Facelift Scars: Understanding Scarring After Facelift Surgery

Are facelift scars permanent? Yes however they typically fade into fine, pale lines over 12 months. These scars will gradually become less noticeable with proper care. The initial healing process and proper scar care will help to improve their appearance.

At Kensington Medical we ensure that facelift scars are discrete. We will give you important post operate instructions on how best to look after your scars. We also have a number of post operative appointments to check the facelift scars are healing correctly.

Key summary points:

Facelift scars are permanent however they do fade to fine, pale lines within 6–12 months.
Facelift incision placement depending on the type of facelift can be in front of the ear, behind the ear for more extensive facelift surgery, within the hairline, and sometimes under the chin—all designed to hide within natural creases.
Deep plane facelift scars and SMAS facelift scars have similar locations.
Following your surgeon’s post operative care instructions will help minimise the risk of noticeable scarring.
At Kensington Medical in London, careful incision planning and structured aftercare will keep your face lift scars as inconspicuous as possible.

Introduction to Facelift Surgery

Facelift surgery, also known as rhytidectomy, is a highly sought-after cosmetic procedure designed to restore a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance by addressing common signs of aging such as sagging skin, wrinkles, and loose skin on the face and neck. We find one of the most frequent concerns for patients considering a facelift procedure is the potential for visible scarring. While some degree of scarring is inevitable with any surgical procedure, modern facelift techniques focus on achieving minimal scarring by carefully placing incisions in natural creases around the ears and along the hairline, helping to conceal scars and blend them with the surrounding skin.

During a facelift, your plastic surgeon removes excess skin, tightens the underlying muscles and reposition facial tissue. This process not only addresses loose skin but also enhances the overall appearance of the face and neck. The appearance of facelift scars can vary based on several factors, including your skin type, age, genetics, and the specific surgical technique used. While facelift scars are permanent, they fade over time and become less noticeable, especially when proper care is taken during the recovery period.

The healing process after facelift surgery can take several months to a year or more. Initially, scars may appear red or raised, but as they mature, they usually flatten and gradually blend in with your natural skin color. Factors such as sun exposure, smoking, and inadequate wound care can darken scars and make them more visible, so it’s essential to follow your plastic surgeon’s post operative care instructions closely. Proper care, including sun protection and good wound care, plays a crucial role in promoting optimal healing and reducing the risk of more visible scarring.

Setting realistic expectations about scar appearance and the recovery timeline is key to a positive facelift experience. By understanding how scars form and heal, and by working with a skilled plastic surgeon who uses advanced techniques to minimize and conceal scars, you can achieve natural-looking results with minimal scarring. A thorough consultation will provide you with personalized advice on scar management, post operative care, and the best strategies to ensure your scars heal as discreetly as possible.

Understanding Facelift Scarring

Facelift scarring is a common concern for individuals considering facelift surgery. Facelift scars are unavoidable incision marks resulting from skin tightening, and their visibility can vary depending on surgical technique, skin type, and incision placement. While scarring is an inevitable side effect of the procedure, there are ways to minimize its appearance. Understanding the stages of healing and the factors that influence scarring can help individuals prepare for the recovery process. Complete healing is crucial for achieving optimal results, and following your surgeon’s care instructions is essential to ensure optimal healing. Following these instructions also helps wounds heal properly and reduces the risk of excessive scarring. By being informed, you can set realistic expectations and take proactive steps to ensure the best possible outcome.

At Kensington Medical during your facelift consultation, your plastic surgeon will thoroughly discuss scar placement and what are the best ways to look after them. We ensure you have as many post operative appointments as needs to ensure a speedy and great outcome.

No Two Patients Are Alike

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, such as the deep plane facelift, SMAS facelift or a mini facelift which can result in specific scarring patterns. For instance, deep plane facelift scars may be less noticeable due to the deeper penetration into the skin, reducing tension in the ears. Most facelift incisions are made in the ear's natural creases, which helps with hiding scars by blending them into the ear's natural lines and contours.
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.

Traditional full facelifts may result in more extensive scarring, as they require longer incisions, while modern techniques like endoscopic facelifts aim for minimal scarring by using smaller incisions and advanced methods to hide scars in less visible areas.

Factors Influencing Scarring

The extent and visibility of facelift scars can vary greatly from person to person, and several factors play a role in how your skin heals after a facelift procedure. Your skin type is a significant factor—some skin types are more prone to visible scarring, while others may heal with minimal marks. Age also influences the healing process; younger patients often experience faster recovery and less noticeable scarring, while older skin may take longer to heal.

The specific facelift procedure you choose, such as a mini facelift or a traditional facelift, and the surgical technique used by your plastic surgeon, can also impact scar appearance. Mini facelifts, for example, typically involve shorter incisions and may result in less visible scarring compared to more extensive procedures.

Your body’s natural healing response, overall health, and genetics all contribute to how scars heal. Following your surgeon’s post operative care instructions is essential for optimal healing and to minimize the risk of noticeable scarring. Lifestyle choices, such as avoiding sun exposure, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy diet, can further support the healing process and reduce the likelihood of scars darkening or becoming more prominent. By understanding these factors and taking proactive steps, you can help ensure your scars heal as discreetly as possible.

What to Expect Immediately After Surgery: Healing Process

Most facelift patients will have some bruising and swelling immediately after surgery. This is normal and usually goes away within a few weeks. Initial swelling is a normal part of facelift recovery and will subside over the first few weeks as your healing progresses. The surgical incisions made during the facelift procedure are the source of the scars that will become visible as healing progresses.

As the swelling and bruising go down, you’ll start to see your scars. They may be pink or red at first, but facelift scars typically fade from initially red or pink to fine lines that blend with the skin over 2 to 6 months. The timeline for facelift scar healing varies depending on individual factors such as skin type and adherence to postoperative care.

Monitoring your healing progress and attending follow-up appointments is important during facelift recovery to ensure optimal results and address any concerns.

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.

Find out about what facelift is best for me.

Stages of Healing

The healing process after facelift surgery can be divided into three stages: inflammatory, proliferative, and maturation.

Inflammatory Phase: This initial stage lasts for about a week and is marked by redness, swelling, and bruising around the facelift incision site. During this phase, your body’s natural response to injury kicks in, starting the healing process.
Proliferative Phase: Spanning several weeks, this phase involves increased collagen production, which is essential for the formation of new tissue and effective scar healing. As collagen forms, the incision site begins to close and the facelift scar starts to develop. This is a crucial period where the foundation for scar healing is laid.
Maturation Phase: This final stage can last from several months to over a year. During this time, the facelift scar becomes less noticeable and more refined. The scar continues to mature, gradually improving in appearance as the deeper tissues heal.

Understanding these stages can help you anticipate changes and be patient with the healing process, knowing that improvement takes time.

Where are Facelift Scars Placed

The placement of incisions during facelift surgery is crucial for minimising visible scarring. Our Plastic Surgeons will discuss the placement and the effect on your gender and hair style.

Common facelift incision locations include:

Temple hairline: This starts1–2 cm behind the hairline
Front of the ear: Following the natural crease along the rim of the ear
Around the earlobe: Curving beneath the earlobe
Behind the ear: Extending into the occipital hairline
Under the chin: A small incision for neck work when needed and often used for Deep plane, SMAS and Lower facelift/ jowl lift surgery.

Our surgeons will where possible place the facelift incision inside natural creases . For men, scar placement depends on how far the hair has receded or if there has been large hair loss.

Mini (Short-Scar) Facelift Scars

The short scar facelift is ideal for younger patients with early jowling and mild mid-face laxity, often those in their 40s or 50s. Mini facelifts involve shorter incisions and are designed for patients with mild to moderate facial ageing. They are less invasive facial procedure with a shorter recovery period compared to traditional facelift approaches.

Mini facelift scars use shorter incisions and are placed:

In front of the ear along the rim of the ear
Around the earlobe
Just behind the ear (without extending far into the hairline)

Mini facelift recovery is generally faster, with scars approximately 20–30% shorter than full facelift techniques. These scars are still permanent but often become particularly subtle once fully matured, especially when viewed from the side and back.

SMAS Facelift Scars

The SMAS facelift is a standard, deeper technique used at Kensington Medical for moderate to advanced facial ageing.

The typical incision follows an “S-shaped” path:

Along the hairline at the temple
Curving in front of the ear
Around the earlobe
Behind the ear into the lower scalp

A small incision beneath the chin may be used to tighten facial muscles in the neck or remove excess skin. SMAS facelift scars are designed to sit in natural folds, so once faded, they blend with normal skin lines and surrounding skin.

Deep Plane Facelift Scars

The deep plane facelift is one of the most advanced surgical techniques for significant mid-face, jowl, and neck laxity. Modern facelift techniques like deep plane focus on lifting and repositioning underlying facial layers, which can result in less tension on the skin and more discreet scarring.

Deep plane facelift scars are usually in the same locations as SMAS scars—front of the ear, behind the ear, hairline, and possible under-chin incision.

Kensington Medical surgeons discuss whether SMAS or deep plane facelift is better given each patient’s scarring concerns, age, skin type, and goals.

A Jowl Lift or Lower Facelift Scars

A jowl lift or lower facelift will make incisions in the hairline above the ear and along the front of the ear and just below the earlobe. Depending on the neck laxity there is likely to be a can just under the chin.

Scar tissue forms as part of the healing process and can be influenced by surgical technique. Treatments that target scar tissue, such as laser therapy or scar massage, can help improve the final appearance of scars. The scars will fade over time.

Caring for Your Facelift Scars

Once your surgical wounds have healed, you can start using scar treatments to help reduce the appearance of surgical scars. Using silicone sheets or a good scar treatment cream often silicon based such as Kelo Cote can be effective method to look after scars after facelift surgery, as they keep scars hydrated and help reduce their appearance. Silicone gel sheets or tapes or cream should be worn 12–24 hours daily, starting 2–4 weeks post-surgery, to hydrate tissue and regulate collagen production, as silicone is the most effective, clinically proven non-invasive method for reducing scar thickness, color, and texture. Scar massage can be started 3–4 weeks post-op to help soften and flatten scars by breaking down collagen and improving blood flow. You can also use an over-the-counter topical steroid cream to help reduce inflammation.

We will advise on the best cream to use to apply to your scar. Keeping the incision area clean is also crucial to prevent infections that could worsen scarring. Strict sun protection is necessary—use a broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF 50+) for at least 12–18 months to prevent darkening of scars from UV exposure, as sun exposure can darken scars and make them more visible.

Following your surgeon’s instructions is essential for all aspects of scar care to ensure proper healing, minimise the risk of infection, and achieve the best possible results. Professional treatments, such as laser therapy to reduce redness and steroid injections to flatten raised or thickened scars, are also available after healing if needed.

What Factors can Influence Facelift Scar Appearance

Generally younger patients will heal faster but can form more active scar tissue. Older patients can heal more slowly. Darker skin tones can be more likely to have hyperpigmentation.

Key scar types:

Keloid scars are scar formations with a raised scars that extend beyond the original incision site and are more common in individuals with darker skin tones
Hypertrophic scars are raised and thick scars that remain within the original boundary of the incision, commonly resulting from tension on the wound
Atrophic scars are indented or ‘pitted’ scars caused by a loss of tissue during the healing process

In your consultation your plastic surgeon will discuss if you have had any of the above scars and how to treat your scars.

At Kensington Medical we are committed to helping you heal and ensuring that your surgical scars are well hidden.

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

Neck Lift and Scarring

When a neck lift is performed alongside a facelift, it can significantly enhance your rejuvenated appearance by addressing loose skin and excess skin in the neck area. However, as with any surgical procedure, some scarring is inevitable. Skilled surgeons are adept at placing neck lift incisions in natural creases—such as behind the ear or discreetly under the chin—to help conceal scars and blend them with the surrounding skin.

The healing process for neck lift scars is similar to that of facelift scars. With proper wound care and strict adherence to post operative care instructions, most patients find that their neck lift scars fade and become less noticeable over time. It’s important to remember that scars can take several months to a year to fully mature, and their final appearance will depend on factors like your skin type and how well you follow your plastic surgeon’s advice.

For those seeking to further reduce scar visibility, professional treatments such as laser therapy can be highly effective. These treatments can help smooth the skin, reduce redness, and promote a more even skin colour, making scars less apparent. By choosing a qualified plastic surgeon and committing to diligent post operative care, you can minimize the risk of extensive scarring and enjoy a smoother, more youthful neck contour.

How to Minimise the Appearance of Scars

While you can’t completely avoid scarring after facelift surgery, there are things you can do to minimize scars and improve their appearance. Minimizing facelift scars involves immediate post-operative care, long-term topical treatments, and lifestyle adjustments. Here are a few tips:

Follow your surgeon’s instructions for care after surgery. This will help ensure proper healing of facial skin and minimize the risk of infection.
Use silicone gel sheeting or an over-the-counter topical steroid cream to help reduce the appearance of neck lift scars and 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 after a facelift.
Be patient. It can take several months for scars to fade after a facelift.

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

Potential Complications

While facelift surgery is generally safe, there are potential complications that can arise. Being aware of these risks can help you take preventive measures and seek timely intervention if needed.

Infection: Like any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and increased pain around the incision site. Prompt treatment is essential to prevent further complications.
Bleeding: Excessive bleeding or hematoma can occur, leading to swelling, bruising, and potentially more noticeable scarring. Monitoring for unusual bleeding and following post-operative care instructions can mitigate this risk.
Scarring: While some degree of scarring is inevitable, factors such as skin type, age, and genetics can influence the extent of visible scarring. Proper care and treatments can help minimise their appearance.
Nerve Damage: Facelift surgery can sometimes cause nerve damage, resulting in numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the face. While often temporary, it’s important to discuss any concerns with your surgeon.

By understanding these potential complications, you can be better prepared and proactive in your post-operative care.

At Kensington Medical Harley street, London and Wimbledon all our patients will have comprehensive post operative care including post operative instructions and post operative appointments to ensure recovery is smooth.

Find out about our expert facelift surgeons:

Mr David Gateley, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Medical Director, GMC: 2939470 | MA FRCS FRCS (Plast)

Mr Paul Tulley, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, GMC: 4035952 | BSc MB BS MD FRCS(Plas)

Mr Amir Sadri, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, GMC: GMC: 6163656 | FRCS (Plast)

Choosing the Right Surgeon

Selecting the right plastic surgeon is crucial for minimising the risk of complications and achieving the best possible results. Here are key factors to consider:

Experience: Look for a facelift surgeon with extensive experience in facelift surgery and a proven track record of successful outcomes. Their expertise can significantly impact the quality of your results.
Qualifications: Ensure that the surgeon is board-certified on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery and has the necessary qualifications to perform facelift surgery. This guarantees their training and competence.
Communication: Choose a surgeon who communicates clearly and effectively. They should take the time to answer your questions, address your concerns, and provide detailed explanations of the procedure and recovery process.
Facility: The surgical facility should be accredited and meet the necessary safety standards. A well-equipped and reputable hospital facility contributes to a safer surgical experience.

By carefully selecting a qualified and experienced surgeon, you can enhance your chances of a smooth recovery and achieve natural looking results.

Book a Consultation

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

Get in touch to find out more. Contact us or call us to book a consultation.

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

Medically Reviewed

Our experts monitor facial plastic surgery and facial treatments information and update it when it is available.

This page was medically reviewed by Mr David Gateley MA, FRCS, FRCS (Plast), GMC number 2939470 on 07 May 2026.
Author: Louise Braham

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