Facelift Scars: Where They Go and How They Heal

Facelift scars are placed where the hairline and the shape of the face and ears can hide them: the incision usually starts in the hairline at the temple, runs down and around the front of the ear and ends behind the ear in the lower scalp, with a small incision under the chin when the neck is treated.¹ They do not disappear, but in most people they fade and become hard to notice.^1,2

How well a scar hides depends on where it is placed, how the skin heals and how it is looked after in the first year. Below we go through each part of the incision, how a scar matures month by month, the problems worth knowing about (hairline, earlobe, hair loss, raised scars), what short hair and beards change, and which scar care has evidence behind it.

Where facelift incisions go

A traditional facelift incision starts in the hairline at the temple, runs down and around the front of the ear and ends behind the ear in the lower scalp. A limited incision is shorter and begins in the hairline just above the ear. When the neck is lifted, the incision continues around the ear into the lower scalp, and a small cut is made under the chin.¹

A 2025 scoping review of 49 studies grouped facelift incision research into four themes: placement of the incision at the temple, management of the area around the small cartilage in front of the ear canal (tragus) and the earlobe, placement of the incision behind the ear, and its design. The techniques described were each reported to have low complication rates, but the studies measured outcomes too differently to say which technique is best.⁴ In practice this means the incision is planned for your hairline, ear shape and hairstyle rather than taken from a template.

How a facelift scar matures

Stitches are usually removed after about 7 to 14 days, unless dissolvable stitches were used.² After several weeks, bruising and colour changes have faded.² The scar itself keeps changing for much longer: most scars fade over time, and this can take up to 2 years or more.³ A fine-line scar can be slightly raised at first, then usually flattens and fades without treatment.³

The NHS is clear that facelift scars should fade but will not disappear completely.² For most people the goal is a scar that sits in a natural line and is noticed only by someone looking for it. Most of the earlier healing timeline is covered in our guide to facelift recovery week by week.

Facelift scars: problems worth knowing about

Most facelift scars heal as fine lines, but some problems are recognised:

• Thick or raised scars: the NHS lists thick, obvious scars as a possible complication, and Mayo Clinic notes that scars are rarely raised; corticosteroid injections or other treatments may help them look better.^1,2 A hypertrophic scar is raised and firm but stays within the wound and usually flattens over time; a keloid grows beyond the original wound and usually does not fade without treatment.³
• Hair loss around the incision: brief or lasting hair loss can occur around the incisions, and the NHS mentions a small but permanent reduction in hair growth around the scars as a possibility.^1,2
• Healing problems: smoking greatly raises the risk of poor wound healing and skin loss after a facelift.¹
• Earlobe and hairline: the NHS lists uneven facial features, including the position of the earlobe, among possible problems,² which is why the earlobes and the hairline are examined at consultation. More on the risks is on our facelift and neck lift page.

Short hair, hair worn up and beards

The behind-the-ear part of the incision ends in the lower scalp.¹ If you wear your hair very short or often tie it up, that part matters most, so say so at the first consultation: it changes how the line behind the ear is planned and what you can expect to see. The same applies if you colour your hair or plan a big change of hairstyle.

For men, beard-bearing skin and the hairline also affect where the incisions are placed, and the sideburn position after the lift is discussed in advance. In Op. Dr. Esin Özlem Atmış’s planning, facelifts use the deep plane technique, in which the deeper layer carries the lift so that the skin can be closed without tension. If you are weighing up whether results justify the scars, our guide on how long a facelift lasts may help.

Scar care: what has evidence

• Sun: the NHS advises keeping a scar covered in the sun for at least a year, or using sunscreen of SPF 30 or more on it.³
• Silicone: a Cochrane review of 20 trials with 873 people found only weak evidence that silicone gel sheeting reduces raised scarring in people prone to it; the trials were of poor quality and highly susceptible to bias.⁵ Silicone dressings or gels are a reasonable option, but not a guarantee.
• No smoking: smoking greatly raises the risk of poor wound healing and skin loss, so staying off nicotine before and after surgery matters for the incision too.¹
• Raised scars: corticosteroid injections or other treatments may help, so mention a scar that is thickening at your follow-up instead of waiting.¹

Contact your surgeon without waiting if a scar becomes swollen, painful or warm, or if pus comes out of it.³ Follow-up reviews are planned at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months; if you live abroad, they can be held online where appropriate, and an in-person examination is requested if needed. Clear photographs of the scars at each review make changes easy to track.

Frequently asked questions