In the hands of a skilled, precision-based plastic surgeon, facelift surgery can diminish years of stress, aging, and environmental toxins. It is the best anti-aging surgery if you want to look youthful, refreshed, and rejuvenated.
When you’ve decided that a facelift is for you, you might worry about visible scarring following the procedure. Anytime there is a cut in the skin, a scar results. However, scars after a facelift are minimally visible depending on the technique used and how well you care for your incisions.
Facelift Incision Placement Influences Scarring
Positioning facelift incisions correctly is critical for barely-there scarring. Your surgeon can disguise and distract from the incision by positioning the scar in natural creases and folds.
Regardless of the type of facelift surgery, most incisions will involve stitches behind the ear. The traditional facelift procedure scar:
- Starts at the sideburn
- Follows the ear's contour
- Extends along the front of the ear
- Continues under the earlobe and behind the ear, into the hairline.
If a neck lift is paired with the facelift, there is an additional incision under the chin, virtually unseen.
Advanced Surgical Techniques Minimize Scars After a Facelift
Unless your facial rejuvenation is non-invasive, you should expect the potential for some scarring to be present in cosmetic surgery. However, that potential is significantly reduced when an experienced facial plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Saigal, performs your facelift. Choosing someone who uses advanced surgical techniques and understands that it is an art to hide facelift scars can help ensure the wounds are undetectable once fully healed.
How You Can Reduce Visible Facelift Scars
To reduce visible facelift scars, keep the incisions clean and moisturized. Closely follow your surgeon’s post-op and skincare instructions, and attend your post-operative appointments.
Some surgeons recommend gentle scar massage to all surgical incisions at around 2-3 weeks to aid healing. Scar massage has the following benefits:
- It improves the look and feel of the scar
- Stimulates collagen formation
- Decreases inflammation, firmness, and redness in the area
- Remodels and shapes the scar to the desired feel and appearance
Circular motion is an effective technique paired with perpendicular massage across the scar. For optimum results, a scar massage must be done three to four times daily for several months following your surgery.
Dr. Saigal’s Facelift Approach for Minimally Visible Scars
Dr. Saigal is a competent authority on facial anatomy and a consummate artist. He favors minimal scarring and works to create conditions that allow you to recover swiftly without unnecessary downtime.
His facelift procedure begins with small incisions carefully hidden in the hairline or within existing skin creases. Fat deposits and tissue are separated, then excess skin is removed before the remaining skin is stretched and tightened. The procedure is repeated with an additional incision under the chin if fat deposits in that area require removal.
Describing the differences between the types of facelifts offered and which is most appropriate for you is an essential part of your consultation. These factors may affect the incision’s length and location and the direction in which the deeper tissues of the face are repositioned.
When you’re ready for a facelift with minimally visible scarring in Orlando, contact us to schedule a consultation.