Tips for Managing Your Facelift Scars
Scarring is an inevitable part of any surgery, and this is something that I discuss with every patient in their pre-surgical consultation. Of course, for a facelift or any other plastic surgery, the purpose of the procedure is a cosmetic improvement, so it’s natural that you want to keep your scarring as minimal as possible.
Genetics and other factors outside your control do play a part in your risk of forming noticeable scars. Still, there are plenty of steps you can take both before and after surgery to lower your risk or to manage and minimize your scars. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facelifts, I help patients with this aspect of their cosmetic surgery journeys every day, so I’m happy to provide tips and insights.
Choose a Skilled and Experienced Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
One of the many factors that influence your scarring is the skill of your surgeon. You want your surgeon to be able to close your incision cleanly and smoothly without excess tension. For this and many other reasons, it’s important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who has extensive experience in facelifts, and I’m proud to fit these criteria. It helps to review a surgeon’s before and after photos too to see how noticeable (or not) their patients’ scars typically are.
Follow Post-Surgical Instructions Closely
When you have your facelift or Band Aid Mini Facelift surgery, your surgeon will give you clear instructions for your recovery, such as instructions about wound care, activity, sleeping, and so on. All of these instructions are designed to help you heal as smoothly as possible, and many of them will have a direct impact on your scarring. It’s critical to follow all these instructions closely and to contact the surgeon if you have any questions.
Eat Plenty of Protein
Your skin heals wounds (including surgical incisions) using collagen, a protein that your body naturally produces. To produce that collagen, your body needs certain ingredients like amino acids, which largely come from breaking down the protein you eat. You can help your body produce the collagen it needs for a smoother scar by eating a healthy diet overall with plenty of protein.
Make Sun Protection a Priority
As your skin is healing, it will be particularly sensitive to the sun. Sun exposure on an incision that is still healing can lead to pigmentation changes that make your scar more noticeable. To prevent this, be sure to avoid sun exposure to your incision in the first weeks after your surgery.
Keep in mind that scar tissue doesn’t tan. Even in the years after your surgery, it’s best to protect your facial skin with sunscreen every day because if your face tans but your scars don’t, the scars will be more prominent. Sun protection also reduces premature aging, allowing you to enjoy your facelift results for longer.
Consider Scar Reduction Treatments
Scars can continue to improve slowly in the months and years after your surgery, and if you follow the tips above, your facelift scars are likely to be minimal and well-concealed. However, if you find yourself bothered by your facelift scars, there are treatments that may be able to help. The most successful option is typically a laser treatment like my Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing, though treatments like chemical peels may offer improvements as well.
Setting Yourself Up for Better Facelift Results
Minimizing your scarring is one of many ways to make your facelift as successful as possible with results you’ll enjoy for years. The tips above can help you minimize your scarring risks even before your surgery and while you heal. To start your journey toward the facelift results you’ll love, schedule a facelift consultation with me, Dr. John LeRoy, at my Atlanta office. Follow me on Facebook for more plastic surgery insights.