As facelift experts in Utah, both Dr. Scott Thompson and Dr. Douglas Henstrom perform facelift procedures often. There are many questions that almost all patients have when they first come in for a consultation with one of our surgeons and one of the biggest questions is what do facelift scars look like? While there are many before and after photos in our gallery, the typical views don’t include a zoomed in photo of the scars in front of the ear and behind the ear with the hair pulled back. In this article we include photos of the facelift scars in front of and behind the ear of a facelift patient of Dr. Thompson’s who consented to us using her photos online to educate others.
The Incisions
The facelift incision starts in the temporal hairline, comes in front of the ear then behind the cartilage (tragus), up behind the ear and then into the hairline behind the ear. See an image of the incisions here. There is also one under the chin that allows the surgeon to perform liposuction and address any protruding plastysma bands. The incisions are closed up with careful precision and under no tension so the heal to look as minimal as possible.
The Scars
Anytime there is an incision, there will be a scar but some heal better than others depending on how they are closed and cared for after surgery. Sutures following a facelift come out at different points with all of them out by day 10. Patients are instructed to clean any incisions with sutures with hydrogen peroxide and water (50/50) and then applying antibiotic ointment until the sutures come out. At that time, steri-strips are glued to hold the incisions together a bit longer but sutures need to come out soon to avoid hole marks in the skin. They are initially red but fade over time. Make up can be used once the sutures come out. Here is a patient 6 months after her facelift surgery.
For more information about what facelift scars look like and facelift surgery in Utah, call (801)776-2220 or contact us here.