Any surgery involving incisions is expected to lead to some degree of scarring. A facelift, technically known as a rhytidectomy, is no different.
Qualified plastic surgeons, like Dr Hunt, are highly skilled at making incisions that minimise scarring, but it’s impossible to avoid them entirely. Incisions aren’t placed in areas that will make scarring too obvious. The goal of plastic surgery is to achieve effective aesthetic results, which includes effective placement of incisions.
The appearance of facelift surgery scars can depend on a variety of factors. In this blog, we’ll go over these factors to help you understand how scarring may look and what you can do to minimise scars. A consultation with Dr Hunt in Sydney will also provide you with recovery instructions that will be designed to prevent noticeable scarring.
What facelift surgery scars may look like
A facelift requires incisions to lift the face and remove excess tissue. To minimise scarring, these incisions should be placed where they are least noticeable and ensure they heal sufficiently.
Depending on your personalised surgery, your incisions may be placed at the hairline around the temples, and around the contour behind the ear. If you’ll also be undergoing a neck lift, additional incisions may be placed beneath your chin. These locations are chosen because they follow the natural creases of the skin, which helps to conceal scars.
Straight after your surgery, the incisions will look like fresh wounds. They may be red or pink and can appear raised or swollen. This is completely normal, and your body will begin the healing process that will start to soften the appearance of these wounds.
In the first few weeks, it’s common for scars to still be more noticeable. Over the weeks to months, the redness of scars will typically start to fade, blending with your natural skin tone and becoming flatter. Sometimes, it can take up to a year for scars to significantly fade naturally.
Often, scars will naturally fade to a point where they become barely noticeable, but some patients may experience more visible scarring, depending on personal factors.
Factors that can influence scarring after a facelift
The first factor that can influence scars will be the experience and skill level of your surgeon. It’s extremely important that a qualified plastic surgeon performs your facelift procedure, as they can use appropriate techniques to minimise scarring.
Make sure that your surgeon holds the title of a plastic surgeon, and has experience performing facelift procedures. You should be able to read about your surgeon’s qualifications and experience on their website, and you can ask further questions during the consultation process.
As for personal factors, genetics can influence how scars will form. For example, some patients may naturally be more prone to developing thicker or more visible scars, such as keloid or hypertrophic scarring. These types of scarring can make incisions heal slightly raised, or red in appearance. If you have a history of developing keloid or hypertrophic scars after surgery or injuries, make sure that you let your surgeon know during your consultation.
Skin type and age can also affect how scars heal. More mature skin tends to be less elastic, which can sometimes result in scars that are slightly more visible. Younger skin, with its increased elasticity, may potentially be more efficient in healing scars.
Another factor is how well the wound heals after surgery, which can be influenced by how closely you follow aftercare instructions. Preventing infection and supporting the healing of the wound can lower the chances of noticeable scars forming.
How you can minimise facelift surgery scars
While you may not have complete control over how your scars heal, following recovery instructions carefully can help significantly.
Caring for your incision sites according to your surgeon’s instructions will prevent infection and encourage the wound to heal faster. Wound care can include gentle cleaning, avoiding putting any strain on the incisions, and changing bandages or dressings, if needed.
As your wounds heal, it’s important to keep an eye out for any signs of infection and seek treatment should they occur. Symptoms like an increase in pain, swelling, a feeling of warmth in the area, and a spreading redness or discharge from the incision site can indicate that an infection has occurred. Not only can infected wounds raise the chances of noticeable scarring, but infections can interfere with the overall healing process after surgery, so it’s important not to ignore any of these symptoms.
Once the incision sites have healed, techniques like scar massages and applying silicone sheets can help minimise scar tissue. Massaging the area encourages blood flow, which can help break down scar tissue and prevent scars from hardening. Silicone sheets are specially designed to reduce scars and should be applied according to the product’s directions and Dr Hunt’s advice.
A little-known fact is that UV rays can darken scars, especially with prolonged exposure. After the wound has completely healed, you should apply sunscreen with a high SPF to the area before going outdoors. Even on cloudy days, the area can still be exposed to UV rays. You can also wear a hat and avoid being in the sun during the hours of the day where the sun is at its strongest.
Finally, if your scars don’t seem to be improving after following these steps, there are some skin treatment options that are designed to target scar tissue. Treatments like laser therapy or microneedling can trigger the body’s healing response to break down the scar tissue and form new skin cells in the area over time.
If you’re considering using any technique to reduce scarring during your facelift recovery, we recommend consulting with Dr Hunt first.
Book your facelift consultation with Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Hunt in Sydney
As a Specialist Plastic Surgeon with over 20 years of experience, Dr Jeremy Hunt is qualified to perform facelift procedures.
Over the years, he has treated thousands of patients and tailors each procedure to the needs of each individual.
Your facelift consultation will allow Dr Hunt to determine your suitability for the procedure, plan your procedure and provide you with recovery instructions that will help to minimise scars.
Please contact our team to organise your facelift consultation or to ask any questions.
