Face & neck · Vancouver and North Vancouver

Facelift Scars and Incisions

Along the hairline and the natural folds of your ear.

Where facelift incisions go, how facelift scars heal and how much they show, explained by Dr. Thomas Buonassisi, MD, FRCSC, Specialist in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, with a practice limited to facial plastic surgeries. In his words, and in his videos.

The first step is a complimentary, friendly call with a patient care manager.

Dr. Buonassisi showing where a facelift incision runs, just in front of the ear

At a glance

Facelift scars, in short

From Dr. Buonassisi's videos, November 2026.

Where: In the hair at the temple, along the front of the ear, behind the ear and into the hairline at the back
Stitches: In front of the ear; they dissolve on their own and are skin coloured
Staples: In the hairline; out at your one-week visit
Your hair: A gentle rinse from the day after surgery
Sealed: At about three weeks, when hair colour and pools are fine
Along the hairline: A little redder and thicker for a while
How they look: Hard to see after a couple of months; the part behind the ear stays hidden
If you'd like more: Laser and light options can help improve the look of a scar

Hear it from Dr. Buonassisi

Facelift incisions, in his videos

Filmed at 8 West: why a facelift needs incisions and where they go, Jenn's healed incisions, and caring for your incisions and hair in the first days.

Dr. Buonassisi in the clinic, pointing just in front of his ear

3:21

All About Facelifts, Part 6 · 3:21

Facelift incisions and what to expect

Why a facelift needs incisions, where he hides them, and why a shorter incision isn't always a better one.

Where they go

Where facelift incisions are placed

The incision follows lines your face already has, so hair and the folds of the ear do most of the hiding.

In the temple hairJust inside the hairline, so hair grows through and helps hide it. For men with sideburns it can sit a little lower.
Along the earIt follows the curve of the ear into its corner and runs just in front of the small flap at the front of the ear (the tragus), so its shape and colour don't change.
Around the earlobeDown a small groove and around the earlobe into the crease behind the ear, where it's out of sight.
Into the back hairlineOut into the hairline at the back of the neck, where the extra neck skin is moved up and trimmed.
SometimesA small separate incision higher in the temple hair, or one under the chin when the neck needs work from the front.

Why in front of the ear and not behind it? The incision goes in front of anything that should stay where it is, so your hairline and your ear don't move.

Where a facelift incision usually runs, as Dr. Buonassisi describes it. Which incisions you need is decided at your consultation.

Why there are incisions

Why a facelift needs incisions

In a deep plane facelift, Dr. Buonassisi works beneath the SMAS, in the deeper layer of the face, so the skin and its supporting layer are lifted as one instead of the skin being stretched on its own. Reaching that layer takes an incision, and lifting it leaves extra skin that has to be trimmed and closed.

He compares it to taking in a dress: there's extra material in some places and not enough in others, and it has to be moved around to fit. A very small opening can reach underneath, but it can't deal with that extra skin.

Is a shorter incision better?

Not necessarily. What matters is that the incision lies flat, sits where it's hidden and is long enough to get the result you want.

An incision that stops behind the ear, without the part into the back hairline, suits a few people. It doesn't redrape the neck skin as well, recovery is about the same, and Dr. Buonassisi doesn't often recommend it.

As they heal

How facelift scars heal

The day after surgeryOintment goes on the incision lines a couple of times a day, and you can gently rinse your hair with a little soap (no conditioner yet, and careful brushing near the staples).
One weekYour staples come out. The stitches in front of the ear dissolve on their own, and that incision can already be hard to see. Keep anything off the incisions for a couple more weeks; makeup that comes off easily is fine.
About three weeksThe incisions are sealed, so hair colour and swimming in a pool are fine.
The next monthsScars along the edge of the hair tend to be a little thicker and redder for a while. The redness is small blood vessels, a normal part of healing. After a couple of months most of it is hard to see.
Once healedFrom a normal distance, even for your hairdresser, they're very difficult to see, and the part behind the ear is hidden. Some people heal faster than others.

The weeks after surgery, from the dressing to going back to work: facelift recovery, week by week.

Your skin

Caring for your skin and your scars

Surgery smooths and refits, the way you'd pull a sheet smooth. The fabric deserves care too, so we look after your skin before and after surgery.

If you'd like, we also have laser and light options that can help improve the look of a scar. Our team can talk you through them.

Before & after

Around the ear, before and after

Side views of facelifts by Dr. Buonassisi, with the hair back so you can see the area around the ear. Every patient is different.

Facelift and neck lift, before, side view — Facelift and neck lift2 months after surgery

Facelift and neck lift, 2 months after, side view — Facelift and neck lift2 months after surgery

Facelift and neck lift, 2½ months after, side view — Facelift and neck lift2½ months after surgery

Facelift and neck lift, 1 year after, side view — Facelift and neck lift1 year after surgery

Real 8 West patients. Results vary.

More facelift before and after photos

Questions

Facelift scar questions

Will a facelift leave scars?

Yes. The deeper layers are reached through an incision, and extra skin is trimmed, so every facelift leaves a scar. Dr. Buonassisi places the incisions in the temple hair, along the front of the ear, behind the ear and into the back hairline, where hair and the folds of the ear help hide them. Once healed, they're very difficult to see from a normal distance.

Where are facelift scars?

In the hair at the temple, along the curve of the ear and just in front of it, around the earlobe into the crease behind the ear, and into the hairline at the back of the neck. Sometimes there's also a small one higher in the temple hair or under the chin.

How long do facelift scars take to heal?

The staples come out at one week and the incisions are sealed at about three weeks. Scars along the hairline can stay a little redder and thicker for a while; after a couple of months most of it is hard to see. Some people heal faster than others.

Are facelift scars visible?

Once they've healed, facelift scars are very difficult to see from a normal distance, even for your hairdresser, and the part behind the ear is hidden. Scars along the hairline can look a little redder and thicker for a while first.

Does a deep plane facelift leave scars?

Yes. The incisions go in the temple hair, in front of the ear, behind the ear and into the back hairline. In a deep plane facelift the work is done beneath the SMAS, so the skin and its supporting layer are lifted together instead of the skin being stretched on its own.

Is a shorter facelift incision better?

Not necessarily. What matters is that it lies flat, sits where it's hidden and is long enough to get the result. An incision that stops behind the ear suits a few people, but it doesn't redrape the neck skin as well, and recovery is about the same.

When can I colour my hair after a facelift?

At about three weeks, once the incisions are sealed. You can gently rinse your hair from the day after surgery.

Can I put oil or cream on my facelift scars?

Keep anything off the incisions for a couple of weeks after your one-week visit; most skin products and makeup that comes off easily are fine around them. Some people use an oil along the incision line. There's no clear evidence it helps, and it's fine once the incisions are sealed.

Can facelift scars be improved?

If you'd like, yes. We have laser and light options that can help improve the look of a scar. Our team can talk you through them.

The guide

The Essential Guide to Facial Rejuvenation

It answers the questions most people have before a facelift consultation, with drawings and short videos from Dr. Buonassisi. Inside:

The deep plane facelift and the neck, explained, with drawings of where the incisions go
Jenn's facelift recovery, week by week, with a short video at each stage
Eyes, brows and the lip lift, with before-and-after photos
Cost and financing, and your next steps

Get the guide by email

We email you the guide right away. Strictly confidential.

More about facelifts

The rest of your facelift

A facelift is often done with a neck lift, and sometimes with a lip lift at the same time.

Two clinics

Find us in Vancouver and North Vancouver

8 West Clinic is at 1788 W Broadway in Vancouver and 221 West Esplanade in North Vancouver. Financing is available through partner companies, and we can help you choose an option that fits your budget.

Financing →Contact and locations →

Every patient is unique and treatment results vary.

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