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Hairline Lowering & Forehead Reduction

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Women who seek hairline lowering almost always share a common complaint: namely, they are not happy with the size of their forehead. Typically, this type of issue has been a persistent source of personal frustration and often an embarrassment for most of their lives. This is a very personal matter that can cause self-consciousness and affect self-esteem. In many cases, women with a high hairline may try to conceal their forehead with various hairstyles, scarves, or hats. Fortunately, our plastic surgeon, Carrie Houssock, MD, FACS offers an effective surgical procedure designed to help women who want to lower the position of their hairline to achieve more balanced facial proportions.

What Is the Hairline Lowering (Forehead Reduction) Procedure?

Hairline lowering is an approximately two-hour long surgical procedure that can advance the hairline further down on the forehead, reducing its size. This procedure is sought most often by women who are displeased by the length of their forehead and could benefit aesthetically from a lower hairline.

What Are the Benefits of Hairline Lowering?

Our hairline lowering procedure offers many advantages to women who want to reposition their hairline further down on the forehead. For the majority of patients, hairline lowering:

  • Can reduce forehead size by ¾ of an inch or more
  • Is typically performed in about 2 hours
  • Improves facial proportions
  • Results in a well-concealed incision
  • Involves a short recovery time and produces rapid results
  • Can improve self-esteem and self-confidence

To provide the most optimal cosmetic outcome, Dr. Houssock may recommend natural-looking hair transplants to further advance the hairline or camouflage any visible residual scar tissue.

Who Is a Candidate for Hairline Lowering?

Most women with a high hairline and good skin elasticity can potentially be candidates for the hairline lowering procedure. Patients must be in good overall health to avoid complications. Individuals who have difficulties with abnormal scarring and wound healing may be encouraged to consider other options. The only way to find out if you are a candidate for forehead reduction surgery is to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Houssock. During your appointment, your surgeon will perform a full medical evaluation, examine your hairline, discuss your concerns, and determine whether hairline lowering is the best option for your needs.

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Is Forehead Reduction Without Surgery Possible?

Unfortunately, there are no non-surgical options for achieving forehead reduction. Patients’ choices are limited to hair transplants, hairline lowering surgery, or a combination of hairline lowering and hair transplants. The less surgically intensive option is hair transplant surgery; however, patients who desire their hairline to advance by ¾ of an inch or more are usually best served by hairline lowering surgery.

What Can I Expect During the Hairline Lowering Procedure?

The hairline lowering operation is a terrific way for well selected patients to achieve a lower hairline in only two hours. The operation is performed while the patient is sedated in our certified surgical center by our dedicated anesthetist. The scalp is brought forward through an incision at the front hairline and excess forehead skin is removed. The hairline is then positioned lower on the forehead, typically ¾ of an inch lower, or perhaps more, depending on your needs. The incision from the procedure can usually be hidden along the hairline for a natural appearance.

Following the procedure, many of our patients enjoy the look of their new hairline and express a boost in self-confidence.

View our full patient results photo gallery

What is Recovery After Hairline Lowering Like?

Some mild swelling and numbness of the forehead is common in the first few days of healing after surgery. Prior to surgery, our surgeon provides comprehensive post-surgical instructions, which should be followed closely to facilitate proper healing. Most patients are able to wash their hair the day after surgery and many return to work within a few days. After about a week, stitches are commonly removed.

While healing time can vary between patients, recovery typically takes about two to three weeks. It is important to avoid heavy lifting and other strenuous activities until your surgeon says it is ok to resume them. For some patients, a follow-up hair transplant procedure can further lower the hairline if desired.

Once you are fully recovered and the incision has healed, you can enjoy your new look. The appearance of any scarring should continue to improve with time. For the majority of patients, the adjusted hairline beautifully accentuates their facial features and provides them with renewed confidence. They are also able to enjoy a wide variety of new hairstyles and are free from the burden of trying to conceal their forehead with scarves and hats.

Will I Have a Visible Forehead Reduction Scar?

For the majority of patients, the incision from the forehead reduction procedure can be concealed within the hairline for a natural-looking result. Initially, after surgery and in the early stages of healing, the incision may be visible; however, once the incision is fully healed and the scar tissue has matured, any residual scarring is typically difficult to detect. If the patient desires more coverage of the scar, natural-looking hair transplants can be performed for additional camouflage.

How Much Does Hairline Lowering Cost?

At our practice, hairline lowering can cost approximately $10,650 on average. Hairline lowering surgery is highly customized to suit the needs of the patient and a variety of factors must be evaluated before the precise cost can be determined. Pricing estimates are typically dictated by the following considerations:

  • How far the hairline will be advanced
  • Complexity of the procedure
  • Any hair transplant costs (performed during and/or after the procedure)
  • Sedation expenses
  • Facility and surgeon’s fees
  • Post-operative medications

Following your consultation with Dr. Houssock, you will be provided with an accurate cost estimate for your custom treatment plan. In order to make hairline lowering and other plastic surgery procedures more accessible and affordable for patients, we offer several different options for financing through trusted third-party lenders—including CareCredit®, ALPHAEON™ CREDIT, and Blispay®. For approved applicants, these lenders offer an array of flexible low and no-interest loan options. If you have questions about financing choices, the application process, or which lender may be right for you, you can ask to speak with one of our knowledgeable team members. All of these lenders offer the option to apply online through a simple electronic form, and you are typically notified quickly if you have been approved. Once approved you will be able to schedule your surgery!

* Secondary hair transplant may be required

Contact Us to Schedule Your Hairline Lowering Consultation

If you would like to learn more about hairline lowering, please contact JEV Plastic Surgery & Medical Aesthetics to schedule your consultation.