Scars around the ear, nostril, eyelid and brow can look different as expression and lighting change. Chest and abdominal scars are repeatedly affected by breathing, posture, skin folds and clothing.

ELION Medical Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul considers the incision direction, surrounding structures, tissue movement, symptoms and healing history when assessing a surgical scar.

What should be assessed?

  • For facelift scars, expression, neck movement, incision direction and tension in front of or behind the ear.
  • For alar-base reduction scars, the curve of the nostril base, oiliness, surface texture, redness and color contrast.
  • For upper-eyelid or brow-lift scars, thin skin, repeated eye movement, brow tension and side-to-side differences.
  • For rib-cartilage harvest scars, thickness, discomfort and tension from breathing or trunk movement.
  • For inframammary scars, skin folding, moisture, bra friction and repeated pressure.
  • For Cesarean-section scars, lower-abdominal movement, clothing friction, redness, thickness, widening, tethering and pulling.

Safety first
Seek prompt medical care rather than waiting for an online scar review if a wound is opening, draining pus, becoming rapidly more red, hot or painful, or if fever, bleeding, blackened skin or new loss of function is present.

Treatment is planned by the problem being addressed

  • Small color or texture differences on the face can become more noticeable as lighting and expression change.
  • A relaxed front-facing photograph may miss pulling that appears while smiling, opening the eyes or turning the neck.
  • A trunk scar can look flat at rest yet feel tight during breathing, stretching or twisting because movement and deeper attachment are different issues.
  • At every site, record the surgery date, how the wound closed, any separation or infection, the direction of recent change and the response to previous care.
  • If appearance matters more than the operation site, the scar appearance hub can help separate redness, thickness, width, surface and tethering.

Limits, risks and reasons not to decide from a photograph

It should not be assumed that the same method or intensity is suitable for facial and body scars; skin thickness, motion, friction and nearby structures differ.

If the wound is open, drainage or pus is increasing, redness is spreading, or warmth, swelling, pain or fever is worsening, wound assessment takes priority over cosmetic scar planning.

Information to prepare before an in-person assessment

  • Date and cause of the scar, the operation or injury site, and any wound-healing problems.
  • Unfiltered photographs in natural light: full area, front, oblique, side and close view.
  • Changes in redness, thickness, itching, pain, pulling or movement over time.
  • Names and dates of prior laser, injection, medicine, tape, surgery or other treatment.
  • The one or two changes that matter most to you and the recovery time you can realistically allow.

Frequently asked questions

Can the same scar procedure be used on the face and body?

It should not be assumed. Skin thickness, movement, friction and nearby structures differ by site, so location, color, thickness, symptoms and recovery conditions all need to be considered.

How should I photograph a surgical scar?

In natural light, take one image that shows the whole body area and scar boundary, plus views from both sides. If pulling occurs with movement, a short comparison video may help describe it, but images alone do not establish a diagnosis.

Can I discuss a scar at a clinic other than the one that performed the surgery?

The operation name, date, closure and healing history, and previous treatment records help explain the current situation. If the wound is still open or an acute problem is suspected, contact the operating clinic or a nearby medical service first.

Why can a flat scar still feel tight?

A scar that looks flat may be attached to deeper tissue or placed across an area that moves repeatedly. Describe when the pulling occurs, such as during facial expression, breathing, stretching or twisting.