When it comes to facelift scarring, do you have to choose between sagging skin and wearing your hair down the rest of your life? This is a common worry that causes some individuals to be apprehensive about undergoing facelift surgery. Contrary to this belief, it is not the norm for a facelift to leave permanent heavy scarring behind the ears. At Visage Facial Plastic Surgery, our intention is for patients to be able to wear their hair up and not worry about visible incision lines or irregular hairlines.

Why are incisions necessary for a facelift?

Age-related sagging creates excess skin. If you have ever pulled your face upward (to simulate a facelift), you will notice that extra skin bunches up above your fingers. This excess skin must be removed and this may only be achieved at the site of incisions placed around the ears and sideburn. We also need incisions to access the deeper tissues that takes on the force of the lift. A facelift that relies on skin tension alone will not sustain itself.

Where are facelift incisions made?

Dr. Patel performs a deep plane lift to achieve the most natural looking results with minimal scarring. The incision starts either along the sideburn hairline or within the sideburn depending on the patient’s anatomy. When a significant amount of skin requires removal and/or the patient has a high sideburn, we make the incision along the hairline to not displace the sideburn upward. In this case, we make the incision at an angle so that the sideburn hair may grow through and help conceal the incision. When less skin requires removal or the patient has a low sideburn, we generally carry the incision up into the sideburn hair. In this case, we bevel the incision at an angle that minimizes hair damage, and we maintain the sideburn at a normal position. The incision then continues around the natural curve of the ear before traveling along the edge of the tragus (the cartilage above the earlobe that extends back toward the ear canal).

We have found the most natural result comes from an incision placed at the edge of the tragus. After traveling down the tragus, the incision wraps around the earlobe at its attachment point to the face. It then travels upward in the crease behind the ear. This portion of the incision is completely concealed. After the incision nearly reaches the top of the ear, it is either carried back into the hair or it follows the hairline downward for a short distance. Similar to the sideburn region, the choice depends upon the amount of skin that will need to be removed. In patients with heavy or more advanced aged necks, we also use a small incision placed in a crease just behind the chin. This incision allows more direct access to neck regions that require liposuction or treatment of prominent neck bands.

In conclusion, by placing incisions in natural creases, beveling them at hairlines (to allow hair to camouflage them), and placing no tension on the skin closure, no one will see your incisions even when you wear your hair up! Of course, proper aftercare is an essential part of minimizing scarring during the healing process. We offer guidance on this to ensure that your incisions are healing properly during your post-op visits.

Dr. Patel's Facelift Reviews

"Dr. Patel was an easy choice for my procedure. I had gotten a quote from another Dr. several years earlier and she terrified me not only with the price, but with her description of exactly what she felt was needed to resolve my concern. Dr. Patel and his staff ONLY work on faces, and they know what they are doing. They immediately put me at ease by describing a much simpler procedure that delivered exactly the results I had hoped for without the slightest give away that I had work done. His bedside manner is awesome, and everyone in his office is a joy to talk to. I would recommend Dr. Patel to anyone wanting to improve their appearance and self-confidence."

"Dr. Patel gave me a facelift and the results are fabulous. People often tell me I look great, rested, and younger, yet they don't suspect I had a facelift."

"I would say to look no further than Dr Patel for a surgeon whom you can trust to perform the most skilled procedures on your face. Dr. Patel took pictures during the consultation and then generated photos to compare to show anticipated results. Three weeks after the surgery, it is clear that the expected results will be achieved and even beyond them. He is an exceedingly warm and attentive person and his confident manner puts you at ease instantly. Everything that his other patients say about him is absolutely true. He is always available and makes it clear that any patient is more than welcome to contact him at any time, during or after office hours, with questions and concerns."

Meet Dr. Anand Patel