Where facelift scars sit
Where are facelift scars, and how do they change?
Facelift incisions commonly follow the temple, ear and posterior hairline, with a separate under-chin incision when required. Scar appearance changes as the wound remodels; a review of postsurgical scar care describes this process continuing for up to a year. ASPS facelift procedure guide, checked 4 November 2026[1]
Written by the Facelift in Seoul editorial team from the sources listed on each page. Last updated: .
Where does the incision start and finish?
The route is planned around access to the tissues and the amount of skin to be redraped. A conventional facelift can begin at the temple hairline, pass in front of the ear and around the earlobe, then continue behind the ear toward the scalp. A limited-incision operation has a shorter route. ASPS facelift procedure guide, checked 4 November 2026
Ask to see the proposed line with your hair in its usual position. The part behind the ear matters as much as the part visible in a mirror. If you wear your hair up, mention that before the incision is planned. A drawing on the skin can make the discussion more concrete than a technique name.
Work beneath the chin can require its own incision, particularly when the operation includes neck fat or platysma treatment. Ask whether that access is part of the plan rather than assuming every incision will be near the ear. ASPS neck lift procedure guide, checked 4 November 2026
Why does tension matter?
Scar management begins with incision planning and closure. A review of postsurgical care describes gentle tissue handling, alignment of wound edges and closure with minimal tension as important parts of the process. Dressings or tape may also help limit stretching across the healing line.[1]
Ask how the skin closure relates to the deeper lift. Modern techniques differ in how they support the facial tissues beneath the skin. Discussing that support is more useful than asking only how tightly the skin will be pulled.[2]
How do scars change during the first year?
Healing moves through inflammation, tissue formation and remodelling. The early wound closes before the collagen has finished reorganising. The scar-care review describes remodelling lasting up to a year, so an early incision line and a mature scar represent different stages.[1]
The Aesthetic Society describes scars as potentially red, firm and slightly raised during the first 4–6 weeks, with softening and fading over time; it places final scar appearance at a year or longer. The surgeon sets the review schedule for how your scars are progressing. The Aesthetic Society aftercare guidance, checked 4 November 2026
At follow-up, describe what has changed since the previous visit: colour, firmness, sensitivity or the way the line feels with normal movement. Keep questions about scar appearance separate from questions about residual facial swelling. That helps the team assess the relevant stage of healing.
What should the surgeon know about your healing history?
Show scars from previous surgery, piercings or injuries, and mention any history of keloids, which grow beyond the original wound. Tell the team about smoking and any medical condition or medicine affecting healing. The scar-care review emphasises the importance of these preoperative factors and individualised management.[1]
Bring details of products already used on older scars and whether they caused irritation. Include the location and approximate history of those scars in your notes. A general statement that you “scar badly” is less informative than showing what happened and explaining how it was treated.
When can scar products or massage begin?
Scar treatment should match wound closure and the surgeon’s plan. The review discusses silicone, tape and massage among available approaches and states that massage begins only after the wound has fully closed. Ask which approach is intended for each incision and how it fits with the dressing instructions.[1]
Get the product name and application instructions in writing if a topical treatment is prescribed. Ask where to apply it, how to keep the area clean and what to do before the next review. Avoid adding several products at once simply because they are sold as scar treatments.
Protection from sun exposure is part of postoperative scar care. Ask when sunscreen can be used on the healed line and how to cover the area during the earlier wound-care stage.[1]
Bring your scar history and hairstyle preferences to a facial-surgery consultation in Sinsa so incision planning can address both.
Questions about facelift scars
Does a shorter incision mean the same lift?
A shorter route changes access. The deeper-tissue work and the amount of skin treatment still need to be specified.[3]
Will the incision be only in front of the ear?
A conventional route can continue behind the ear into the hairline. Neck work may also need a separate incision beneath the chin. ASPS facelift procedure guide, checked 4 November 2026
Can I assess the scar as soon as the stitches come out?
That is an early healing stage. Collagen remodelling continues after closure, with the review describing change over up to a year.[1]
References
(3)
Bibliographic records retrieved from PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
Commander SJ, Chamata E, Cox J, et al. Update on Postsurgical Scar Management. Semin Plast Surg. 2016;30(3):122-8.
Avashia YJ, Stuzin JM, Cason RW, et al. An Evidence-Based and Case-Based Comparison of Modern Face Lift Techniques. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023;152(1):51e-65e.
Boyd CJ, Ceradini DJ. Current Trends in Facelift and Necklift Procedures. J Clin Med. 2025;14(12).