5 Ways to Improve Your Facelift Scars
Jun
BEFORE a facelift, astute patients ask me with what measures they can take, to minimize facelift scars after surgery. Of course, they’re already at an advantage, because my incision skills are awesome. However, on a more practical note, each individual body has it’s own reaction to surgery, incisions, and the healing process. But do not stress if your body forms scars more prominently than others. There are many approaches to scar minimization, and one is bound to work for you.
As always, the best person to talk to about your surgery is, well, your surgeon. Here I am, so let’s get started.
Scar Healing 101
Scar tissue matures and changes over 6-12 months after your procedure. So, if you’re concerned about the way your scars are healing, know that non-surgical treatment is very effective within 6-12 months of your facelift. BUT this also means, that you can’t procrastinate. Using a scar cream after 12 months will be much less effective- you need to start early.
Before Surgery, Be Prepared
If you are aware of your body’s scarring tendencies based on a prior injury that left you with a smooth colorless speck, then congratulations. You’re not going to have the same challenges as a patient who fell on a sidewalk 30 years ago and still has a pillowy “hypertrophic”, bright purple scar three times the size of the original injury. Knowing your body’s normal reactions to previous injuries, helps with expectations as your facelift is healing.
Antibiotics are Key
Taking antibiotics as prescribed by your plastic surgeon will help prevent scars, and will aid in the long-term appearance of any scar. Antibiotic ointment or cream also helps reduce the appearance of scars, and not just by preventing infection.
Of course, talk to your plastic surgeon, but brief and immediate antibiotics after surgery, may help with long-term scar formation and the suppression of unsightly scars.
Sun Protection
Scars don’t do well with sun exposure- they may turn red, get thicker, or generally become prominent with sun worship. I recommend avoiding the sun, and using SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to help surgical incisions heal optimally.
Remember that 6-12 months healing period? It translates to: protect your scars over a 6-12 month period from the sun. Go ahead and obsess about sunscreen use for up to a year or even longer.
Anti-Scar Aids
Anti-Scar agents were discovered in burn care in the 1980’s and 1990’s, and work well today. Silicone gel sheeting works in many patients to suppress scar formation. Cortisone or steroid injections are also effective to help suppress scar tissue. As always, talk to your doctor about these options to find the right approach for you.
Laser Treatment
Certain types of lasers and light wavelengths may aid your scars, and make them less visible. Your plastic surgeon may already own a laser, or recommend a certain type of laser, that will help your scars fade. Lasers are not the kind of treatment you should get immediately after surgery, but rather, after your scars have fully formed and have ceased to continue fading.
Last Resort- Revision Surgery
After 6-12 months, if your scars are still bothering you, scar revision surgery may be the best answer for you. In this procedure, the edges of the thickened scar tissue are removed, and the skin edges are brought back together. The end result is the elimination of thickened scars.
Of course by the time you’re getting scar revision surgery, you know your body is prone to undesirable scars, so using the scar suppression tactics discussed above IMMEDIATELY after revision surgery is often necessary to prevent them from coming back! As always, talk to your facelift surgeon about your best options.
Do you have any questions? Please feel free to contact me at info@drkim.com or 415 362 1846 or leave your comments below.
I’ve written some other articles about facelifts. Here are the links, for your clicking pleasure-
How to Improve Your Facelift Scars
How to Improve Healing After a Facelift
10 Ways to Accelerate Facelift Recovery
A Mini- Facelift versus a Regular Facelift
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