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POSTED UNDER Forehead Reduction REVIEWS

Permanent Hair Loss (And Regret) After Forehead Lowering Procedure

ORIGINAL POST

I want to start by saying that this review isn't...

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Lowerhairline28
$7,399
I want to start by saying that this review isn't meant to discourage anyone from getting this surgery, I just want to share my experience. I hated my huge forehead & there wasn't anything that anyone could have told me to stop me from getting this surgery. My mind was set. Now, I live with regret every single day because this procedure caused permanent hair loss (after 2 months post op) and everything looks abnormal.
I had this done in January 2015 and initially I was satisfied with the results. However, my happiness was short lived. I liked that there was no longer a slope but one thing I did not like, is that the left side was lower than the other. The doctor said my hairline was always like this, but it wasn't. He also lowered it more than we initially agreed (when I had the follow up, he said it was able to lower it more than he expected it) Two months later, in March 2015, all of the hairs completely fell out in the area of where the hairline was moved forward. I initially thought it was shock loss hair (which I read could occur after any surgery on the scalp), but this isn't shock loss. It's permanent & the hair has not grown back. I cut off all of my hair, because I wanted everything to grow back evenly, but the hair in the front never grew back. It's been two years.
I communicated with the doctor about this, but in short, there's nothing he can do about the hair loss. Because there is hair loss, the scar across my hairline is visible. He suggested I use minoxidil, but of course, that won't work if the follicles are dead. He suggested that I wear bangs, or curls, or a Donald trump hairstyle to cover the scar. He laughed -- but I didn't find this funny. I cannot wear bangs or curls, to cover the scar, because there is no hair.
He suggested that I visit a dermatologist in my state, but the dermatologist that he recommended did not really care what I had to say. The visit lasted about 15 minutes and he said that I have hair loss from trauma to the scalp (obviously) and he could not determine if it was permanent or not.
When I had the consultation with Kabaker, he explained that the fine/baby hairs around my hairlines could fall out, but he never stated that hair loss could occur in the entire frontal area. I knew of shock loss, from a prior consultation, but I was told that if it occurred it would grow back within 9 months. This was not the case with me and I will have to wear a wig for the rest of my life.
I also want to state that after the surgery, I did not experience any pain or bruising and the recovery wasn't bad at all. My head was numb for about 6 months and lots of itchiness occurred after it wore off. He performed a revision in May of 2016, and he said he would remove scar tissue, do a biopsy and implant sample grafts to see if I could be a candidate for transplants. The initial scar was bad, but after the revision it improved somewhat. However, I doubt that he performed a biopsy (could not provide me with results) and he did not transplant any sample hair grafts as promised.
If anyone gets this surgery, I hope that it's successful...I know how much a large forehead can bother someone and if there's a surgery to fix it, then why not go for it? However, my advice would be to research the potential side effects. Ask your doctor questions about what could be done IF hair loss occurs. It may not even happen, but it is definitely a risk that you should consider.

Lowerhairline28's provider

Sheldon S. Kabaker, MD FACS (retired)

Sheldon S. Kabaker, MD FACS (retired)

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Lowerhairline28

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Replies (16)

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January 18, 2017

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I hope you find support in the community.

March 28, 2017
I'm sorry that this happened to you. I can't imagine how stressful it must've been. Doctors can be insulting and insensitive. I think it's important that you've shared your experience as permanent hair loss can be a real side effect of such a procedure. No one knows if it will happen to them but it's likely that the doctor has had patients who have experienced permanent hair loss (even if rare). You need to hear what the doctor would recommend and how they're personally going to help you should permanent hair loss occur.
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April 12, 2017
Yes, it is really stressful. I have so many regrets over getting this procedure. Permanent hair loss can definitely occur (in the same way that it can happen with a brow lift surgery) but it doesn't happen to everyone. I've received messages from people who had the surgery AFTER me -- and they were told that he never saw a case of permanent hair loss in his practice, but that's not true. When people get this surgery, they are told that shock hair loss can occur, and that it should grow back after 3 months -- but permanent hair loss is a very real side effect.
Everything looks really deformed and botched. I was told that I am not eligible for hair transplants either, due to the trauma in the scalp.
April 4, 2017
I'm sorry this happened to you.
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April 12, 2017
Thank you. I have so many regrets over this decision -- but I have to live with it.
April 11, 2017
Sorry, but it sounds like you saw a hack. Should put his name so noone else goes to this doc.
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April 12, 2017
Yeah :( I posted his name, but he is retired now. He was a trusted doctor, but his work on me was botched, to say the least.
August 18, 2017
I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm hoping your hair grows back in beautifully.
UPDATED FROM Lowerhairline28
2 years post

Updating to include pics

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Lowerhairline28
My scalp feels extremely tight, like he pulled it as far it can go. It's really low. and abnormal looking. The numbness is wearing off and it seems like it will be painful, but bearable. Currently looking for a surgeon can possibly reverse this procedure, although I know the hair loss is permanent...

Replies (7)

April 11, 2017
Can you provide before an afters?
May 2, 2017
I am so sorry you had hair loss, I want to do the trichophytic brow lift but I don't want to lower my hairline for this reason, I read most of women lose lithe hair with this surgery. Can you ask your dr. if you can use Rogaine? I am sure it will help. Good luck!
May 3, 2017
I have just come across your review. I am sorry for your problems. I have heard of this before on this site. You might want to look at the website of Dr. Robert Bernstein. He is a hair transplant dr. be blessed.
August 18, 2017
Thank you for sharing your honest review. I am so sorry, and I can relate. I have FFA and have lost about an inch or more of frontal hair so my forehead is huge. I have been looking into this but have been holding off because of fear of shock loss. Maybe hair transplants can help you ? I know ... lots of extra money and pain ... but maybe a light in the tunnel. Lots of love your way.
August 24, 2017
I'm so sorry you went through this experience. Has the hair loss stagnated? Has it gotten worse? Has your hair grown back at all?