Quick answer: Facelift incisions are placed where they can be hidden — along the temporal hairline, in the natural crease in front of the ear, around the earlobe, and behind the ear. Most facelift scars are difficult to see once mature, but they stay pink for 2 to 3 months and take a full year to fade. Final appearance depends as much on your skin and healing as on the surgeon's technique.
Quick summary
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Where are the incisions? | Temporal hairline, in front of the ear, around the earlobe, behind the ear into the hairline |
| Are they visible? | Usually concealed by hair and ear anatomy once healed |
| When do they fade? | Pink for 2–3 months, continued fading through 12 months |
| Can they be hidden with makeup? | Usually from around week 2–3, once incisions are closed and dry |
| What makes them worse? | Smoking, sun exposure, tension on the closure, individual scarring tendency |
Where the incisions actually go
A standard facelift incision starts in the temporal hair, runs down in front of the ear — either in front of the tragus or inside it — curves under the earlobe, and continues behind the ear into the hairline. A neck lift may add a small incision under the chin.
Two design choices affect visibility. Whether the incision runs in front of the tragus or behind it changes what is visible from the side. And whether the hairline incision is placed at the edge of the hair or inside it affects whether hair loss along the scar would be noticeable.
Ask your surgeon to draw the planned incision on your own face during consultation. A drawing on a diagram is not the same as a drawing on you.
How they heal: the timeline
Weeks 1 to 2. Sutures are removed between day 5 and day 14 depending on location — those in front of the ear come out first, those behind the ear and in the hairline last. The line looks raised and red.
Months 1 to 3. Scars are at their most visible: pink or red, sometimes slightly firm. This is normal and not a sign that something went wrong.
Months 3 to 12. Color fades toward pale and firmness softens. Most of the final appearance is set by month 12, though minor changes continue beyond that. This runs alongside the rest of the facelift recovery timeline, where swelling largely settles by month 3.
What actually reduces scarring
Stopping smoking. Nicotine constricts small blood vessels and is the single largest modifiable risk factor for wound healing problems after a facelift. Most surgeons require cessation for weeks before and after surgery.
Sun protection. UV exposure on an immature scar can cause lasting darkening. Sunscreen and physical cover matter for the full first year.
Avoiding tension. This is a surgical variable, not a patient one — how the deeper tissue layer is supported determines how much tension the skin closure carries. A closure under tension widens.
Not disturbing the incision. No scratching, picking, or aggressive cleaning during early healing.
Silicone sheets or gels are commonly recommended once incisions are fully closed, and are among the better-supported topical measures. Confirm the timing with your surgeon rather than starting on your own.
When scarring is a problem
Most facelift scars heal uneventfully. The situations that need attention are:
Widened scars — usually from tension or early stress on the closure.
Hypertrophic or keloid scarring — raised, thickened scars that extend beyond the original line. Individual and family history matters here; tell your surgeon if you scar this way.
Hair loss along the incision — thinning at the temporal or occipital hairline.
Earlobe distortion — a "pixie ear" where the lobe is pulled downward. This is a technique-related outcome, not a scarring problem.
If any of these develop, treatments exist: steroid injection, laser, scar revision. Raise it at follow-up rather than waiting.
If you are traveling for surgery
Scar care runs longer than a typical medical trip. Suture removal and the first follow-up happen in the first two weeks, which is why clinics advise staying in Korea for that period — but scar maturation continues for a year after you have gone home.
Before you leave, get written aftercare instructions, know who to contact if something changes, and ask what the clinic's policy is if a revision is needed later. A written revision policy is one of the criteria worth checking before you book.
This article provides general information about surgical scarring and is not medical advice. Individual healing varies considerably. Follow the instructions given by the surgeon who performed your procedure, and discuss your own situation with a qualified surgeon.