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Hairline lowering surgery or hair transplant for naturally high forehead? (Photo)

I have always had a high forehead that bothers me, particularly in photographs. I am now considering either hairline lowering surgery or a hair transplant. I would prefer surgery but my main concerns are the scar of the hairline lowering surgery, if a hair transplant will look natural, if the hair will in fact "take" (since hair does not naturally grow on my forehead), the ability to manipulate transplanted hairs with keratin treatments and blow dryers, and the number of transplants necessary.

Doctor Answers 10

February 1st, 2015

Hairline lowering

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The hair at the front of your present hairline does not look all that strong. You may have lost some hair from styling practices or you always had a zone of fine hairs. If that is the situation, the one stage hairline lowering operation by itself would probably not work as well as it would if you had a two-stage procedure with a tissue expander. (If you have an extremely flexible scalp that might not be the case.) The hairline lowering procedure gives you the thickest coverage which cannot be replicated with grafts alone.

It is rare for the hairline scar after a hairline lowering operation to be a problem especially if all the hairs grow in the forward direction.  But if it were or you wanted the hairline lowered further, grafts could be done later to totally disguise any scar. There are a number of factors that have to be evaluated in order for you or your surgeon to make the best decision.


San Francisco Facial Plastic Surgeon

February 1st, 2015

Hair Transplants or Hair Line Lowering for High Forehead

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For over 35 years I've recommended hair line lowering or patients like you. We developed the Irregular Trichophytic Incision where hair grows through the incision after surgery so the patient has total freedom of styling. The patient can achieve normal density and texture in the behindt the hairline.  
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 40 reviews

October 14th, 2016

Hairline lowering surgery or hair transplant for naturally high forehead?

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To obtain alive hair follicles implanted in higher rates, the latest technique being used is not the only manner, it is also affected by compliance of implantation area that we found a better way to improve as a result of our researches, The Organic Hair Transplantation. By this new and unique Organic Hair Transplantation Technique, before the extraction and implantation processes; we regenerate the implantation area with injection of stem cell enriched fat tissue. Regeneration of cells in target area before FUE transplantation with the support of stromal stem cells results in higher rate of alive thicker hair follicles.

Bulent Cihantimur, MD
July 29th, 2015

Hair line reduction

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There are two ways to lower the hair line one is by forehead reduction and one is by hair transplant. In the  hands of an experienced hair restoration doctor, wither way it will look natural.  For pros and cons for each technique you need to see a specialist and find out which is better for you.
Michael Meshkin, MD

Michael Meshkin, MD
Newport Beach Hair Restoration Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 28 reviews

July 28th, 2015

You need an exam

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A great hair line lowering surgery can look great despite the scar.  The scar will be there but it will not be as noticeable.  Sometimes hair transplants on and in front of the scar can help.

A great hair transplant surgery can also look great.  Hair transplants do "take" and it will grow and behave like your normal hairs.  In fact a hair transplant surgery has the potential look most natural.

The decision to go through with either surgery should be made after examination by doctor(s) or several consultations with different doctors.
Jae Pak, MD

Jae Pak, MD
Los Angeles Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 102 reviews

March 8th, 2015

Hairline Lowering Transplantation versus Hairline Advancement Surgery

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In general, hair transplantation will give a more natural appearance than the resultant scar from hairline lowering surgery. However, I have performed many hair transplants in the hairline after face lift and forehead reduction surgery in both men and women and the scar can effectively be masked with hair transplantation.  Caution, you will see mixed messages on FUE versus FUT: FUE grafts even in expert hands still has a lower hair graft survival rate than FUT (strip method harvesting). Most women and men with longer hair will achieve better cosmetic result and better growth with FUT.

Learn more: http://www.hairtransplantseattle.com/service-hair-restoration-after-facelift

Brian Goertz, MD
February 11th, 2015

Hair restoration with the FUE

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Lowering of the hairline is one of the main goals of hair restoration with the FUE technique. Through the ability to extract large number of hair follicles (single hair follicles for the hairline) we aim at a natural hairline according to individual characteristics without any scar or visible mark. 

Anastasios Vekris, MD
Greece Plastic Surgeon

February 5th, 2015

Hairline Restoration

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Hair line reconstruction by hair transplant should be a better procedure for you as it is a simple procedure, the number of grafts required is less in your case and a single sitting should be good enough.

Learn more: https://akclinics.org/wp-content/themes/doctor2/ajax-result.php?result=1369

Kapil Dua, MBBS, MS

Kapil Dua, MBBS, MS
India Hair Restoration Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 24 reviews

February 2nd, 2015

Hair Transplant for Lowering Hair Line

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A high forehead could be treated with:

  1. Hair Transplant
  2. Surgically remove the upper part of forehead and pull the hairline lower.
The first method gives natural result but for creating maximum density some patients may need more than one procedure.

The second method can give a solid hairline but it may look too linear with a scar that may require further hair transplant in front of it to make it look more natural.  You should talk to a hair transplant surgeon to explore your options.

Learn more: http://parsamohebi.com/photos/before-and-after-hair-transplant-corner-thinning-before-and-after-hair-transplant-2023-hair-grafts

Parsa Mohebi, MD

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

February 1st, 2015

Hairline Lowering--hair transplant or Irregular Tricophytic hairline Lauren?

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Hairline Lowering--hair transplant or Irregular Tricophytic hairline lowering is A frequent question. As Dr. Fleming said we developed a better and less expensive way of doing this 35 years ago. The hair grows through the hairline scar and you never have the rows of corn look or a change in hair texture which you can get with hair transplantation. This can be done in a simple operation with only a few days off of work and the result is completed. You do not have to wait for transplants to grow as the hair that you have is just moved down and does not fall out.  See you very experienced surgeon with this technique.  
Toby Mayer, MD

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

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.