Techniques to Minimize Your Facelift Scars
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Techniques to Minimize Your Facelift Scars

Every surgery leaves marks behind, but scarring doesn’t have to be obvious. If you’ve considered facelift surgery, then you already understand that it is a commitment of your time and an investment of your money. You undoubtedly want your results to look as natural as possible, so you’ll do everything you can to heal and recover fully from your surgery to ensure your best results. While you’re doing that, it might also be in your power to make sure the scars that emerge from your facelift will be minimal.

How Your Genetics Play a Role

The way your family members have healed from surgeries might give you a clue about what to expect from your own procedure and healing process. If you’ve noticed poor healing of wounds or large scars, you might have inherited a tendency to overproduce scar tissue. Think about how your own external injuries have healed and discuss your concerns with your facial plastic surgeon as you are planning your surgery.

How Skin Pigment Affects Scars

As scar tissue first forms to seal an incision, it appears pink or light purple in color. This often lasts for several weeks to months. Sometimes, scars may also appear raised and stand out noticeably from the surrounding tissue. The pigment of scar tissue can be even more obvious against fairer skin, leaving your scars obvious to others as they are healing. Luckily, there are some nonsurgical skincare treatments that can help minimize the pigment collected at the site of your healing incision. These can lighten the skin and leave it looking smoother, more even, and less noticeable. Talk to your Facelift specialist in Beverly Hills about when would be an appropriate time to begin such treatments if you so choose.

How Microdermabrasion Helps Scars

Other skincare treatments can help improve the look and feel of scar tissue after your facelift surgery as well, not just those specifically focused on pigmentation. Microdermabrasion is one such treatment; it works by using a small handheld tool to apply micro-sandblasting. This technique causes tiny injuries to the surface of the skin, breaking apart the top layers of dead skin cells and stimulating healing within the deeper tissue. Microdermabrasion is often used to even the tone and texture of the skin, smooth away various types of scars, and rejuvenate the complexion. Again, you must wait for the all clear from your facial plastic surgeon before pursuing any such treatments, in case your face and skin are not properly healed before you do.

How Massage Can Help

A back massage might sound nice, but most people don’t think much about massaging their own face. However, massaging the area around your scars can keep the scar tissue soft, supple, and flexible enough to encourage it to lay flatter on its own. Massage therapy should be included as part of your after-care routine to increase blood flow to the area, boost collagen production, and support healthy healing of your incisions. Your facial plastic surgeon can demonstrate the proper way to massage the skin around your incisions when it is okay to do so.

How Vitamin E Minimizes Scars

More and more doctors and surgeon are embracing the healing support of vitamin E, both through topical and supplemental form. Vitamin E encourages the body to heal quickly and thoroughly, whether you are treating from within or without. Some creams and lotions contain vitamin E to facilitate the healing of scar tissue. Always check with your facial plastic surgeon before trying something new. He or she can help you to find our own way to a successful facelift result with minimized scarring.

Plan a Successful Facelift surgery

Consult with the best facelift surgeon in Beverly Hills who can explain the surgery’s many benefits and guide you through a successful recovery. Dr. Andrew Frankel is board certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ENT). He specializes in facial rejuvenation, particularly facelifts, brow lifts, eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty.  Since 1994, Dr. Frankel has been practicing at the Lasky Clinic and earned recognition as an expert in his field. He is published on a variety of subjects including midface lifts, Botox, rhinoplasty, and more. To consult with Dr. Frankel, contact the Lasky Clinic located at 201 South Lasky Drive in Beverly Hills, California. 310.552.2173 to schedule your appointment today.

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