What Is Forehead Lowering Surgery?
Forehead lowering surgery (also called forehead reduction or hairline lowering) is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the vertical height of the forehead by moving the hairline forward. This technique effectively shortens the distance between the eyebrows and hairline, creating better facial balance and more pleasing facial proportions.
During lowering forehead surgery, a specialized incision is made along the hairline (pretrichial), allowing Dr Turner to remove a strip of forehead skin before advancing the hair-bearing scalp forward. This technique immediately reduces forehead height by approximately 2-3 centimeters in a single procedure.
Forehead reduction surgery is customized for each patient, ensuring that the new hairline complements their unique facial features while maintaining a completely natural appearance.
Benefits of Forehead Lowering Surgery
Forehead lowering surgery offers several benefits that extend beyond simply reducing forehead height:
- Improved facial proportions: Creates better balance between the forehead and other facial features, enhancing overall harmony and symmetry
- Customized hairline design: Dr Turner carefully designs each new hairline to complement the patient’s unique facial structure and aesthetic goals
- Immediate results: Unlike hair transplantation which requires months for growth, forehead lowering provides instant visible improvement
- Freedom from concealing hairstyles: No longer need to rely on specific hairstyles, hats, or scarves to conceal a high forehead
- Combined procedures possible: Can be performed alongside other facial procedures like brow lifting for comprehensive facial rejuvenation
This procedure can be particularly beneficial for patients with a high forehead, allowing for more freedom in hairstyling choices.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Forehead Lowering Surgery?
Ideal candidates for forehead lowering surgery typically include:
- Individuals with a genetically high hairline or large forehead that creates facial disproportion
- Those with good scalp flexibility (laxity) that allows the hairline to be moved forward
- Patients with thick, dense hair at the front of the hairline that can help conceal any eventual scarring
- People without significant hair thinning or pattern baldness
Additional important criteria for candidates include:
- Physical Health: Being in good overall health with no underlying medical conditions that could interfere with the wound healing process
- Emotional Well-being: Having realistic expectations and a positive mindset regarding the outcomes of surgery. As of 1st of July 2023, patients are required to have a psychological evaluation to ensure they are suitable to proceed with surgery
- Stable Weight: It is recommended to be near your target weight before undergoing the procedure, as weight fluctuations can affect the cosmetic results
- Non-smoker: Smoking or vaping dramatically interferes with the healing process and increases the risk of complications. Therefore, candidates are required to cease smoking for a minimum 6 weeks before and after the surgery
How Forehead Lowering Surgery Is Performed
Hairline lowering surgery is always performed under general anaesthesia in a fully accredited hospital with the assistance of a qualified anaesthetist. The forehead reduction procedure generally takes between two to three hours to complete.
The surgical process involves several carefully executed steps:
- Preoperative planning: Dr Turner marks the current hairline and the target position for the new hairline, often creating a slightly irregular pattern to mimic the natural appearance of a hairline rather than a straight line.
- Incision placement: A precise incision is made along the hairline (pretrichial), with special attention to preserving hair follicles and sensory nerves in the area.
- Tissue preparation: The forehead area is carefully numbed with local anesthetic (even when general anesthesia is used). Dr Turner then meticulously separates the scalp from the underlying tissue.
- Forehead reduction: A strip of forehead skin is removed, with the width determined by the desired amount of lowering and the patient’s scalp laxity.
- Hairline advancement: The hair-bearing scalp is carefully advanced forward to meet the lower incision, effectively reducing the forehead height.
- Specialized closure: Dr Turner uses a technique called trichophytic closure, which is designed to allow hair to grow through the scar once healed, making it virtually undetectable.
- Final refinements: The incision is meticulously closed to ensure minimal tension and optimal healing.
Advanced Techniques: In some cases, Dr Turner may use bone tunneling techniques to secure the advanced scalp to the skull, minimizing tension on the incision, which can help improve long-term results and reduce scar visibility.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
For those who may not be suitable candidates for forehead lowering surgery or prefer less invasive approaches, several non-surgical alternatives exist:
- Hair Transplantation: FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplantation can create a lower hairline by redistributing hair follicles to the frontal hairline. While this approach avoids the surgical advancement of the scalp, it typically requires multiple sessions and a year for the transplanted hair to grow and achieve full density.
- Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP): This minimally invasive technique uses medical-grade pigments to create the appearance of tiny hair follicles, effectively creating the illusion of a lower, denser hairline. SMP can be used alone or to complement other hair restoration procedures.
- Hairstyling Techniques: Strategic hairstyles with bangs or side-swept fringes can visually reduce the appearance of a high forehead without any medical intervention.
Dr Turner can discuss these alternatives during your consultation to determine which approach best suits your specific needs and goals.
