Do you recommend a Facelift for acne scars?
I had a consultation when I was 25 for potential Dermabrasion for acne scarring. I am now 47. He said I wouldn't have a good result because of the shape and depth of scarring. He said a facelift would be necessary to pull tighten the skin resulting in a smoother surface. I was wondering if that is something you know of or have done this procedure for this reason and if so was the result a good one? I also now have deeper than I want smile lines. Please advise the best you can.
A LOT has changed since you were first faced with this acne scar concern. Acne scars can be "ice pick" or general depressed facial scars. They can be associated with hyper pigmentation or hypo pigmentation. The problem of your acne scars still remain now that you are 47 y/o vs. 25. However, you may also have "extra" skin that may make these scars appear worse. While a facelift should reduce the extra skin on your face and INITIALLY make your acne scars appear better due to the post operative swelling, the acne scars will remain. The face lift swelling will subside and the acne scars will be evident.
I think most board certified plastic surgeons will feel the same way. Mini-facelift, thread lift, deep plane facelift, it does not matter. The problem of acne scarring is within the skin that remains. There may be an improvement in skin contour as there is less extra skin but I would not recommend this to my SF Bay Area patients.
There are good options to treat acne scars. For my patients in San Francisco, I initially suggest "skin fillers" which can provide a temporary relief for contour issues. Restylane, Juvaderm are good example of such fillers. Fat injections are an another option but require the additional time and cost of harvesting the fat. Laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels alone or combined with skin fillers is a great option for depressed scars and may also deal with any unwanted dark pigment on your skin. Sometimes a scar revision may need to be performed prior to laser skin resurfacing.
While you have waited to deal with you acne scars, there may be better options now!
Generally speaking, a facelift removes excess skin from the face and helps reposition soft tissues of the face that have shifted due to aging. Skin treatments normally affect the quality of the skin but have little influence on the skin quantity or its position. Since acne scars are primarily skin quality concerns, a facelift would have little lasting effect on the acne scars. Nevertheless, it is common to have patients on skin care treatments to improve the quality of the appearance of the skin and also perform a surgical facelift to address the skin quantity and soft tissue position issues. Traditional skin treatments may be inadequate to satisfactorily treat your acne scars and they may require a combination of techniques to improve their appearance.
Seek the consultation of a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. They have a website listing all the certified plastic surgeons. Members of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery will all be board certified in plastic surgery and have demonstrated an interest and competence in cosmetic plastic surgery as well.
Facelift For Acne Scars - Facelift for acne scars is the last option for significant acne scarring with pits and skin laxity. There are many other options including laserbrasion, fat augmentation, or the use of dermal fillers to improve acne scars prior to considering a facelift.