Facelift Scars: Ultimate Guide

A facelift is a cosmetic surgery that reduces age-related changes on areas of the face and neck, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. While the benefits of a facelift are abundant, scarring is often a common concern that may cause you to feel hesitant about the cosmetic procedure.

In this article, we’ll discuss whether facelifts leave visible scars, where your surgeon will make the incisions, and how to avoid scarring after your cosmetic surgery. First, it helps to understand why scars have the potential to form after plastic surgery.

Why Do Scars Form After Plastic Surgery?

Scars form after plastic surgery due to tissue remodeling and maturation. Scarring is the body’s natural healing process after the tissue has been damaged. New tissue forms to pull the wound together, in this instance, the incisions. Wounds will begin to contract after a week, and collagen will build up, allowing the wound to heal and become stronger. 

Does a Facelift Leave Scars?

When an experienced cosmetic surgeon performs a facelift, visible scarring is rare. Technology today allows surgeons to make fewer incisions that cause minimal scarring. Experienced surgeons intentionally place these incisions in areas that are less noticeable once the healing process is complete. 

Facelift Incision Placement

Surgeons typically place facelift incisions in natural creases in the skin to avoid visible scarring. While each facelift procedure is unique, the placement of incisions traditionally starts along the hairline and continues down toward the ears.

Hairline

Two incisions are common on the hairline. They are commonly hidden in the hair dip along the temple and inside the ear. This placement is essential for the cosmetic procedure as it gives the surgeon visibility and access to skin and muscles.

Ears

The hairline incisions typically continue in front of or behind the ears. Placing the incisions behind a patients’ ears helps the surgeon provide a natural contour and helps hide the scars in the creases.  

Chin

Chin incisions for a facelift help the surgeon eliminate the sagging skin in your cheeks. Chin incisions also provide access for the tightening of the skin on the neckline and lower jawline. 

Will Scars Fade Overtime?

If you do find that you form visible scars or even hidden scars in the creases of your skin, rest assured. Scars do fade over time. Many scars fade over time. The key word here is “time.” It takes at least six months for the scar to fully heal. 

The coloration of the scar often indicates the stage of healing. A fresh scar will look pink and puffy. Within the six-month time frame, the scar will transition to a white hue. Typically scars may take between 1-2 years to fully fade away.

However, it should be noted that not all scars fade, and some may need additional cosmetic treatments to resolve. If the rarity of scarring and the probability of fading doesn’t reassure you, there are some tactics you can practice to help avoid scarring after your facelift.  

How to Avoid Scarring After Facelift

Facelift aftercare is important in order to avoid intense scarring and have a successful healing process. Your surgeon will provide the best practices following your facelift, so you know what’s harmful to your facelift results and healing. How you take care of your incisions in addition to your patience through the facelift recovery process will determine how visible your scars appear.

Below are the top tips to avoid scarring after your cosmetic surgery. 

Avoid Smoking

Any form of nicotine can be detrimental to your facelift healing process. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine chewing gum, and even secondhand smoke. Nicotine causes your blood vessels to shrink, which could result in loss of cheek skin, infections, delayed wound healing, blood clots, and, unfortunately, thick scars. 

Protect From the Sun

Even without a facelift, the sun can cause burning and long-term damage to the skin. After your cosmetic surgery, you should limit sun exposure and protect yourself from harmful UV rays. Some ways to protect your skin include applying SPF sunscreen daily and covering your face with sun-protective clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat. 

If you want to avoid skin discoloration around the facelift incision sites and the formation of thick scars, avoid extensive sun exposure or intentional tanning.   

Clean Incisions

Cleaning and caring for your incisions is imperative to avoid scarring after your facelift. All you need is soap, warm water, hydrogen peroxide, and an antibiotic ointment. You should gently wash the incision area 2-3 times a day with warm, soapy water. Pat to dry and do not wipe! The incision areas are very tender, and the scar is fresh, so you must be careful. 

After washing, apply hydrogen peroxide, which is diluted with water, and apply a thin layer of the antibiotic ointment. 

Allow Enough Time to Heal

You may be eager to get back to your normal routine after your facelift, which might look like exercising, working, or traveling. Unfortunately, these activities must wait if you want your incisions to heal properly. It is best not to lift anything heavier than 15 pounds for the first two weeks. After 5-6 weeks, you can eventually resume strenuous exercise. 

Work and wearing makeup should wait until 10-14 days after surgery. While this may feel overly cautious or restrictive, it’s for the betterment of your healing and the appearance of your skin following your cosmetic surgery. 

Find a Board Certified Surgeon

As mentioned previously, scarring is rare when a professional cosmetic surgeon performs your facelift. This means that finding a board-certified surgeon is imperative to having intentionally hidden incision placements that heal with no scarring.

Dr. Dominic at Elite Facial Plastic Surgery is a double-board certified plastic surgeon with expertise in facelifts and other cosmetic procedures. His quality care and guidance in your recovery will make the process almost painless in maintaining the youthful appearance of your facelift. 

If you want to talk more about facelifts and the possibility of scarring, call Dr. Dominic today at 813-547-6992 or fill out the online form.

Related articles

Schedule a Complimentary consultation