Will People Be Able to Tell I Had Surgery?

A common question many people have concerning plastic surgery is whether it will be obvious to others that they’ve had it. Will I have a big scar (or scars)? Will I look “fake”? 

We get it! You want transformative results without obvious signs of surgery. That’s why at The Lucas Center, our approach to surgery is not all about making fundamental changes to your appearance, but more so providing a refreshed, relaxed look. We want to accentuate your existing features and help create natural-looking results tailored to your unique goals, whatever that looks like to you.

While results can vary from patient to patient, in general, once healing and recovery are complete, most people will likely not be able to tell you’ve had cosmetic surgery.

Let’s take a look at how Dr. Lucas accomplishes that…

First Things First: Planning

Since aesthetic plastic surgery is elective and pre-planned, Dr. Lucas has time to plan how to make incisions and scarring as minimal as possible for each patient. He does this in two ways: 

• Choosing “hidden” or subtle locations for incisions in order to minimize exposure
• Closing incisions using best-practice techniques that minimize scarring

Now, let’s look at several popular procedures so you can learn how he skillfully hides and minimizes scarring to give you beautiful, natural-looking results. 

Face & Neck Lift

For a face lift, incisions are placed in natural transition zones, thus hiding the scars. This includes areas like: 

• The cheek-hair junction
• The cheek-ear junction 
• Around the earlobe
• Behind the ear
• The neck hairline
• Under the chin (for neck lift)

In general, placing incisions in these areas hides them nicely. All face lift closures are performed without skin tension so scars heal well.

Breast Augmentation & Lift

For breast augmentations, an incision is placed in the breast fold, which hides nicely. This also allows Dr. Lucas to gain access to place the implant deep into the breast, which helps eliminate bacteria and avoid inflammation that can lead to a hard breast capsule (the scar pocket housing the implant).

If a breast lift is required to reposition the nipple/areolar area, the incision line is in the natural transition zone between the breast skin and the deeper color of the areola, making the scar fairly indistinct. 

Pro tip: Time and massage of the incision area (once healed) can also lead to a softer appearance of any vertical scarring below the areola.

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

You can achieve natural-looking results with a tummy tuck as well! Abdominoplasty (aka tummy tuck) scars are placed low on the abdomen just above the pubis and hide nicely with bathing suits and underwear. This is a rejuvenating procedure that makes a huge difference without screaming, “I had surgery!”

Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)

Brachioplasty, the removal of sagging skin and excess fat from the upper arms and the lateral chest area, can heal discretely too. Dr. Lucas places the final incision in a vertical manner towards the back of the inside of the arm. This hides scarring from both the front and back views — very subtle! 

Pro tip: If scars are wider than you want, they can either be revised surgically or modified with micro-needling or dermabrasion to improve the quality.

Rhinoplasty (Nose Job)

For nose jobs, Dr. Lucas makes a small transverse incision under the nose, which extends inside the nostril. That means any scarring from nose jobs is very inconspicuous while still producing transformative results.

Ready for Your Own Natural-Looking Results?

It’s normal to have questions before having any type of surgery — in fact, it’s important to help you feel informed and confident that your needs are being met. At The Lucas Center, we’re always happy to answer your plastic surgery questions and concerns. When you’re ready, you can book a personalized consultation to discuss how you’d like to enhance your own beauty and confidence. We can’t wait to help you on your journey!