Leonardo da Vinci described the “ideal facial dimensions” by dividing it into equal thirds, the upper third being the distance from the hairline down to the eyebrows — the forehead. For some men and women, the forehead length may be longer. Forehead reduction or hairline lowering is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to balance the facial features by reducing the height of the forehead.
The goal is to decrease the distance between the hairline and eyebrows to improve overall facial harmony.
As we age, our foreheads naturally elongate. In other cases, a longer forehead can be genetic or a previous brow lift procedure can cause it. Regardless of the cause, a vast majority of these concerns are treatable if the patient desires it!
Forehead reduction or hairline lowering surgery can correct a large forehead or high hairline while preserving the natural flow of your hair, making this procedure ideal for patients who are finding it hard to conceal a large forehead with creative hairstyles. For those seeking better gender alignment, hairline lowering can make the face appear softer and more oval in shape.
The results of a hairline lowering procedure are permanent. As a part of the normal aging process, some will eventually experience slight thinning of the hair immediately behind the hairline.
The hairline sutures will dissolve within one week of surgery, however the hairline will be red for at least six weeks as hair grows through the incision. A small amount of makeup will hide this temporary change in color. The longer it is left uninterrupted the better, as more hair will grow through the incision to present an even better result.
With the procedure we use, hair transplants are rarely if ever needed.
Good scalp laxity (stretchiness) is important for this type of procedure, however those who lack sufficient enough laxity can be treated with a tissue expansion device and still achieve desired results.
For patients with a tight scalp, a scalp expander is placed under the hair-bearing tissue of the frontal scalp. An expander is a deflated silicone balloon, which is slowly injected with saline over 6 to 8 weeks to stretch the overlying tissue. This will allow the hairline to be lowered to the desired location. The entire expander is placed under the scalp and will not be visible, even while healing. This incision, which ultimately will be removed when the hairline is lowered, is hidden with the hair the patient usually styles.
Dr. Lee has extensive interest and experience in facial aesthetics and her research on surgical technique and efficacy in forehead rejuvenation has been published in the leading plastic surgery journal.
