Quick Answer: Facelift scars around ears sit mostly in the natural contours in front of and behind the ear. They look pink and slightly raised at first, then gradually flatten and lighten. Full scar maturation may take six months to a year.
During facelift consultations, patients often ask two questions about scarring: Where will the incisions be, and will anyone be able to see them? With most facelifts, the answer starts at the ear. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, I place facelift incisions where the ear and hairline can help conceal them. Here is what these scars look like at each stage and what you can do to support healing.
Key Takeaways About Facelift Scars Around the Ears
- Increasing redness, drainage, an opening incision, or worsening pain are reasons to call your surgeon.
- Facelift incisions are placed along the ear and hairline to take advantage of natural creases.
- Pinkness, swelling, and a visible incision line are normal in the first weeks.
- Early scar appearance does not predict how the scar will look once it matures.
- Sun protection and gentle incision care may help scars fade more evenly.
Where Are Facelift Scars Around the Ears?
The incision for a traditional facelift is one continuous line, but it is easier to picture in sections:
- Temple: It starts inside the hairline, above and in front of the ear.
- Front of the ear: It continues down either just inside the ear or in the natural skin crease in front of it.
- Earlobe: It wraps around the base of the earlobe.
- Behind the ear: It continues behind the ear, where the ear itself helps shield it from view.
How far the incision extends behind the ear depends on your anatomy and how much of the jawline and neck we are addressing.
What Do Facelift Scars Around the Ears Look Like at First?
In the first days after surgery, the incision is a thin line closed with fine sutures. Sutures behind the ear are usually of the dissolving type and the ones in front are usually removed after a few days. Around it, you may notice:
- Pink or red skin along the incision
- Swelling and bruising near the ear, cheek, and neck
- A slightly raised or firm feel to the line
- Light crusting and numbness around the ear
A healing incision draws extra blood flow and starts building new collagen, which makes it look pinker and firmer early on. That early appearance tells you very little about the final scar, so try not to judge your result in the mirror during the first few weeks.
How Do Scars Around the Ears Fade Over Time?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, scar maturation can take six months to a year. Scar maturation is the gradual process in which a scar flattens, softens, and fades in color.
The First Few Weeks
I remove the bandages in the office one to two days after surgery, and from there you can shower and wash your hair. Sutures may be removed in stages to help minimize scarring. The incision lines are usually pink with some crusting, and swelling can make them look more prominent than they really are. Around two weeks, many patients feel comfortable being out in public with makeup.
The First Few Months
Pinkness often lingers for several months. The ASPS notes that this is a normal sign of healing, since blood flow and collagen production are still active under the skin. The scar may feel slightly firm or raised during this phase, and some itching is common.
Your face will likely feel close to normal around 10 to 12 weeks, although the scars are still maturing. If a scar stays especially red or raised, treatments such as silicone products or laser/microneedling may be worth discussing.
Six Months and Beyond
Between six months and a year, the collagen flattens, the small blood vessels feeding the scar recede, and the pink color fades toward your natural skin tone. By then, the scar in front of the ear may look like a fine line in the crease, and the portion behind the ear is often hidden by the ear itself. This is also a reasonable point to decide whether any area would benefit from additional treatment.
Why Are Facelift Incisions Placed Around the Ears?
There are two main reasons: concealment and access. Plastic surgeons aim to place incisions in natural creases, and many people have a crease right in front of the ear that can conceal part of the incision. The temple hairline and the area behind the ear offer similar cover. This path also lets me lift the skin, tighten and reposition the underlying muscles and tissues, and remove excess skin and fat as needed.
Surgeons do not all use the same incision pattern. Based on a scoping review of 49 studies published in Facial Plastic Surgery, research on facelift scars centers on four areas: the temple incision, incision placement near the tragus, earlobe management, and the incision behind the ear. The tragus is the small flap of cartilage in front of the ear canal. The review found low reported rates of scar complications across techniques, but not enough consistent data to name one approach as superior. In my practice, incision placement is planned around each patient’s facial structure and goals.
Can You See Facelift Scars With Your Hair Up?
This is a common concern for patients who like ponytails, short haircuts, or tucking their hair behind their ears. Visibility depends on incision placement, how your skin heals, the shape of your ears and hairline, and the final quality of the scar.
In the first few months, pinkness makes the lines easier to spot, so many patients prefer looser styles that fall over the ears. Once the scars mature, the portion in front of the ear often blends into the natural crease, and the ear covers much of the scar behind it. A tight, high ponytail or a very short cut may still show part of the scar up close, especially where it meets the hairline.
Hair can also play a role. According to Mayo Clinic, some patients have temporary or lasting hair loss around facelift incisions, which may affect how the hairline looks when hair is pulled back.
What Affects How Noticeable Ear Scars Become?
Some factors come down to surgical planning, and others depend on your aftercare and how your body heals:
- Sun exposure: Sun on a healing scar may cause discoloration that is difficult to reverse.
- Incision placement: A line that follows a natural crease or sits just inside the ear is easier to conceal.
- Tension on the skin: Skin closed under less strain may heal into a finer line.
- Earlobe management: How the incision is handled around the earlobe may affect how natural the earlobe and scar look.
- Healing tendencies: Some people are prone to raised scars. A hypertrophic scar is a thick, raised scar that stays within the original incision. A keloid is a scar that grows beyond the incision’s borders.
- Smoking and health conditions: Mayo Clinic notes that smoking greatly raises the risk of poor wound healing after a facelift, and poorly controlled diabetes may also affect healing.
How Should You Care for Scars Around the Ears?
These habits may help your incisions heal well:
- Keep incision care simple: Use only what your surgeon recommends. The ASPS cautions that home remedies can lead to irritation or infection.
- Leave crusting alone: Let scabs come off on their own.
- Limit pulling on the incisions: Rest with your head raised for the first few days, wear tops that button or zip in the front, and keep hairstyles loose.
- Protect the scars from the sun: The ASPS recommends avoiding direct sun on scars for the first six months. Once the incisions have closed, use a mineral sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. In South Florida, that means sunscreen even for short errands or time by the pool.
- Wait on hair color: Mayo Clinic advises against coloring, bleaching, or perming hair for at least six weeks.
- Ask before starting scar products: Silicone gel or sheeting may help some scars look smoother, but start only when your surgeon says the incisions are ready.
When Should You Contact Your Surgeon About an Ear Scar?
Some swelling, bruising, numbness, and a small amount of fluid from the incisions are expected in the first days. Changes beyond normal healing are worth a call to my office, even if your next follow-up is only a few days away. Call if you notice:
- Redness that spreads or gets worse instead of fading
- Warmth, or drainage that increases, turns cloudy, or has an odor
- An incision that opens or separates
- Pain that worsens instead of easing, or a fever
- A scar that becomes noticeably thicker or starts extending past the incision line
Mayo Clinic advises contacting your care team right away for severe pain on one side of the face or neck within 24 hours of surgery, shortness of breath, chest pain, or an irregular heartbeat. One-sided pain and swelling soon after surgery can signal a hematoma. A hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin, and it is the most common complication of facelift surgery.
Considering a Facelift in Palm Beach Gardens, FL?
If worry about scarring has kept you from moving forward with a facelift, a consultation can give you answers specific to your face. I will evaluate your skin elasticity, facial structure, and goals, and we can go over where your incisions would sit and what healing typically looks like. You will also see before and after photos of patients with similar concerns.
To schedule a consultation at my Palm Beach Gardens office, call 561-422-4116 or contact us online.
