Can A Female With Alopecia Have A Facelift Without Visible Scarring?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a female with alopecia who keeps my head shaved. I do wear hats and wigs sometimes but also like to be comfortable. I have not found any other information on hiding the scars from facelift and necklift surgery except on your examples of bald men. Have you ever operated on a woman with alopecia? Were you able to camouflage the scarring! Any information would be greatly appreciated.

A:The key to limit visible scarring in any patient with little to no hair coverage, regardless of their gender, is to not have the incision lines extend away from the folds/creases of the ear. That is the best way to not create a scar problem. With more limited incisions comes more modest face/neck lifting results. Whether that tradeoff is a reasonable one depends on the patient’s face/neck issues and their expectations. That would have to be carefully assessed before surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley
World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon