. It's important to remember that scarring occurs in all facelifts. Scar revision may be necessary in rare cases if scarring is noticeable. In most facelifts, scarring is minimal and patients report high satisfaction rates.
