Forehead Reduction

A forehead reduction procedure is known as hairline lowering or scalp advancement. This surgical technique can bring the hairline forward to shorten the forehead and improve a receding hairline. Patients who opt for the procedure can achieve better-balanced proportions and fuller hair.

Specialists often perform this surgery in conjunction with hair transplants. This is an excellent combination for addressing hair thinning and alopecia. The result is a smaller forehead with minimal scarring and downtime. Forehead reduction is usually not recommended for men. They can opt for a hair transplant to improve a receding hairline. 

The procedure can take anywhere from 2-3 hours. Surgeons usually perform it using general anesthetic with an added local anesthetic on the scalp. The surgeon will first mark out the new hairline position and create an incision at the site. They will loosen the original scalp tissues where the hairline begins and pull it forward to its new position. The specialist will remove excess skin and finish up with sutures. Patients with reduced elasticity in their skin will have to opt for a two-stage procedure. The specialist inserts tissue expanders under the scalp during this process to stretch out the skin over the next six weeks. Once the skin is adequately stretched, the patient will have to return for a second surgery. This time surgeons remove the expanders and move the hairline forward. They close the incisions with two layers of stitches and additional surgical dressings are applied. 

Full recovery will take 2-3 weeks. Patients may experience some swelling and numbness for a few days. It is safe to wash the hair right after the surgery, but patients should avoid any strenuous activity. The stitches are usually taken out one week after the procedure. Scarring should be minimal as hair will continue to grow around the incision site to cover it. A possible risk that may occur with a forehead reduction is the accumulation of scar tissues or visible scarring at the hairline.