Hairline Lowering and Forehead Reduction Surgery

Many people complain of a high forehead, long forehead, or a high hairline. This is the situation where there is a greater than desirable distance from the eyebrows to the hairline. A large forehead or high hairline can disrupt the harmony of an otherwise beautifully balanced face. This distance is ideally between 5 and 7 centimeters, or 1/3 the total length of the face. When there is a high hairline, the face can look elongated and out of balance. The attention is therefore directed to the forehead rather than to the eyes and the rest of the face. Also, as aging occurs and the brows droop, the high forehead (long forehead) or high hairline becomes still more pronounced. Our patients tell us that it can be very difficult to style their hair with a high hairline. Hair stylists recognize this and invariably style the hair with bangs. Like cutting bangs, one of the goals of the hairline lowering procedure is to better frame the face with a new, lower hairline. In some cases where the hairline is very high, bangs can be ineffective as the hair exits the scalp in an undesirable direction. The hairline lowering procedure can help correct the exit direction of the hair in the hairline.

Hairline Advancement (Shortening of Long Forehead) For Women

This is a procedure that often provides very high satisfaction among our patients.  However, it should only be performed by an experienced surgeon.  Patients should always ask how many hairline lowering procedures a surgeon has performed and always ask to see pictures of patients on whom the doctor has operated.  Unlike other surgeons, Dr. Sidle has been performing this procedure for well more than a decade and has a great deal of experience with the procedure.  He has the experience and unique technique to help conceal the incisions to achieve the best possible outcomes.  Dr. Sidle has performed hairline lowering procedures and forehead reduction surgeries for patients from Chicago, Illinois, the Midwest, and all across the Untied States.

Many patients can be treated with a simple one-stage hairline advancement operation which would enable the patient to appear in public within 7-10 days after the procedure with a new, lower hairline with full length hair. Moderate swelling and bruising can take up to 1 week to resolve.  Some patients will look fantastic after just 7-10 days.  However, the incision will need to be concealed for a few weeks until full healing is achieved.  Some incision will take longer until the redness resolves.

This operation, in which Dr. Sidle has extensive experience, costs much less than the alternative, a hair transplant (follicular unit grafting).  Furthermore, this procedure can be combined with a forehead or brow lift to achieve the optimal result in those with both a high hairline and aging, drooping brows.  If the scalp is tight and more than 3 cm of advancement is desired, a two-stage procedure can be considered.

Hairline Lowering, Forehead Reduction for Men

The best candidates for forehead reduction or hairline lowering surgery are women with a high hairline or large forehead who otherwise have relatively thick hair.  However, men with a high hairline or large forehead can also be good candidates for hairline lowering surgery if they have a thick hairline and no family history of hair loss. Dr Sidle will discuss your family history of hair loss during the consultation. Men that have had hair grafting can also be good candidates for the procedure. Sometimes Dr. Sidle will even combine hair grafting and transplant with a hairline lowering procedure. As with our female patients, some men will want a browlift or elevation of their droopy brows in conjunction with a hairline lowering procedure. Postoperatively, men may have more difficulty camouflaging the incisions until they are fully healed.

Experience Matters

Dr. Sidle has been in academic cosmetic practice for over a decade and performed hundreds of procedures. A one-on-one consultation with Dr. Sidle will help you know which procedure will work best for you. As a double board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon at Northwestern with an expertise in the face and hairline, Dr. Sidle can provide you with an individualized plan to achieve your goals of a more balanced, youthful face. Call our office for a one-on-one consultation.

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