Forehead Reduction Surgery: How To Reduce Forehead?

Photo by Tyler Frew MD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wondering about forehead reduction surgery? Like what it is and why people choose it? Some people have a tall forehead or a hairline that sits higher than they would like, which can make their facial features look out of balance to them.

Overview

Forehead reduction surgery is also known as hairline lowering surgery. In this surgery, the hairline is brought forward so the forehead looks smaller. The goal is better balance between the features of the face.

A high hairline can be due to genetics, hair loss, or a previous cosmetic procedure.

How to do forehead reduction surgery?

It is usually done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, often with sedation, or under general anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs the forehead, and medicine injected with it also helps reduce bleeding.

The following steps are followed to do the surgery:

First of all, the strip of forehead skin to be removed is marked with a surgical skin marker. The cut near the hairline is made carefully to protect hair follicles and nerves.
After that, local anesthesia is injected so you don't feel pain in the area.
The marked strip of skin is removed, and the scalp is loosened from the tissue underneath.
The scalp along the hairline is then pulled forward to meet the lower forehead cut. This closes the gap and shortens the forehead.
The skin is stitched in a way that limits scarring. Hair growing through and in front of the scar helps hide it over time.

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After surgery, the forehead is shorter. If you also want your eyebrows lifted, a brow lift can sometimes be done at the same time; ask your surgeon.

Recovery

Most people go home the same day. You will have follow-up visits over the next few weeks so your surgeon can check healing and remove stitches. Don't touch or pick at the incision, and follow your surgeon's advice on pain, swelling and infection prevention.

Some pain and swelling are expected for several days after surgery. For the similar brow lift procedure, Cleveland Clinic says most people return to work within 10 to 14 days and avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks. Your surgeon will tell you when you can exercise or play contact sports again.

Who Is Eligible for Forehead Reduction Surgery?

Forehead reduction surgery can be used to lower the hairline and balance the facial features. A review in Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics notes that good candidates need a stable frontal hairline and a fairly mobile scalp, which rules out most men with ongoing hair loss.

A good candidate usually has:

a high hairline and a desire to lower it
a tall forehead and a desire to shorten it
thick hair along the hairline
a stable hairline, with no ongoing or family pattern of hair loss
a loose, flexible scalp

So, not everyone is suitable for this. People with progressing hair loss may be better suited to a hair transplant.

Side effects

There are also some side effects of forehead reduction surgery:

bleeding during and after surgery
side effects of general anesthesia
infection of the incision area
numbness or tingling of the scalp and forehead, which usually fades over months
nerve damage
Hair Loss near the incision
a visible scar along the hairline
skin necrosis (death of skin tissue), which is rare

How much does it cost to Forehead Reduction Surgery?

Prices vary widely by country, clinic and surgeon, and usually cover the surgeon, anesthesia and facility fees. It is a cosmetic procedure, so insurance rarely pays. Ask for a written, all-inclusive quote.

Results

The results are immediate and, in experienced hands, look natural. The goal of forehead lowering is a balanced facial shape that suits your other features. In a review of 641 patients, the forehead lengthened slightly again over two years, by about 2 to 2.5 mm, so a small amount of the change may be lost over time.

Conclusion

Forehead reduction surgery is also known as hairline lowering surgery. It brings your hairline forward and reduces the height of the forehead. Most people recover well if they look after the incision area and follow their aftercare steps. Like any surgery, it carries some risks, so choose a board-certified surgeon with experience in this procedure.

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