Duration of Silicone Gel Application for Facelift Scars
For established facelift scars, silicone gel should be applied for a minimum of 2 months with at least 4 hours of daily application, though treatment extending to 6 months may provide additional benefit, particularly for more mature or resistant scars. 1
Minimum Effective Duration and Daily Application Time
Apply silicone gel for at least 4 hours per day to achieve significant improvement in scar color, thickness, and elasticity, as demonstrated in a multi-center study of 224 patients with hypertrophic scars and keloids. 1
The minimum treatment duration should be 2 months (8 weeks), during which time clinical improvement becomes evident, with further enhancement occurring during continued treatment. 2
For optimal results, 12-24 hours of daily application is recommended when tolerated, as this regimen showed 79% success in preventing recurrence of fresh hypertrophic scars and 56% improvement in chronic scars. 3
Treatment Timeline and Expected Outcomes
Clinical improvement typically begins within 4 weeks of consistent application, with progressive enhancement through 8 weeks of treatment. 2
Treatment should continue for at least 90 days (3 months) to achieve significant volume decrease, reduced inflammation and redness, and improved elasticity in hypertrophic scars. 4
Maximum benefit may require up to 6 months of continuous therapy, particularly for scars ranging from 2 weeks to 62 years old, with treatment durations in successful cases extending from 1 to 16 months. 1
Practical Application for Facial Scars
For irregular facial surfaces where silicone sheeting is difficult to apply (due to social, psychological, and aesthetic concerns), liquid silicone gel (LSG) applied twice daily represents an effective alternative that overcomes the challenges of traditional silicone gel sheeting. 4
Begin treatment as soon as an itchy red streak develops in the maturing facelift scar, rather than waiting for full scar maturation, as early intervention with silicone gel sheeting shows 85% improvement rates. 5
Persistence of clinical improvement occurs for at least 4 weeks after discontinuation of treatment, suggesting that the therapeutic effects are sustained beyond the active treatment period. 2
Common Pitfalls and Management
Side effects are minimal but include occasional transient rashes, superficial maceration, pruritus, and infection, all of which resolve promptly when treatment is temporarily withdrawn. 2, 4
Facial application is particularly challenging for compression and occlusion compared to other anatomical sites, making liquid silicone gel formulations preferable for facelift scars. 4
Treatment effectiveness is independent of scar age, as both fresh scars (2 weeks old) and chronic scars (up to 62 years old) showed significant improvement with consistent application. 1