What is the risk of heavy scarring from a facelift?

Question:
What is the risk of heavy scarring from a facelift? I am a 53 year old female, and have heard horror stories of facelifts gone wrong.

Answer:
I believe that for every surgical procedure performed there are certainly horror stories that emerge from these procedures. Facelift surgery is no exception and because the incisions and potential scars that can occur following a facelift are present in the most visible part of your body, bad scarring from facelift surgery can be very catastrophic. The good news is that most facelifts are performed with very little visible scarring. The incisions for a facelift are placed in very inconspicuous locations around your ear, in your scalp, and behind your ear so that the incisions are well camouflaged. Scarring can unfortunately occur with facelift surgery and your surgeon will discuss with you the risks and potential complications of facelift surgery in great detail. The good news is that the risks of heavy scarring from facelift surgery is very small.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld