Although great advances have been made in minimally invasive aesthetic procedures to firm the face and fill in lines and wrinkles, a facelift is generally considered to be the ultimate drink from the Fountain of Youth. However, a hair transplant may be needed after a facelift to address hair loss or scarring that can occur at the incision sites, particularly around the hairline and temples. This procedure can disrupt hair follicles, leading to visible scarring or uneven hair growth. Scars behind the ears and along the hairline may be noticeable, limiting the ability to wear your hair up, or in a short style.
As a paper published in the Archives of Plastic Surgery notes, “Classic midface-lifting surgery creates a youthful facial contour by eliminating wrinkles and restoring midface fullness. This procedure targets signs of aging such as wrinkles, but leaves many patients unsatisfied due to a deformed hairline or noticeable scarring along the hairline.”
Whether you’re considering a facelift, or have had the procedure and are unhappy about conspicuous scarring around the hairline or find that your sideburns are gone, this blog post will address these issues, why they occur and corrective hair transplant procedures that are available.
Why a Facelift Can Leave Scars
Facial skin is not unique. Although the goal of a facelift is to improve one’s appearance, surgical incisions and the sutures that close them leave a scar, wherever on the body the surgical site is located.
Moreover, genetics can influence how scars will form. For example, some patients may naturally be prone to developing thicker or more visible scars, such as keloid scarring—which is more common among people of African descent. This type of scarring can make incisions heal slightly raised, or red in appearance. Those with a history of keloid scarring should call this to the attention of their prospective surgeon during the consultation. Also, any conscientious aesthetic surgeon—regardless of their specialty—will ask about this during the consultation. If not, consider it a red flag, and continue your search!
Skin type and age can likewise affect healing. More mature skin tends to be less elastic, which can sometimes result in scars that are slightly more visible. As this is the stage of life in which most people undergo a facelift, keep this factor in mind. Lifestyle choices play an important role, as heavy alcohol use and smoking hinder the healing process. Smoking, especially, deprives tissues of the oxygen essential to healthy function.
Last but definitely not least, a cosmetic surgeon’s level of experience, skill and artistry determines how well he or she conceals scars. For this reason, two different people can undergo the same facelift procedure, yet one may experience more obvious scarring than the other. Dr. Marco Barusco—Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Tempus Hair Restoration—teaches at workshops for cosmetic surgeons, and shares with them his techniques for minimizing scarring. As a board-certified surgeon, Dr. Barusco has observed that often, the cosmetic surgeon’s focus is on lifting and firming the facial skin (as well as the underlying tissues, in some cases), with the location of incisions tending to be a secondary consideration.
In addition to the traditional full facelift, forehead lifts—also known as brow lifts—are becoming more popular. Of course, the same possibility of visible scarring applies in this type of procedure, as well.
But scarring is not always the reason for an aesthetically unsatisfying outcome. A facelift or brow lift sometimes results in a hairline that’s higher or farther back than desirable. Patients who already are experiencing hair loss or start losing hair after surgery may find that previously hidden scars become more visible or exposed. “Disappearing” sideburns are a fairly common post-facelift phenomenon, due to poor technique. Incorrectly made incisions and excessive tension can damage hair follicles or elevate and displace the sideburn tissue.
How a Hair Transplant Can Conceal Facelift Scars and Poor Surgical Technique
A hair transplant can conceal facelift scars by transplanting individual follicular units from a donor area into and around the scar tissue. Contrary to popular belief, hair can be successfully transplanted into scar tissue by a skilled hair restoration surgeon experienced in doing so. An important factor to consider is that scar tissue has a reduced blood flow compared to normal, undamaged skin, and is typically less flexible.
Hair grafts are harvested from the donor area, then precisely placed to match the natural angle and direction of the existing hair, creating a seamless transition that hides the scar and allows for more flexible hairstyling. This procedure can be performed using the FUE (follicular unit extraction) or other advanced techniques to produce a natural-looking result.
A hair transplant also can correct an unnatural-looking post-facelift hairline, as well as restore “lost” sideburns that result from where the skin at the sides of the face has been pulled up. Dr. Barusco discusses examples of the corrective procedures he has performed on his YouTube channel, Hair Loss Medical Advice. His video—“Hair Transplants Into Scars”—covers this in detail.
If You Didn’t Choose Your Cosmetic Surgeon Wisely, Choose Your Hair Transplant Surgeon Wisely!
Our advice at Tempus Hair Restoration is always to ask your prospective surgeon questions during your consultation. If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, ask the surgeon where the incisions will be made, and what will be done to make the incisions as inconspicuous as possible—as well as how your hairline and sideburns will be positioned. If you’ve already had cosmetic surgery and are now living with visible scars, or a poorly repositioned hairline or missing sideburns, Dr. Barusco can artfully conceal the results, succeeding where the cosmetic surgeon fell short in completing the natural-looking, refreshed, youthful appearance you desire.
Ultimately, choose your surgeon based on experience, results and integrity. Dr. Barusco’s long list of accomplishments, his notable artistic ability and his successful surgical team make Tempus Hair Restoration a renowned practice. Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device.
Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!