Scars After Facelift: Advice and Insight for Patients
By undergoing a facelift, you can greatly enhance your appearance. The procedure can shed years from your face, helping you feel vibrant and refreshed. Whether you decide to go with a traditional facelift or another facial lift surgery, our Little Rock, AR team is here to offer insight and advice.
Dr. Michael Devlin gets many questions about scars after plastic surgery. Below, let’s consider where incisions are made during a facelift and what to expect with regard to post-surgical scarring.
Where Are Incisions Located During a Facelift?
During a facelift, incisions are usually located behind and around the ear area. Usually the incision starts behind the middle of the ear, extending down to the earlobe, around the front curves of the ear, and then up into the hairline.
Through this incision, underlying structures of the face can be adjusted, excess skin removed, and the remaining facial skin pulled tighter. This helps reduce sagging and facial wrinkles around the mid-face area.
Will Scars Be Visible?
All efforts are made to ensure that facelift scars are as discreet as possible. They are concealed along the natural contours of the ear as well as the hairline, which keeps scarring as well-hidden as possible. While scarring is somewhat visible in the first weeks after surgery, it will gradually fade in the months and years ahead.
Even though we will work our hardest to keep scarring hidden, we do need to note that scars could be visible if there are complications during the healing process or other issues that arise in the weeks and months after surgery.
Initial Consultation and Planning to Minimize Scarring
During the initial facelift consultation at our Little Rock plastic surgery center, we will go over your medical history and discuss any previous issues you have have had with post-surgical scarring. If keloid scars or poor healing are serious issues you’ve previously experienced, we can modify the facelift to minimize scarring. If there is too much of a scarring risk, we may recommend non-surgical treatment instead.
Our goal during this pre-planning consultation is to minimize all risks for poor cosmetic outcomes or health issues.
Proper Healing After a Facelift
After a facelift is performed, it’s important that patients avoid touching, scratching, or tugging at the area around their incisions. Focus on rest as much as possible in order to ensure proper healing. Patients are also advised to avoid hot showers, steam rooms, and hot tubs as these can lead to inflammation and serious discomfort during the recovery process.
Attend all follow-up visit as scheduled so we can monitor your recovery and address any issues that arise as soon as possible.
Covering Up and Using Sunblock
After you’ve recovered from facelift surgery, proper aftercare will be essential to ensure that scarring remains minimal. The most important aspect of this aftercare involves covering up the incision areas and/or using sunblock. If you can avoid excessive sun exposure, this tends to prevent serious, noticeable scars from developing.
Scar Revision Options If Issues Arise
If you do develop major scars after facelift, there are various scar revision options to consider. Sometimes over-the-counter scar revision is all that is necessary to address your needs, while other times professional scar reduction surgery is required. We can determine the right option for you during a visit.
Learn More About Facelifts
If you live in Little Rock and would like more information about facial rejuvenation, be sure to contact a skilled cosmetic plastic surgeon. You can reach our cosmetic surgery center by phone at (501) 222-1173.
