Every facelift incision heals as a scar. Careful placement and closure can make scars less conspicuous, but no surgeon can promise an invisible line. Healing depends on incision design, blood supply, skin tension, nicotine exposure, individual biology and postoperative events.
Where are facelift incisions placed?
The pattern is adapted to the regions treated, hairline, hairstyle, ear anatomy and amount of skin redraping. It may pass through temporal hair-bearing skin or along the hairline, continue in front of the ear or around the tragal edge, curve around the earlobe and extend behind the ear into the posterior hairline. Selected neck procedures may add a short incision beneath the chin.
| Area | Planning priority | Possible concern |
|---|---|---|
| Temple or hairline | Preserve the sideburn and hairline position | Hair thinning, shift or widened scar |
| Preauricular or tragal edge | Follow natural contours without distortion | Visible line, color difference or tragal change |
| Around the earlobe | Avoid downward skin pull | Stretched or attached earlobe |
| Behind the ear | Control moisture, friction and closure tension | Delayed healing or raised scar |
| Submental crease | Provide access for selected neck work | Firmness, depression or visible line |
How scars normally change
Early scars may be pink, firm, tender or uneven and can become more noticeable before they fade. Maturation continues for many months and does not progress identically along the whole incision. Temporary puckering may reflect swelling or deeper sutures. Separation, progressive redness, drainage or darkening skin is not routine maturation and requires assessment.
Daily incision care
- Follow the written cleaning, dressing and ointment instructions from the surgical team.
- Do not apply unapproved creams, acids, makeup, heat, ice or home remedies.
- Avoid nicotine and protect healing scars from sunlight as directed.
- Do not massage, pull or create friction unless the surgeon has authorized it.
- Attend scheduled reviews even when the incision appears uncomplicated.
Silicone, corticosteroid treatment, laser or other scar therapies may be considered selectively after the wound reaches the appropriate stage. More treatment—or earlier treatment—is not automatically better.
Does Deep Plane guarantee a finer scar?
No. Supporting deeper tissues may reduce reliance on skin tension when appropriately performed, but no closure has literally “zero tension.” Deep Plane, SMAS and other approaches still require sound incision planning, preservation of blood supply and careful postoperative care. Scar quality remains biologically variable.
Warning signs and unfavorable scars
Contact the team promptly for expanding swelling, active bleeding, increasing pain, blistering or dark skin, wound separation, pus, fever, progressive redness, foul odor or new facial weakness. Chest pain, shortness of breath, confusion or airway symptoms require emergency care.
Management of a raised, widened or pigmented scar depends on its cause and timing. Observation, silicone, injections, laser or revision may be options. Revision is often delayed until maturation unless there is an urgent functional or wound problem, and it cannot guarantee perfect healing. Learn more about facelift scar placement and factors that influence scar quality.
Planning care from abroad
Belvivere generally plans at least 15 days in Brazil after major facial surgery so early wounds can be reviewed. Surgery is performed at Hospital São José when indicated. The concierge team helps with local logistics, while the clinical team determines wound care and travel clearance.
