Ask a doctor

Is it possible to lower the hairline by half an inch?

I know there is a forehead reduction technique but I was considering hair transplantation because I don't want to have the huge scar. Is forehead reduction better if it is just half an inch of advancement ?

Doctor Answers 8

July 14th, 2015

Hairline lowering 1/2 inch

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
If you are just looking to lower your hairline 1/2 inch I would most likely recommend a hair transplant vs a hairline reduction as the scarring and invasiveness is generally less. Its best to meet with a hair restoration surgeon that can evaluate your condition and give you recommendations based on their examination and your concerns.

Learn more: http://modenahair.com/hair-restoration/fue-hair-transplant/

Amir Yazdan, MD


Irvine Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 27 reviews

July 10th, 2015

Yes

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Hair transplant surgery can certainly lower the hair line by 1/2 inch.  The first step is consulting with a doctor. 

Learn more: http://baldingblog.com/index.php?s=forehead+reduction&x=38&y=13

Jae Pak, MD

Jae Pak, MD
Los Angeles Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 105 reviews

November 29th, 2015

Yes

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Hairlines in both men and women can be lowered 1/2 inch.  Lowering a hairline will take a lot of grafts since you are building on zero density.  Your best move is to consult with a doctor.

Learn more: http://www.artisanhairtransplant.com

Tim Neavin, MD

Tim Neavin, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 53 reviews

July 7th, 2015

Hairline Reduction vs. Hair Transplant

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Hairline reduction and hair transplant can both lower the hairline.  It really has to do with the individual patients and what expectations they have to choose from one of the two.

Here are advantages of hairline reduction:
  1. Quick procedure
  2. It can create high density hairline
And these are the advantages of a hair transplant to lower hairline:
  1. Natural looking
  2. No line of scar in front of hairline
  3. More flexible with hair direction and curvature design
I think you have to be evaluated by a hair transplant surgeon to see which option is for you.
Parsa Mohebi, MD

Parsa Mohebi, MD
Beverly Hills Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 33 reviews

July 5th, 2015

Hairline lowering

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
There are two choices for hairline lowering;

For a female, hairline lowering is a great procedure because females do not have to worry about genetic frontal hairloss.

For men who can continue to bald as they age, hair transplantation is a better solution than a hairline lowering procedure to reduce the forehead size (its like a reverse brow lift). If the balding continues after a hairline lowering procedure, the scar will become evident and a transplant sooner or later will be needed. For women, however, the choice to do a full surgical hairline lowering procedure is a reasonable option as their is rarely frontal balding as in men.

If you have a hairline lowering procedure you may need a small hair transplant procedure to hide the inevitable scar at the frontal edge, but the procedure is literally instantaneous while you must wait for 6+ months for the hair transplants to grow out. If you have a hair transplant procedure you many need a second hair transplant procedure to meet the density goal that you desire no matter what anyone tells you. Just remember that if it sounds too good to be true… well, you know the rest.

Learn more: http://newhair.com/procedures/hairline-lowering/

William Rassman, MD

William Rassman, MD
Los Angeles Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 28 reviews

July 5th, 2015

Hairline lowering with the Irrregular Trichphytic incision.

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Hairline lowering with the Irrregular Trichphytic incision gives a better and more natural result. It is also much cheaper. I do both procedures and patients prefer the ITHL over grafting. Also 
Toby Mayer, MD

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 36 reviews

July 5th, 2015

Lowering Hairline

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
 Hair transplants have never been my first choice to lower the hairline because it is impossible to achieve normal uniform density of hair with this approach. I described the Irregular Trichophytic Incision technique many years ago and have never had the complication of a "huge" scar.
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 42 reviews

July 5th, 2015

Hairline

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
First of all, the hairline lowering / forehead reduction operation done on a properly selected patient (anterior hair growth direction, good scalp laxity) can give an undetectable scar comparable to the effect of a hair transplant with an almost immediate result. Second, a half inch of forehead reduction  is not a great amount and should be easy to achieve by grafts or surgical lowering. 

Sheldon S. Kabaker, MD FACS
San Francisco Facial Plastic Surgeon

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.