Frontal hairline lowering or forehead reduction surgery is used to advance naturally high hairlines without an existing condition. The surgery is also referred to as forehead lowering, hairline advancement or hairline correction. Patients usually perceive their naturally high hairlines as a forehead proportionality problem rather than a hairline height issue. Through surgery, the hairline can be lowered, thus the height of the forehead can be reduced, and a more rounded and aesthetically pleasing hairline can be achieved by correcting the normal temple recession.
The purpose of frontal hairline lowering is to re-establish proportionality and balance of the upper facial features, which leads to an improved forehead balance and more aesthetical features. To stop receding hairline and restore old glory of the frontal hairline you should consider hairline design.
Hairline advancement can be achieved either with the help of hair implant surgery or with hairline lowering surgery. Hair transplant surgery is more common since it is minimally invasive, virtually painless, and natural looking results can be achieved in a single procedure. As opposed to the hair transplant technique, hairline lowering is a more invasive surgery and it involves advancing the hairline by surgically moving the hairline lower.
An incision is made along the front of the hairline and sometimes, if desired or necessary, brow lift surgery is also performed. The incision site will heal and will not be detectable. The incision is purposefully made in such a way as to permit hair regrowth through and in front of the incision, thus, hiding any eventual scarring that may occur. Although it is a bigger procedure than hair replacement, it produces quick results, and the original density of your hair can be maintained.
Frontal Hairline Lowering
In order for the frontal hairline procedure to be successful, patients need to have a moderate amount of scalp flexibility in the frontal region. Scalp flexibility is tested before the procedure, and if the scalp if not flexible enough, patients must undergo a tissue expansion procedure. This technique is used to loosen the scalp by placing a balloon tissue expander under the front of the scalp, which is then gradually inflated with saline over a period of 8 to 10 weeks. The scalp will stretch so that a larger hairline advancement becomes possible.
If patients don’t wish to undergo this tissue expansion procedure and their scalp is not loose enough to be able to undergo hairline lowering surgery, they can always opt for the hair transplant technique to obtain the desired hairline height deliberately changing the ongoing receding hairline process.
Most patients prefer hair grafting as it is less invasive, and allows hair surgeons much more leeway in better rounding the hairline or filling in and lowering the sides. However, frontal hairline lowering surgery produces immediate results with unrivalled hair density. Sometimes, after this type of surgery, hair grafts may be used to cover up the fine scarring produced by the incision.
Both hair advancement techniques are performed in an outpatient clinic under an oral or intravenous sedation, depending on how extensive the surgery is. Recovery times are comparable, and patients will be required to take several postoperative measures (avoid strenuous exercise, avoid alcohol consumption, etc.) to ensure rapid and successful healing.