Many people feel self-conscious about their high hairline. This comes as no surprise, considering our forehead’s important role in our overall appearance. In classical aesthetics, a well-balanced and attractive face is split into equal thirds, with the forehead making up one-third [1].
If you are curious about hairline lowering surgery, there are several solutions to consider. In this article, we’ll explore:
Hairline lowering surgery aims to move your hairline further down your face, resulting in more proportionate features. People with a receding hairline or large forehead due to genetics or ageing often seek this type of surgery.
There are two main types of hairline lowering surgery: forehead reduction and a hair transplant to lower your hairline. Forehead reduction surgery involves removing some of the skin from your head, while a hairline transplant relocates hair follicles to alter the hairline’s position. We will discuss these two procedures in more detail later on.
People with a high hairline due to genetics, ageing, or previous surgical procedures may benefit from surgery to lower it. People of African ethnicity [2] are more prone to genetically large foreheads and tend to have mobile scalps that respond well to forehead reduction surgery, making it popular in this patient group [2].
According to research, the ideal patient for hairline-lowering surgery is usually a woman with a long congenital forehead and a high hairline with no history of progressive hair loss [3].
Candidates for hairline-lowering surgery may include:
A hairline transplant is one of two surgical methods to make your forehead appear smaller. Here, we’ll go through each step of this procedure.
Forehead reduction is the second type of surgery offered to reduce the size of your forehead by lowering your hairline. Here are the steps involved in this procedure:
Each procedure has unique benefits and downsides. Ultimately, your choice of procedure will depend on the cause of your high hairline, your desired outcome, and your surgeon’s recommendations. Here, we’ll compare the pros and cons of a hairline transplant versus forehead reduction surgery so you can start to think about which procedure is right for you.
Natural results: Redistributing hair follicles can create a more youthful and balanced hairline.
Minimal Scarring: Techniques like FUE leave minimal hair transplant scars [16], making it suitable for people with shorter hairstyles.
Customisable: Hairline shape, density, and placement can be precisely customised to complement facial features.
Versatile: Hairline transplant can address various types of hair shedding, including receding hairlines, widow’s peaks, an M-shaped hairline, and temple hair loss [17].
Permanent solution: Transplanted hair follicles continue to grow naturally, meaning a hair transplant is permanent [18].
Faster recovery: Hairline transplant is less invasive than forehead reduction, so swelling, bruising, and discomfort usually ease quickly. FUE hair transplants, in particular, are minimally invasive [19].
Dramatic Results: This surgery can dramatically reduce the height of your forehead. As it is not limited by donor hair supply, more drastic forehead height changes can be made. The hairline can move by up to 3 cm in a single procedure, although the mean reduction is 1.6cm [22]. Greater changes are possible over multiple procedures, but larger changes require good scalp laxity.
Permanent Solution: Surgical results are permanent, providing a long-lasting solution to a large forehead.
Versatile: The procedure can address various forehead shape and size issues, including high hairlines, forehead asymmetry, and an overly prominent forehead.
Customisable: Your surgeon can tailor the procedure to achieve the best forehead height and hairline position.
Instant results: Unlike hairline transplant, forehead reduction surgery provides instant results with no growing-out period [3].
Growing-out period: A hairline transplant requires a growing-out period before results can be seen. It may take 10-12 months to see the final results from surgery [20].
Risk of complications: As with all types of surgery, hair transplants for a big forehead have risks. These include pain, infection, and further hair loss [21].
Scarring: Forehead reduction surgery may result in visible scarring along the hairline or scalp [22]. This may be permanent and require camouflage techniques or hair transplantation to hide it.
Risk of complications: As with any surgical procedure, forehead reduction surgery carries risks such as permanent hair loss, nerve damage, and severe bruising [22].
Longer recovery time: Recovery from forehead reduction surgery may involve a longer downtime compared to a hairline transplant, with temporary swelling, bruising, and discomfort expected for two or three weeks.
Hairline may change: While forehead reduction surgery can lower the hairline, it may not address progressive hair loss [3], such as male or female pattern baldness. If this is present, you may require a hair transplant later down the line.
Take great care when selecting a surgeon and clinic for your hairline-lowering surgery. Any reputable clinic should encourage a thorough initial consultation process and give you time to think about the surgery after that first discussion.
For high-quality care and expertise, consider one of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK. Surgeons at the Wimpole Clinic are at the top of their field and licensed by the General Medical Council.
They use the latest FUE and FUT hair restoration techniques to create effective, natural-looking hair transplants. Results are so seamless that it’s possible to get a hair transplant without anyone knowing.
If your high hairline is caused by hair loss, you will receive a thorough assessment from one of our hair doctors. This may include diagnostic trichology tests, blood tests for hair loss, a hair pull test, and other investigations as needed. Book a consultation today to learn more about hairline-lowering surgery and meet our world-class surgical team.
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