What is a Forehead Reduction?
Larger than average forehead lengths are typically due to genetics and/or hair loss. For women, a large forehead can sometimes be camouflaged with bangs or makeup but can still leave one feeling self-conscious. This is also an issue for men, whose foreheads are not so easily hidden. For men, the lengthened forehead is typically due to genetics or male pattern baldness, otherwise known as androgenic alopecia. This will cause the frontal hair line to recede with age. Forehead reduction surgery, also known as hairline lowering surgery, can also be a great option for many men and women, with or without the addition of hair transplant surgery.
Are You a Good Candidate for Forehead Reduction Surgery?
Patients who have a larger than average forehead, high hairline, skin laxity and/or sometimes heavy eyebrows are often good candidates for forehead reduction surgery. Although this procedure is for both men and women, we see more women than men for forehead reductions at Utah Facial Plastics. This can be due to concerns with female pattern baldness, genetics or other causes for thinning of the frontal hairline.
What is the Average Forehead Length?
The average length of a woman’s forehead is 4 to 6 inches above the eyebrows, which is the length our surgeons bring the hairline to with forehead reduction surgery.
What Are The Benefits?
There are many benefits to forehead reduction surgery. By bringing the hairline down to a more natural position, patients mainly report feeling more confident about themselves and less self-conscious about covering their forehead. Women enjoy trying new hair styles and appreciate their more balanced features.
What to Expect With Recovery from Forehead Reduction Surgery?
Although the results are immediate, there are still approximately 10 days of down time. During this period, patients experience very little pain, swelling and bruising. During the first 5 to 7 days, it is still best to keep your head elevated, even while sleeping. This will help with the swelling and healing process. We also let patients know beforehand that temporary numbness along the incision line is common. As the nerves reconnect, patients may experience tingling and itchiness around the incision line.
Do not be alarmed if you also experience hair loss along the frontal hairline as this is completely normal. Hair loss after surgical “trauma” is referred to as “shock alopecia”. The hair will start to grow back on its own after 3 to 6 months. Once the incision is healed, the scar can easily be hidden with the patients hair, though Dr Thompson or Henstrom may recommend a small session of hair transplant surgery after in certain situations. After 6 to12 months, the scar fades and becomes nearly impossible for others to notice.
Forehead Reduction Surgery Resources
- Could You Benefit from a Forehead Reduction?
- Is a Forehead Reduction Right for Me?
- What to Know Before Getting Forehead Reduction Surgery
- Forehead Lift Before & After Photos
- Forehead Reduction or Hair Transplant?