Lowering my hairline by only a couple centimeters with FUE (photo)

Question

Hi there! I'm a 17 year old boy, and I was born with pretty high hairline. It has always bothered me, and been a source of insecurities. Luckily, what I want my hairline to be is not exceedingly different than what it is now. In the pictures, you can see that my hairline is pretty high. One of the pictures has my forehead wrinkled up- in that picture is my desired hairline. Would FUE hairline replacement surgery be good for me? How much would it cost, if I just wanted to lower it a couple cm?

Ken Anderson, MD, FISHRS · Answer

Dear bevakasha,Thank you for writing in with your question.  You’re 17, so be aware that you’ll need parental consent for elective surgery such as a hair transplant procedure.  So, let’s assume you have that.  From your pictures, it doesn’t appear as though your forehead is all that large.  But my opinion is not what matters; it's how you feel that’s important.  There are a couple of important considerations in play here:Future hair loss.  You’re only 17, so who knows if you’ll have hair loss?  You can get a pretty good estimate by looking at your dad, your dad’s dad, your dad’s brothers, your mom’s dad, and your mom’s brothers.  If they all have full heads of hair, that’s a good thing and portends well for your future hairline.  If many have hair loss, this may not be a great idea at this time, as you have no idea exactly how much hair you may lose over time.  A procedure performed now, making a nice low hairline, might look odd if you start to have some crown loss in 10 years.  You might think to yourself that you “won’t care” what you look like 10, 20, or 30 years from now, but I assure you that you will most definitely care.  The results from a hair transplant procedure are permanent.  That’s both the good and the bad thing about the results.Anatomical considerations.  One of the principles of hair restoration is that it’s rarely a good idea to place hair grafts on to the frontalis muscle, or the horizontal wrinkles it creates on your forehead.  The frontalis muscle is the broad, flat muscle that lies under your forehead, and is what raises your eyebrows.  Look in a mirror and raise your eyebrows as high as you can, and you’ll see the limit of how low you can go.My suggestion is to schedule a consultation with a hair restoration physician who is dedicated to the specialty of hair restoration, and whose area of practice is confined exclusively to the treatment of men and women with hair loss.  Many dedicated centers offer virtual consultations so you don’t have to travel that far.  I would also recommend getting more than one opinion, and also involving your parents in your decision.  I hope this information is helpful to you.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Anything is possible.  However, you may have genetic androgenic alopecia you are not aware of.  If you have a surgery, there may be a possibility that the surgery will accelerate hair loss.  You can end up with a higher forehead and failed surgery due to poor planning.  Thus it is important to see a doctor for an examination before considering options.

Ekrem Civas, MD, FISHRS · Answer

From the pictures, our forehead seems normal. Any alterations would make it look unnatural and even worse in future. Please do not attempt hair transplant at this age; you have to wait at least 10 years to make that decision. You really look great and you should focus on accepting and appreciating this. See a psychiatrist to get advise on how you can get past your insecurities.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

If one could predict with certainty that they weren't going to bald any more throughout life, this might be possible. Unfortunately,  we can't know this and balding can sometimes happen even without a strong family history.  I generally advise against most types of frontal hairline alterations until mid 20s. I sincerely understand how frustrating that is to hear for most young men - but I also know how frustrating it is to deal with all the ramifications of having a hair transplant at too young of an age.

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Usually most doctors are against that idea.  You have to wait and see if your hair loss is progressive.  once the hair loss is more definitive and diagnosis is established at a later age, you may consider it at that time.

Lowering my hairline by only a couple centimeters with FUE (photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Hairline lowering - at 17

Answer: Hairline lowering - at 17

Answer: Lowering hair line in a young patient

Answer: Lowering hair line in a young patient

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Lowering my hairline by only a couple centimeters with FUE (photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Hairline lowering - at 17

Answer: Hairline lowering - at 17

Answer: Lowering hair line in a young patient

Answer: Lowering hair line in a young patient

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about FUE Hair Transplant

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