Hairline Lowering (Forehead Reduction)

Overview

What is hairline lowering?

Do you feel like your forehead is too large, or your hairline too high? A prominent forehead can look out of proportion and change the balance of the facial features. Thankfully, this can be corrected through a form of plastic surgery known as hairline lowering or forehead reduction, a surgical procedure to bring the scalp and hair lower onto the forehead.

Cost of hairline lowering

The average cost for hairline lowering surgery is between $5,000 and $12,000. The cost can vary depending on several factors, such as:

• Your surgeon’s experience
• Geographic location
• Surgical facility fees
• Type of anesthesia
• Complexity of the procedure
• Medications
• Medical supplies

In some cases, hairline lowering may be combined with a brow lift to enhance the overall results, which will increase the overall cost of your treatment. Many practices offer flexible payment plans to help make the cost of your surgery affordable.

Is it right for you?

Ideal candidates for hairline lowering are:

• In good overall health
• Have a forehead that is too long or hairline is too high
• Good scalp elasticity
• No thinning hair or male pattern baldness
  
• Realistic expectations

This procedure is often chosen as an alternative to hair transplants, which require multiple sessions over a longer period of time before achieving comparable results. Patients with both a high hairline and drooping eyebrows sometimes undergo brow lift surgery along with forehead reduction.

Procedure overview

Hairline lowering surgery is performed with either local or general anesthesia and requires about two to three hours.

• First your surgeon makes an incision along the hairline.
• Next, the hair-bearing scalp is loosened and separated from the underlying bone and moved forward
• During surgery, the excess forehead skin is removed and the scalp advanced forward.
• Your surgeon may use an Endotine or Ultratine device in order to help support the scalp while it heals. This device will dissolve under the skin over the next several months and is fixated to the underlying bone.
• Excess forehead skin is then trimmed away, and the incision is carefully closed with sutures so that the incision heals.
• Lastly, a dressing is applied, and the patient awakens.

Safety information

Although forehead reduction surgery is associated with a low complication rate (<1%), no surgical procedure is without some degree of risk. Some potential risks and side effects include:

• Bruising
• Infection
• Numbness in scalp
• Bleeding
• Asymmetry
• Fluid accumulation
• Hair loss around the incisions

Recovery time

After surgery, the incisions will be covered with a dressing. The stitches may dissolve, or they may be removed by the doctor in about a week.

Most patients take about a week away from work and other activities, although some are able to return to their normal activity level within just 2 to 3 days.

After surgery, some swelling and bruising can be expected. This may extend downwards to give patients ‘black eyes.’ During this time, ice compresses can ease discomfort and swelling.

Patients should keep the head and neck elevated and follow the surgeon’s instructions regarding recovery instructions.

When to expect results

The results of your procedure will be visible the day after the surgery. However, it may take about three to six months for the hairline to appear more naturally.

For more information about forehead reduction, visit the National Library of Medicine website.

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