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Caring for Your Facelift Scars

A facelift may be optimal for facial rejuvenation to reduce sagging around your chin, mouth, and nose. This surgical correction raises and tightens facial tissues to reverse the impact of aging. However, many women and men hesitate to have cosmetic surgery because they fear noticeable scarring.

So, will your face display scars after facelift surgery in Palm Beach, Florida? The answer is generally no. Harvard-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Cooper uses his artistic skill and extensive experience to camouflage facial scarring after a facelift. However, there are some things you can do after the procedure to help keep your scars less noticable.

Let The Incisions Rest

There will be external incisions regardless of whether you underwent a facelift or blepharoplasty. The best way to start your scar minimization process is to leave them alone. The less trauma they experience, the better. Trauma does not only mean an injury. It can be any excess movement or tension placed on the incision. During the initial stages of your recovery, you will want the incisions to rest. Follow Dr. Cooper’s post-surgical instructions, like when it is safe to wash your face or shower and how often you should change bandages. Proper care will put you on the path to minimal scarring.

Hide From The Sun

It can be hard to keep your face from the sun’s UV rays, especially during summer. Unfortunately, the sun will prevent proper incisions healing. In addition, sun exposure on an incision that hasn’t entirely healed can cause pigmentation to darken and difficult to hide.

Invest In Silicone Strips Or Gel

Silicone strips and silicone gel help lessen the appearance of scars. You can apply them to your incision after they completely heal, typically two to three weeks after surgery. Silicone strips are reusable adhesive bandages worn over the incision for most of the day. Then, at night, you can remove the strip, wash it, and let it dry in preparation for the following day. Next, you can apply the silicone gel like a lotion or cream. When used correctly, silicone strips and gel can start to reduce the appearance of a scar after two or three months.

Be Patient

All scars look bad initially. They are bright red or pink, often raised, and stick out against healthy flesh. The appearance of fresh scarring makes some patients regret their surgery; fortunately, this state is temporary.

All surgical scarring, no matter how it looks right after a facelift, will fade over time, sometimes to the point of completely disappearing. Unfortunately, there is no way to know the length of this process, as everyone heals at a differently. However, you can be confident those bright red scars will not remain.

Learn More

Learn more about why South Florida women and men looking for plastic surgeons in the Palm Beach Gardens area choose Dr. Cooper’s Jupiter, FL practice. Request a consultation online to meet with Dr. Cooper, or call our office at (561) 406-6574 to schedule an appointment.

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