Forehead Reduction

As much as it can pay to be smart, we may not necessarily want a “brainy” appearance: if you feel your forehead is larger than you would like it to be, or wish your hairline started a little lower on your scalp, you are in luck. A forehead reduction can give both men and women their ideal, balanced facial proportions.

A forehead reduction is capable of advancing a patient’s hairline by as much as 5 cm, and even more, with the use of a temporary tissue expander. Depending on the method of forehead reduction the patient receives, they will be able to enjoy their new, balanced appearance with a greater sense of self-confidence.

What is a Forehead Reduction?

Forehead reductions are surgical solution for men and women who feel their forehead has an overly large appearance, or who wish their hairline started at a lower point on their head. A forehead reduction is usually achieved in one of, or a combination of, two steps. To achieve the first method of forehead reduction, Dr. Yoo creates an incision in the patient’s forehead. Often this incision is curving, not straight, to accommodate for the natural shape of patients’ hairline. Dr. Yoo will gently pull the forehead until the incision point is hidden in the hairline. Excess skin will be excised. This effectively “advances” the hairline forward.

Another option of reducing the size of a patient’s forehead is accomplished by grafting hair to the patient’s hairline to lower or fill in the hair that frames a patient’s forehead. Some patients can see their forehead reduction accomplished with only a hair transplant; however, many patients benefit from the incision and advancement method, combined with hair grafting. The grafted hair is strategically placed to conceal the incision. Most forehead reduction procedures take two to three hours to complete.

Depending on the health and elasticity of patients’ skin, a forehead reduction surgery is capable of reducing patients’ foreheads by 5 cm, or about two inches, without the need for a tissue expander. If patients need a reduction of greater than 5 cm, a tissue expander may be placed temporarily under the forehead skin, and later removed on the skin has adjusted.

Patients who feel insecure about their foreheads can receive a forehead reduction and enjoy major improvement to their overall appearance that looks completely natural. The incision is strategically hidden in the patient’s hairline, which makes it almost impossible to detect.

Benefits of Forehead Reduction

You may feel your forehead is overly prominent, and hate the way it catches the light in all your photos. There’s no need to feel resigned to contouring and concealing your forehead your entire life, however. While any surgical procedure can be intimidating, a forehead reduction is a safe, minimally invasive, common treatment that has the impressive ability to:

• Remove excess forehead skin, and conceal the incision in the patient’s hairline.
• Graft and relocate the hair lower on patients’ foreheads. The hairline can be strategically reshaped so that the face is better framed and any scarring remains hidden. Hair grafting itself does not create scars.
• Interrupt a patient’s daily schedule for only a day or two. While a full recovery can take a few weeks, due to the fact that any scarring is hidden in the patient’s hair, they often feel comfortable returning to work and their regular activities within 48 hours of their forehead reduction procedure.
• Restore patient confidence in their appearance. Many people do not realize just how great their facial structure will be improved until they see the final results of their forehead reduction.
• Deliver long-term results. Short of hair-loss caused by stress and aging, the forehead reduction results will be long-lasting.

Candidates

While both men and women are candidates for the benefits of a forehead reduction procedure, female candidates will likely have more reliable, long-term enjoyment of their results. When men come in for their consultation with Dr. Yoo, he will make sure he assesses both their current hair health and any family history of hair loss. It is important for men with a predisposition toward hair loss to realize that while they can transform their forehead and hairline with a reduction procedure, they may likely be required to undergo additional procedures to update the appearance of their hair.

Ideal candidates for a forehead reduction are those who:

• Wish their forehead were smaller
• Have a high hairline
• Have healthy, elastic skin on their forehead
• Have a healthy head of hair
• Are in overall good mental and physical health. Notify Dr. Yoo if you have any pre-existing conditions that could interfere with your ability to heal.
• Are non-smokers.
• Are open to the results of an appearance-altering procedure and have realistic expectations for their outcomes.
• Have low or heavy brows that they would like lifted. A forehead reduction can in some cases provide a brow lift as well, improving the position of the brows.

Consultation

If you are considering undergoing a forehead reduction, schedule a private consultation with Dr. Yoo. He will assess your forehead and scalp, as well as your medical history, current medication use, and overall lifestyle. It is important to notify him about any health issues that you may have, such as high blood pressure, poor circulation, eye-related issues, or a tendency toward keloid scarring. Once he feels he has a complete sense of your health profile, your physical case, and your goals for your appearance, he will determine your candidacy for a forehead reduction. Candidates are invited to ask any questions they may have about a forehead reduction, or any similar procedure, at this time.

Before Your Procedure

The week before your forehead reduction procedure, discontinue any use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Additionally, Dr. Yoo will recommend what, if any, medications and health supplements you should avoid. It is important to follow your procedure preparation instructions in order to ensure your ideal results and reduce any bruising or swelling experienced after the procedure.

Patients are also advised to avoid alcohol and sodium-rich foods for the week of their surgery, as well as to discontinue smoking.

Your Procedure

A forehead reduction surgery can be performed with local or general anesthesia, depending on the patient and degree of forehead reduction they would like to see. The procedure will take between two and three hours to complete.

Depending on the results the patient wants to see, Dr. Yoo will mark where the desired new hairline will be. He will make an incision, which will match the shape of the patient’s natural or best hairline. Dr. Yoo will remove the portion of skin that sits above the newly desired hairline, advancing the hairline forward. He will next suture the incision, being sure to leave minimal scarring and hide any sutures in the patient’s hairline.

The method of excising the excess forehead skin enables Dr.Yoo to advance the hairline forward and down by up to 5 cm. If patients are interested in losing more than 6 cm from their forehead, they will likely receive a temporary tissue expander. The expander is usually inflated with salt water and enables the skin to stretch to its new contour. After four to eight weeks, the patient will return to have their forehead reduction completed. More hair grafting may be done at this time.

Your Recovery

While patients who are recovering from a forehead reduction report feeling almost completely recovered after a seven to ten-day period, some feel comfortable enough to return to their usual schedules after 48 hours. Dr. Yoo takes care to conceal the incision scar in the hairline, which helps patients transition more smoothly and naturally into their new appearance. Some patients may have their stitches bandaged: it is important to follow any aftercare instructions Dr. Yoo and his staff give to you. He will also recommend which medications will safely relieve any discomfort the patient is experiencing. Most patients develop temporary swelling or bruising in the forehead or eye area and may experience some burning or itching at the incision and hair graft location. The itching is a sign that nerves in the area are re-growing. These symptoms should all diminish in the first weeks if not days after the procedure. Swelling can last for a longer period of time, but it will abate.

The hair at the incision site will be filled in within three to six months. A small percentage of patients may experience hair shedding two to four weeks after their procedure, but the hair will regrow. Some patients develop pimples at their incision site, but these are temporary.

Do not wash your hair for two days after your forehead reduction. Take care to sleep with your head elevated. It is also important not to engage in any heavy lifting or strenuous activity for the first two weeks after your procedure. Continue to abstain from smoking and drinking for one week.

Results

A forehead reduction effectively advances a patient’s hairline forward, resulting in a smaller forehead. Due to the fact that a patient’s scar will be hidden in the hairline, many patients feel comfortable functioning in public only two days after their procedure. While the change in the patient’s face shape will be immediately noticeable, the final, best results will become apparent as bruising subsides. Swelling may remain for a period of weeks, and as the swelling abates, patients will see improvements in their results.

After a forehead reduction surgery, patients enjoy a permanent change in their appearance. Their forehead will be more proportionate with their face, and their hairline will be as full and flattering as possible. Some patients, depending on their case, also enjoy the revitalizing effects of the slight brow lift this procedure can additionally achieve.

Cost

The price of a patient’s forehead reduction will depend on the specific requirements of their procedure. Once Dr. Yoo completes a consultation of the patient’s hairline, and has a complete understanding of their goals for their appearance, Dr. Yoo, and his team will provide the patient with a cost breakdown of their anticipated forehead reduction.