The frontal hairline can be lowered by either by creating a new hairline using hair transplantation or by directly moving the existing hairline forward and excising the upper portion of the non-hair bearing forehead skin. Surgical hairline lowering is a very robust procedure that shortens the vertical height of the forehead in order to establish more esthetically pleasing facial proportions. It leaves a faint scar in the hairline that is generally very difficult to detect.
The main advantages of surgical hairline lowering over hair transplantation is that the results are instant, and we can achieve a hairline density that would not be possible with hair transplantation alone. It would take 2 or even 3 hair transplant sessions, each separated by 6-12 months to achieve the same or similar hairline density that we can obtain from a one-stage forehead lowering surgery, so the hair transplant route would be much more expensive and time consuming.
Hairline lowering surgery requires advanced training to perform and is not offered by most hair restoration or plastic surgery clinics. Dr. Korman and Dr. Solomon are part of a relatively small group of experienced facial cosmetic surgeons in North America who are qualified and experienced with hairline lowering surgery and they have one of the largest combined experiences in the Canada.
Who are the candidates?
Hairline lowering surgery is a very robust procedure, but it is not for everyone. Hairline lowering is most appropriate for women who have a congenitally high forehead. It is generally not performed in men who are experiencing male pattern baldness with an actively receding hairline because progressive loss of hair over time can unmask the scar from the procedure. Hairline lowering surgery can sometimes be performed in men who have had previous hair transplants to establish a permanent frontal hairline.
Hairline lowering can also be offered as part of the gender affirming facial feminization process in those transitioning from male to female and whose hair loss has been stabilized with medical therapy. In this case, the procedure can be combined with forehead ridge reduction if necessary.
How it works
Hairline lowering surgery is performed under deep sedation or general anesthetic in an operating room setting. The procedure takes approximately 2 hours and patients are discharged home on the same day. The procedure itself involves an incision along the frontal hairline so that the hair-bearing scalp can be elevated and advanced forward as a single unit. The upper portion of non-hair bearing forehead skin is removed, allowing us to advance and lower the hairline by as much as 4-5cm in a single, one-stage procedure. Most patients can return to work in 2-5 days and to sports, exercise and swimming withing 2 weeks. Stitches are removed 7-10 days from the time of surgery.
While hairline lowering surgery does not raise the eyebrow position, it can be combined with brow lifting if desired. Hairline lowering surgery can also be combined with other facial cosmetic procedures such as chin implantation and forehead ridge reduction.
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Results
The results of forehead lowering surgery are immediate. With our technique, we can generally move the hairline forward and shorten the vertical height of the forehead by 2-5cm in a single, one-stage procedure without the need for tissue expanders. Hairline lowering surgery yields a hairline density and naturalness that could not be achieved with a single hair transplant session. Hairline lowering surgery leaves a faint scar that is generally difficult to detect along, or just behind the hairline. Some patients will have a subsequent small hair transplant procedure to place a small number of follicular unit grafts along the hairline in order to optimize scar camouflage.
27 year old woman with a congenitally high forehead shown immediately after, and then several years following surgical hairline lowering performed by Dr. Korman
A 34-year-old female who felt her forehead size and shape required modification for a more feminine look. Before and after Hairline Lowering pictures are 6 weeks apart.
This patient came to us looking to address the size of her forehead, which she felt was too large and out of balance with the rest of her face.
FAQ
Who is a candidate for hairline lowering surgery?
Hairline lowering surgery is most appropriate for women who have a congenitally high forehead. The procedure cannot be performed on patients who are actively losing hair and experiencing progressive hairline recession, so it is less commonly performed on males. Hairline lowering surgery can sometimes be performed on males who have had had previous hair transplants to establish a permanent frontal hairline, or as part of the facial feminization process for transgender females whose hair loss has been stabilized with medical therapy.
How far can the hairline be lowered?
With our techniques, we can generally lower the hairline by as much as 4-5cm in a single session without the need for tissue expanding balloons. Hairline lowering performed in this manner is a very powerful technique for shortening a high forehead and establishing more pleasing facial proportions. Single-stage hairline lowering surgery can achieve hairline density and naturalness that is not possible with hair transplantation alone.
What is the recovery time from hairline lowering surgery?
Hairline lowering surgery is performed under deep sedation or general anesthetic. Patients go home on the day of surgery and can wash their hair 1-2 days after the procedure. There can be some swelling in the forehead and upper face, and sutures are removed in about 7 days. Depending on the type of work that they do, most patients can return to work in 2-5 days and to sports, exercise and swimming withing 2 weeks. Hairline lowering surgery can result in temporary numbness of the scalp. Normal sensation generally returns within weeks to months.
Can hairline lowering be combined with other procedures?
Hairline lowering surgery does not raise the eyebrow position, but it can be combined with brow lifting if desired. Hairline lowering surgery can also be combined with other facial cosmetic procedures, such as chin augmentation. Among transgender females undergoing hairline lowering as part of their facial feminization process, the procedure can be combined with forehead ridge reduction. Hairline lowering surgery leaves a faint scar along, or just behind the frontal hairline. While the scar is generally difficult to detect, some hairline lowering surgery patients will have a subsequent procedure to place a relatively small number of follicular unit grafts along the hairline in order to optimize scar camouflage.
Why choose Follicle HT for your hair transplant procedure?
Ultimately, the choice of where to have your hair transplant procedure is a personal one. At Follicle HT, our objective is total patient satisfaction. We accomplish this by providing state of the art follicular unit hair transplant surgery in a comfortable, fully accredited surgical facility where we adhere to the highest standards of comfort and safety.
Dr. Korman and Dr. Solomon's ultimate goal is to achieve outstanding results for their patients. They will help you decide which specific techniques will yield the most appropriate balance of coverage, density and complete naturalness from your hair transplant. Our doctors will be personally involved in every step of your journey from initial consultation to the procedure itself.
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At Follicle HT, our philosophy is that modern hair transplantation is a freedom granting procedure. We strive to help all our patients look and feel their very best by having the full range of options available.
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