What scarring can I expect following facelift surgery?

With facelift scarring, it's important to remember that every patient is different. Your scarring will depend on several factors, including:

• The type of facelift you have: There are different facelift procedures, and each can cause specific scarring.
•  Your skin type: Some people heal with barely noticeable scars, while others may have more visible scarring.
• The skill of your surgeon: A skilled surgeon can minimize the appearance of your scars.
• Another consideration is how scars age. They may look different immediately after your surgery and then change. For some people, scars may become less visible as they heal.

Most facelift patients will have some bruising and swelling immediately after surgery. This is normal and usually goes away within a few weeks.

As the swelling and bruising go down, you'll start to see your scars. They may be pink or red at first, but they should fade to a white or flesh-toned colour.

At Kensington Medical our skilled surgeons hide most scars in the skin's natural creases so they're not easily noticeable. However, you may have scars behind your ears or along your hairline. These should also fade with time.

You can expect two types of scars following facelift surgery: incisional scars and bruises.

Incisional scars are the most common type of scarring following facelift surgery. They are the scars that result from surgical incisions. They heal in a few weeks and are typically well hidden in the skin's natural creases.

The place where the incisions are made for a facelift depends on the type of facelift. For example, a traditional facelift uses incisions that start in front of the ear not easily seen, extend around the earlobe, and end behind the ear, following the hairline. These incisions are usually well hidden by your hair.

The mini facelift has shorter incisions that start in front of the ear and end behind it. Some patients have scars under the chin, depending on the type of facelift and neck lift.

A jowl lift or lower facelift will make incisons in the hair line and the scars will be hidden in the hairline. 

A SMAS facelift or  deep plane facelft will leave small scars hidden along the hairline or scalp. They will fade over time.

Once your surgical wounds have healed, you can start using scar treatments to help reduce their appearance. You can use silicone gel sheeting, which you can buy over the counter. You can also use an over-the-counter topical steroid cream to help reduce inflammation.

Following your surgeon's instructions is essential to care for your scars. This will help ensure they heal properly and minimize the risk of infection.

Kensington Medical is committed to helping you heal and ensuring that your scars are as well hidden as possible. We'll work with you to ensure you're happy with your results.

If you have any questions about facelift scarring, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're always happy to help.

While you can't completely avoid scarring after facelift surgery, there are things you can do to minimize the appearance of scars. Here are a few tips:

• Follow your surgeon's instructions for care after surgery. This will help ensure proper healing and minimize the risk of infection.
• Use silicone gel sheeting or an over-the-counter topical steroid cream to help reduce inflammation.
• Relax and let your body heal. Avoid activities that may put undue stress on your healing incisions.
• Avoid sun exposure. Sunlight can cause scars to darken and become more visible.
• Don't smoke. Smoking delays healing and can cause scars to become more visible.
• Be patient. It can take several months for scars to fade.

Overall, the most important thing you can do to minimise the appearance of scars is to follow your surgeon's instructions for care after surgery. This will help ensure proper healing and minimise the risk of infection.

Kensington Medical focus on the face, in fact, we do nothing else. Our expert Plastic Surgeons are on the GMC register and have decades of experience in facial plastic surgery. 

Kensington Medical is committed to helping you achieve your goals and providing natural-looking results. If you're considering facelift surgery, contact us or call us to schedule a consultation. We'll work with you to ensure you're happy with your results.

To find out about Kesington Medical, our values and why we work hard to follow them, our 5 star hospitals our expert plastic surgeons follow this link.