Do doctors only do an inch when lowering hairline/forehead?

Typically, in a forehead reduction surgical procedure, an incision is made along the hairline and used to advance the hair bearing scalp and shorten the forehead typically in the range of 2.0-2.5 cm and sometimes more. Most patients are satisfied with this amount (approximately 1 inch) of hairline advancement.
In some cases, a similar incision is made during the first stage of the forehead reduction surgery, and a tissue expander is placed beneath the hair-bearing portions of the scalp. Over the course of 6-8 weeks, the tissue expander is slowly filled and stretches the scalp. In the second stage of the procedure, the tissue expander is removed and the hairline is advanced and lowered to a greater degree than in a one-stage hairline lowering surgical procedure. Other patients may be candidates for a second forehead reduction surgery after the scalp has had time to stretch further. This depends on the patient’s hairline, their goals, and their anatomy.I would highly recommend speaking with a forehead reduction expert to discuss your anatomy, goals, and expectations.All the best,

You can lower your hairline with surgery but to understand how it may actually look or to understand realistic expectations, you need to see a doctor in person and have this conversation.
Forehead reduction surgery or hair grafting transplant can both lower your hairline.  It would be in your interest to have a consultation with a doctor and understand your risks and benefits of each surgery.  It would not be fair to suggest one or the other option without an examination or understanding your specific goals. There are issues of scarring, shock hair loss, hairline shape, and many other factors that must be understood.
First, you need to meet with a doctor so you can explain your goals and expectations.  Afterwards, you'll have a better idea as to how much your procedure may cost.

Hairline Lowering with the Irregular Trichophytic Forehead Incision. In the past 40 years since we developed this technique I have used it with and without Tissue Expansion to lower the hairline more than 1 inch. It depends on how tight the scalp is. My patients almost always choose this method over transplants since it is 1. Faster— one session and done—return to work in 6 days. 2. Cheaper3. No change in hair texture4. This gives the greatest density of hair. See a very experienced surgeon who can show you natural results without a scar using this technique. 

Hairline lowering is one of my most popular procedures because it can make such a huge difference in the appearance of the face. Each person is a little different when it comes to how much the hairline can be lowered. On average, I can get about an inch or inch and a half. I use a technique where relaxing incisions can be made in the deep layers of the scalp in order to perform intraoperative tissue expansion which means stretching the scalp to bring it as far forward as possible. Occasionally, I'll have patients that still need a few hair grafts to bring it down even further, but it is fairly rare and much fewer grafts are needed. 
Seeing photos or doing a video consult would give a better idea in what expectations to set for your procedure. 
Best of luck to you, 
Sarah Saxon, MD

Hairline lowering is the best procedure for women for lower their hairline, it's fast, effective and show immediate results. There is a limitation on how much you can lower it based on anatomical factors. 1inch is 2.5cm and is quite bit of advancement. More is possible if the scalp is flexible. I often combine it with hair transplants for patients who want even more. Consult a forehead reduction specialist for more information. Best wishes.

The hairline can be lowered as much as the patient and surgeon desire  Having said that, if the scalp is tight an expander may be necessary to stretch the hair bearing skin before lowering the hairline and reducing the forehead.

The hairline advancement surgery is limited by the tightness of your scalp and usually an inch is the limit for many people; however, a hairline lowering hair transplant does not have that limitation, see below