What is Forehead Reduction Surgery?

Forehead Reduction Surgery, also known as Hairline Lowering Surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that aims to reduce the height of your forehead.

The surgery effectively decreases the size of your forehead and can also improve the overall aesthetic harmony of your face. The surgery typically lasts one to two hours, and you can resume your normal daily activities within a few weeks of the procedure.

Forehead sizes naturally vary among individuals, and a prominent, round forehead may fit aesthetically with your overall facial structure. If you feel that your forehead size is distracting from your facial symmetry, you can consider hairline surgery.

Our experienced surgeons at Cadogan Clinic will help you evaluate how your forehead proportions integrate with your overall features so you can make an informed decision about surgery to reduce your forehead size. 

What Concerns Can Hairline Lowering Address?

A Hairline Lowering procedure addresses several aesthetic concerns to enhance facial harmony, like a large forehead, receding hairline, and scar coverage.

• Balanced facial proportions: Hairline Correction Surgery can create a more proportionate balance between your forehead and the rest of your facial features. It’s especially suitable if you have a naturally high hairline or a prominent forehead as it can help you achieve a more symmetrical facial appearance.
• Can help with a receding hairline: The procedure can address early hair loss or age-related receding by lowering your hairline, giving it a denser appearance, and providing you with a more youthful look.
• Reducing frown lines: In some cases, the skin tightening effect of a Hairline Lowering can help to smooth out forehead lines.

During your initial consultation, our surgeons will discuss your desired outcomes and concerns to ensure the Forehead Surgery is tailored to meet your expectations.

Am I Suitable for Forehead Reduction?

Your surgeon will decide if you are suitable for lower forehead surgery by thoroughly evaluating several factors, such as your scalp flexibility, forehead proportions, hair density, and more.

Forehead proportions and aesthetic goals

Ideally, your hairline should be 6cm to 7cm above the eyebrows. If your hairline sits higher than this, you could benefit from a hairline operation. 

It can reduce the size of your forehead, bringing your facial features in proportion and rejuvenating the appearance of your entire face. It can also be combined with other cosmetic procedures, such as Fat Transfer or Facelift to give your face a more youthful look.

Hairline and scalp flexibility

The flexibility of your scalp skin is important in Forehead Lowering surgery as it involves stretching your scalp skin forward. You should ideally have a flexible scalp with enough laxity to be moved forward. 

During your initial consultation, our surgeons will evaluate your scalp's elasticity to ensure that it can accommodate the desired changes.

Hair density

As the procedure requires an incision along the hairline, you should have sufficient hair density to cover the forehead reduction surgery scar. Your hair’s thickness and growth pattern will determine the visibility of the scar after the surgery.

Overall health

To undergo Forehead Reduction, you should be in good overall health without underlying conditions that might compromise your healing ability. Your surgeon will evaluate your medical history to ensure that you’re fit for anaesthesia.

Previous facial surgeries

Previous surgeries around your forehead or scalp area, like a Facelift or Brow Lift, may affect the skin’s elasticity and make you less suitable for the procedure.

What is the Difference Between Forehead Reduction and Hair Transplant?

Although Forehead Reduction can be used to create the appearance of a thicker hairline, it does not add extra hair to the scalp. For patients whose primary concern is thinning hair, either at the hairline or throughout their hair, a Hair Transplant may be a more suitable procedure.

Hair Transplant is typically carried out under local anaesthetic and involves donor hair follicles being removed from areas of the scalp or body with thicker hair, and being transplanted to other areas of the scalp where the hair is thinner. A Hair Transplant may also give the appearance of a smaller more proportionate forehead. You will discuss these concerns with your surgeon during your consultation to ensure you choose the right procedure for you.

What Does Forehead Reduction Involve?

Your surgeon will make an incision along your hairline and remove a section of your forehead skin. The surgeon will then gently bring the scalp forward and attach it to the new position, effectively lowering the hairline. Additional techniques, like tissue expansion or grafting, might be needed if you need significant reduction or have less scalp flexibility.

One of the most critical considerations during the procedure is the placement of the incision. At Cadogan Clinic, our experienced surgeons strategically place the incision along your natural hairline to minimise visible scarring. How well the scarring is concealed depends on the surgeon’s expertise and your hair type, colour, and texture.

The entire Forehead Reduction surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and takes 2-3 hours, depending on the complexity of the procedure and whether any additional adjustments are needed.

At Cadogan Clinic, Hairline Reduction is performed as a day case surgery, which means you will go home the same day as your procedure. You will spend some time in the recovery area, where your surgery team will monitor your immediate post-operative condition. Once the team is satisfied with your condition and recovery progress, you will be discharged with detailed aftercare instructions. 

How Long Does it Take to Recover Following Forehead Reduction?

While the initial recovery period following Forehead Reduction takes 2-3 weeks, complete recovery can take up to 12 months.

Initial post-surgery recovery (0-2 weeks)

Immediately following your surgery, you will experience swelling and bruising, particularly around the forehead and eyes. Pain and swelling management at this stage is crucial. Your surgeon may advise you to keep your head elevated when sleeping and apply a cold compress to manage the swelling. The sutures or surgical clips will also be removed during this period.

Gradual resumption of activities (2-6 weeks)

You will begin light daily activities at the end of the second week after the procedure. You must avoid strenuous activities like exercise that could potentially strain the surgical site for at least 4-6 weeks after the procedure or until your surgeon advises you to do so.

Long-term healing and final results (2-12 months)

As you continue to heal and the swelling continues to subside, you will start to see the results during this period. While some benefits are noticeable immediately, the final outcome and complete resolution of swelling can take up to 12 months. During this time, the scars continue to fade. It can take up to a year for the scars to completely mature and for the hairline to settle naturally into its new position.  

The pace of your recovery will also depend on how closely you follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions. It’s important to attend your follow-up appointments to monitor the healing process and address any concerns. 

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