What is Forehead Reduction Surgery and How Can it Enhance your Look?
A little known procedure that can enhance your facial features is Forehead Reduction surgery. This procedure has actually been around mid 2000’s and is primarily indicated for patients who are unhappy with their high hairline. Most patients who are bothered by their high hairline are women. Hence, another popular name for this procedure is Hairline Lowering. Both forehead reduction and hairline lowering are the same procedure. The name is driven more by how one perceives the problem. If one primarily feels she has a high forehead, then she will likely ask about forehead reduction. If she feels her hair line is too high, then she will ask for hairline lowering. For whatever reason, the more popular name today is forehead reduction.
As with many issues in beauty, there are certain features that we all determine to be attractive. We do not need to be scientists or anthropologists, nor do we need to be beauty pageant judges to know what is considered attractive. For example, we all like a straight smooth nose with strong bridge. Women want a cuter, more upturned nose, while men can accept a bigger tip and not as rotated. But both men and women like straight noses, without humps on top. All cultures like a more open eye with double eyelids. Tall people also tend to be viewed as more attractive and successful. Same thing applies to hair. Both men and women, of all cultures, prefer a full head of hair. Some women also have a higher hairline than ideal. About 20% of women will have this. Having a higher hairline than normal is a more masculine trait. Thus, women with high hairlines will tend to wear their hair to cover their forehead more.
So what is considered a normal hairline? A hairline that measures its mid point between 5 and 6 cm above a line drawn across the brows is most characteristic of a typical and desirable female hairline. A mature male hairline is usually about 6-8 cm above the brows. But determining the ideal and attractive hairline is not simply based on these numbers. As with many determinants of attractive facial features, there are several measurements. Furthermore, not one is better than another. Often, a combination of measurements joined with the subconscious impression will determine what is appropriate target. Thus, I also find using the rule of thirds helpful in determining where your hairline should be. The rule of thirds describe dividing your face into horizontal thirds…which ideally are all closely equal. The lower thirds from chin to upper lip/ lower nose should equal the distance from lower nose to mid brow, which should then equal the distance from mid brow to your hairline. This might equal the 5-6 6 cm, or it may not, depending on your individual facial structure.
If you’re bothered by having a high hairline, you are not alone. It’s been estimated that as many as 20% of all women have a high hairline. This is typically hereditary. A high proportion of women with high hairlines are descendants of peoples of Great Britain or China. If you’re surprised by the Anglo Saxon ancestry of high hairlines, just look at paintings of Queen Elizabeth 1, the great Tudor queen. You can see her high hairline in the many portraits of the queen. In addition, if you pay attention to paintings of women of English nobility during her time, you will find many noble women have similar hairlines. Many of these women purposely shaved their hairline to more resemble the queen. Another group with hereditary predisposition to high hairlines are African Americans. In addition to genetics, it is not uncommon for Black women to also straighten their hair and pull it back tightly. This form of trauma can also contribute to high hairlines in Black women.
What can be done to lower your hairline? The simplest option is to wear your bangs and cover your forehead. Wigs are another easy, risk free option. However, if you are looking for a permanent procedure, you need surgery. The two main surgical options are hair transplants, or forehead reduction. Hair transplant must take several thousands of hair to create a lower hairline. While effective, you likely need multiple procedures and hair transplants take 12-18 months for growth to be incorporated into all but the shortest of female hair styles. A more efficient, one stage procedure is to lower your hairline—or reduce your forehead. This procedure basically “pulls” your hairline DOWN towards your brows. You must have good scalp laxity to get the best results. If you have average to loose laxity, you can expect anywhere from 1- 2+ cm of lowering. 3 cm may be tight, and 4 cm is very aggressive and much higher risk for poor significant visible scarring. Fortunately, most women will benefit from 2 to 2.5 cm of forehead reduction. Very aggressive lowering of more than 4 cm is possible, but this requires a two stage procedure. First stage is scalp expansion of 6-8 weeks, followed by the hairline lowering procedure.
If you are unhappy with your high hairline and wonder if forehead reduction will work for you, make sure you consult with a board certified facial plastic or plastic surgeon with experience doing this procedure.
For more information about San Antonio or Austin Forehead Reduction, please visit our interactive website at www.dryuplasticsurgery.com. Dr. Kenneth Yu Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is a qualified team of experts serving the San Antonio, Texas area. To schedule a consultation, please contact our Concierge Patient Coordinator at (210) 876-6868 or info@dryuplasticsurgery.com.
