Can a Facelift Fix Your Acne Scarring?

Dr. Philip Miller

May 29, 2018

Many men and women today are plagued by the choices they made as teenagers, especially when it comes to their faces. From acne scars to enlarged pores, the evidence of those teenage, hormone-induced breakouts is everywhere. While acne is associated with youth, the scars left behind by pimples and blackheads can make you look older over time. While facelift surgery is known for correcting many of the common aging problems, there’s not much discussion on how it can (or can’t) help to reverse acne scars. So, how can a facelift help you?

Flatten and Tighten the Skin

If you are an eligible candidate, facelift surgery does many things, but the most commonly known change is how the skin becomes flattened and tightened. One goal of the facelift procedure is to smooth out loose skin and deep wrinkles by adjusting the skin and trimming away the excess. If you have large pores and acne scars, you might have noticed that stretching your skin gently with your fingertips seems to smooth them away. This happens because of surface tension on the skin as it is pulled flatter.

Unfortunately, facelift surgery in New York will not help you to smooth away these scars. During the procedure, the skin will be pulled to a natural amount of tension. While the excess will be removed, your skin won’t have that “pulled look.” Staying natural and youthful might mean keeping those larger pores, or at least turning to other methods to improve their appearance.

Excess Skin Removal

While tightening the skin may not deliver the results you want, the physical removal of some skin could help. During the facelift procedure, the skin and underlying tissue are lifted and pulled outward to a natural and more youthful position. Any excess skin is then removed from the outer edges before your sutures are closed. If you have noticed some scarring around the jaw and cheek areas, you might want to talk to your facial plastic surgeon about this. Depending on the degree to which your skin is sagging, some of these scars might be removed along with the excess skin. You’ll only be able to get such personalized answers through a face-to-face consultation and it certainly never hurts to ask!

Improvements Made by Facelift Surgery

Even if your acne scars cannot be treated with facelift surgery, there are many ways in which this procedure can improve your appearance and leave you looking younger and refreshed. Facelifts can help to diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and creases around the mid and lower regions of the face. Patients with turkey neck, jowls, and sagging skin can see dramatic improvements as well. Discuss the surgical procedure with a board certified facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Miller to learn more about the specific anti-aging benefits a facelift will offer to you.

Other Ways to Treat Acne Scars

Facelift surgery isn’t the only procedure that can improve your look. There are many nonsurgical techniques that will couple nicely with your facelift procedure and address your specific concerns about skin-tightening, skin resurfacing, scar treatments, and pore minimizing. Consult with your facial plastic surgeon to learn more about when and what treatments would be best able to help you address your own specific concerns.

Plan Your Anti-Aging Facial Procedure in NYC Today

If you’d like to learn more about how a facelift surgery and other acne-scarring treatments can help you to achieve the results you want, consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon today. Dr. Philip Miller has specialized exclusively in facial plastic surgery for over 20 years.

A recognized expert in facial rejuvenation procedures, Dr. Miller is frequently invited to share his particular techniques with his peers. He has been voted among the Best Doctors in America each year since 2007 and has also been named a Top Doctor of New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller, contact his office located at 60 East 56th Street, Third Floor in New York City, by calling (646) 791-3025.

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Dr. Philip Miller

Focusing exclusively on the face for more than two decades, double-board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Philip Miller blends art and science with innovation and skill to provide thousands of patients with impeccable results. He is known for pioneering the NatraLook methodology for rhinoplasty, facelifts, neck lifts, and other cosmetic procedures for the face.