Foreheads come in all different sizes. Some people are born with a high forehead while others might notice that their forehead becomes larger over time, due to a receding hairline. If you have a high hairline or large forehead, forehead reduction surgery in Miami, Florida can help to reduce its size and boost your confidence.

Sometimes called hairline lowering surgery, a forehead reduction hair transplant can be performed on its own or with a brow lift. The hairline surgery procedure is popular with women but can be performed on male patients, too. Here’s what you need to know about big forehead reduction hair transplants and why you might want it.

Hairline Lowering Videos

About Forehead Reduction Surgery

How Does Forehead Reduction Surgery Work?

Harline lowering or forehead reduction surgery works by bringing the hairline forward. The hairline surgical procedure is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes less than two hours. 

To ensure that the hairline remains in the forward position, Dr. Jeffrey Epstein will use Endotine® clips to secure the scalp to the underlying bone. The clips dissolve on their own within six months.

At the start of the surgery, the plastic surgeon will make incisions across the forehead, in order to remove the extra skin. The incision is made in such a way that hair follicles are preserved and hair can grow through the resulting scar.

While some patients are satisfied with the thickness of their hair after hairline lowering, others might decide to have hair grafting performed to help round out the hairline more, and or in around 15% of patients to make the fine line hairline scar less visible.  Hair grafts can be placed within three months of the forehead lowering surgery.

Often, hairline reduction surgery results in far greater hair density than that which is achievable with even two hair transplant procedures, and in a much shorter time interval.

Good Candidates for a Forehead Reduction Surgery 

The best candidates for forehead reduction surgery are people who are in generally good health and who have high foreheads since birth, and have little to no hair loss.  This forehead reduction surgery is most often performed on women, but men can be candidates as well.

Ideally, a candidate for big forehead surgery will have an adequate amount of skin laxity in the forehead. The skin of the scalp should be elastic enough to stretch to allow for sufficient advancement, usually at least 20mm but ranging from 16 to as many as 35mm. 

It’s also important that candidates for the surgery have realistic expectations about their results and what will happen during and after the procedure. Speaking with a board-certified plastic surgeon before the surgery is a must. 

During the consultation, a patient can ask the surgeon questions about the procedure. The consultation also gives Dr. Epstein a chance to evaluate the patient’s scalp and forehead to see if they’d be a good match for the procedure.  This consult can be done in person or virtually.

It could be the case that a patient is a better fit for a hair transplant rather than a male or female hairline lowering. During a hair transplant, Dr. Epstein harvests hair follicles from other areas of the scalp or body. The follicles are then placed on the scalp in areas where the hair is thinning.

Recovery Time for Forehead Reduction Surgery

You’ll most likely be able to return home the same day as your forehead reduction surgery or the day after the procedure. The sutures will be removed about a week later. If you traveled for the surgery, your home physician can remove the stitches; you won’t have to return to Dr. Epstein for suture removal.

You might feel comfortable being seen by others a day or two after the hairline lowering surgery. Many people can resume their regularly scheduled activities, including physical activity and exercise, within a week of the procedure, but are presentable the very next day with the hair brushed forward over the sutures.

Risks of Forehead Reduction Surgery 

The risks of forehead reduction surgery are similar to the risks from other types of plastic surgery. There’s a chance of infection or bleeding at the incision site.  There can also be some hair loss along the hairline in the occasional patient.

Your plastic surgeon will recommend steps to take, such as avoiding certain medications, to reduce bleeding risk. Keeping the incision area clean after surgery and taking preventative antibiotics can help to lower infection risk. 

There will be a scar at the incision site, but the way the surgery is performed is intended to make the scar as small as possible. Ideally, hair will be able to grow through the scar, helping to cover it up. It’s possible that hair growth around the incision will be affected, though.

Since the procedure involves the use of general anesthesia, there is a risk of having a reaction to the anesthetic. If you’ve had a reaction in the past, be sure to let your surgeon know beforehand. 

While every type of plastic surgery has its risks, one of the best ways to reduce those risks is to work with a board-certified, experienced surgeon. Dr. Epstein performs around five hairline lowering procedures each week and around 10 hair restoration surgeries. He can help you decide if forehead reduction hair transplant is the right choice for you.

Cost of a Forehead Reduction Surgery

The cost of surgery to make your forehead smaller depends on several factors. For the most part, insurance won’t cover it, as it’s a cosmetic procedure. That means you’ll be responsible for paying for the procedure out of pocket.

How complicated the surgery is and whether you will also have hair transplant surgery performed afterward affects the price of the procedure. Your surgeon will give you an estimate for the total cost as part of the consultation process. Financing options may be available.

Are There Alternatives to Forehead Reduction Surgery?

Hairline reduction surgery might be the right option for you, or another procedure might be more appropriate. Depending on your situation, some alternatives to forehead reduction surgery include:

• Brow lifts: Eyebrows that droop or hang low can make your forehead look bigger than it is. In some cases, a surgery that lifts the brows is a better option than surgery to lower the hairline.
• Hair transplant: Depending on the type of hair loss you have, a hair transplant might be a better choice for you than a hairline lowering surgery.
• Non-surgical options: It could be the case that you don’t need surgery at all. Medication can help hair grow more thickly. Changing your hairstyle can reduce tension on the hair follicles, preventing further recession of the hairline.

Forehead Reduction Surgery FAQS

WHAT CAUSES A RECEDING HAIRLINE IN WOMEN?

Alopecia is a leading cause of a receding hairline in women, and multiple types can affect the hairline. Hair loss in women is known to be caused by a variety of factors. Some of these include changes in their hormonal profile and many health and lifestyle choices. It should also be considered that genetics could play a factor in this, and a receding hairline is bound to differ from person to person.

Regarding lifestyle choices, some hair care products, dryers, and even dyes can potentially aid a receding hairline. Certain diet choices and stress are also known to affect people's hairlines more drastically than others. It can be challenging to know what's causing a receding hairline, but if the cause is a high hairline due to genetics and there is no progressive hair loss, forehead reduction surgery is a great way to even out the aesthetics of this issue.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR FOREHEAD REDUCTION SURGERY?

Many people can easily be considered solid candidates for forehead reduction surgery, but a few vital rules need to be followed without fail. Patients have to follow pre and post-operation requirements to ensure the treatment provides the intended results, and it doesn't hurt to schedule a consultation to assess the severity of your particular case.

Those who are dealing with a hairline that’s genetically higher than desirable, who are seeking to bring balance to the proportions of their face are also considered good candidates. Having a stable frontal hairline and a flexible scalp is required as well. If you’re unsure whether you should move forward with the surgery or not, always start with a consultation.

HOW MUCH DOES A FOREHEAD REDUCTION SURGERY COST?

Depending on the requirements of your specific procedure, forehead reduction surgery is known to cost roughly between $7,500 to $10,000. Like many other cosmetic surgical procedures, it's hard to define a specific price point as this will vary from person to person. You won't have to take a shot in the dark, though, as Dr. Jeffery Epstein will be able to provide a fee during your consultation.

IS FOREHEAD REDUCTION SURGERY SAFE?

Any surgery comes with its own safety and risk factors. Rest assured, Dr. Jeffery Epstein will guarantee you’re in professional hands every step of the way. It’s a very safe procedure, but you’ll also be advised of the potential risks during your initial consultation.

To minimize potential risks during the operation, you want to ensure you're only working with a vetted surgeon with a proven track record.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL AFTER A HAIRLINE LOWERING SURGERY?

Forehead reduction surgery won’t take you away from your normal daily activities for too long. Regardless of how complicated your surgery may be, recovery should take only a week or so, and most patients are free to return to work three day after surgery. Patients are presentable as soon as one or two days after with brushing the hair forward over the sutures that get removed at one week.

Of course, how fast a patient heals depends on postoperative requirements, so it's vital to listen to your surgeon, so you don't run into any complications down the road.

ARE FOREHEAD REDUCTION SURGERY RESULTS PERMANENT?

One of the biggest benefits of forehead reduction surgery is that results last a lifetime. After you’re healed from your surgery, you can reveal your new hairline with the desired proportions you were looking for. This isn’t a surgery requiring you to fork over more money a few years later.

Not only will it boost your self-esteem, but it will make the cost all the more worth it in the end. To achieve a new hairline for life, pre and post-op instructions should be followed without fail, and you only want to work with a highly qualified surgeon.

HOW MUCH OF MY FOREHEAD CAN YOU REDUCE?

This will vary with each patient, but it's possible to reduce the forehead by about two to five centimeters. It may not sound significant, but from a visual perspective, it'll provide a substantial difference. Some people may only need one to two centimeters while others require a little more; it all comes down to their specific scenario and the desired results they want by the end of their procedure.

During your pre-op consultation, your surgeon should give you a visual representation of the difference you can expect so you know what you're getting into before you head into surgery. This must be discussed in detail, as you only want to go through the surgery once to reduce costs and stress on the body.

WILL I LOSE ANY SENSATION IN MY SCALP OR FOREHEAD?

You will likely have numbness in the frontal aspect of the scalp, but this goes away after a few months in most cases. It’s understandable to be worried about such an event, but considering it’s not permanent, it won’t do much to negatively affect your quality of life.

WHAT FOREHEAD REDUCTION SURGERY CLINIC IS NEAR ME?

If you live in Miami or nearby, the Foundation for Hair Restoration is conveniently located at 6280 Sunset Drive, Suite 504, Miami, FL 33143, and offers Forehead Reduction Surgery among other services.

SHOULD I GET FOREHEAD REDUCTION SURGERY?

Whether you're a good candidate for hairline lowering surgery depends on several factors. If you have a large forehead and good skin laxity, you might be a good candidate for the surgery. Talking to a plastic surgeon can help you see if the procedure is right for you.

WHO IS THE BEST FOREHEAD REDUCTION SURGEON IN MIAMI?

Dr. Jeffrey Epstein is one of the world’s leading specialists in hairline lowering surgery. He's performed more than 2,500 forehead reduction surgeries.

ARE THERE RISKS TO FOREHEAD REDUCTION SURGERY?

There are risks to any type of cosmetic surgery, including forehead reduction surgery. Working with an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon and following all instructions given to you helps to reduce any risks.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS FOLLOWING FOREHEAD REDUCTION SURGERY?

Side effects after forehead reduction surgery can include tenderness and bruising in the surgical area. Your plastic surgeon will give you instructions to help you minimize discomfort.