Can anything be done about my large, high up and protruding (I believe it's called a) glabella? (Photo)

Question

I'm an 18 year old male and I struggle with the rather unflattering appearance given to me by my glabella, is there anything that can be done about it? Could it be worked in during a rhinoplastic surgery, or does it require a procedure of its own?

Steven H. Dayan, MD · Answer

Dear ItsTheChef,
Thank you for your question. It is difficult to make an accurate assessment and recommendations based on photographs alone. We recommend you seek an in-person consultation with a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who can perform a through evaluation and discuss with you the best treatment options to meet your goals. Depending on whether the prominent glabella is due to a muscle or bone issue, there are possible treatment options that can be considered to improve the appearance of this area. Sometimes, rhinoplasty can be performed alone or in conjunction with another procedure to help minimize the prominence of the glabella. You may also want to consider evaluation by an ENT or facial plastic surgeon to make sure the glabella prominence is not due to a benign growth or other lesion.

Bradley J. Chastant, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question and I appreciate that you included a photograph. While it is difficult to make an accurate assessment from an image alone, I would encourage you to first meet with a physician to diagnose the cause of the protrusion on the forehead. Once you determine the cause and whether treatment is necessary, a facial plastic surgeon can go over your options for removing or reducing the protrusion if that is possible. Unfortunately, this cannot be performed as a part of a rhinoplasty, although your surgeon may determine you can have the same procedures done during the same surgical session to reduce costs and recovery time. Incisions will likely need to be made in the upper face, probably inside the hairline, to shave down the bone or reposition underlying tissue to create a smoother forehead profile. Best wishes on a successful surgery!

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

The protrusion in the glabellar area of your forehead is likely an enlarged frontal sinus cavity. (aka an enlarged brow bone area) A CT scan would be needed to confirm that diagnosis. It is beyond the area of a rhinoplasty and must be treated on its own through a forehead/scalp incisional approach for reduction.

David Reinstadler, MD · Answer

This area can not be addressed during any sort of rhinoplasty procedure and there are pretty limited things that can be done in general. The easiest, it to use botox to decrease some of the bulk from the muscles there and usually helps soften the appearance. I would recommend visiting with a few surgeons for an in person evaluation. Best of luck

Rajat Gupta, MD, MS, DNB - Account Suspended · Answer

This prominent glabella could be due to enlarged muscle or due to underline bone contour like that. If the bone contouring is like that, then you need a surgery in which bone contour are made smooth or reshaped. If it’s the muscle, we can do this by Botox. Consult a board certified plastic surgeon near you.

Can anything be done about my large, high up and protruding (I believe it's called a) glabella? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Glabella

Answer: Glabella

Answer: Rhinoplasty: Glabella

Answer: Rhinoplasty: Glabella

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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Can anything be done about my large, high up and protruding (I believe it's called a) glabella? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Glabella

Answer: Glabella

Answer: Rhinoplasty: Glabella

Answer: Rhinoplasty: Glabella

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.