Forehead Reduction Hair Shock loss

I'm still losing more hair but not as rapidly. I talked to my Dr. and he said my scalp looks healthy and to continue to take my vitamins, eat healthy, and try not to stress "very hard to do that part" :-( Thank you

I still think this kind of surgery is wonderful for people that suffer with a large forehead. I believe what happened to me is rare but I never knew this amount of shock loss was even possible from this type of procedure. I just want to raise awareness that not everyone gets the kind of results that are shown all over the internet :-( I sure hope it all turns out well in the end. Thank you

What happened to you is really not that rare, many people just don't report it. Hair loss is a very real side effect, and it happened to me. The shock loss , at least for me, was permanent. I'm very sorry that hair loss occurred with yr surgery.

By the way, I'm sorry if I came off as negative or angry in my previous comment. It just saddens me that this is potential side effect is often minimized during consultations. It certainly doesn't happen to everyone who gets this surgery, but its still a huge risk. Forehead lowering is a name for another type of surgery that is listed on many websites, as "procedures to avoid"...due do to scarring and permanent hair loss. Someone can goggle "Dangerous Hair Loss Procedures to Avoid" and it will appear.

I'm sorry that you both had and are having issues. Honestly I didn't consider much about potential consequences before I had this surgery, because I was under the impression that it was so rare, like every surgery there's risks but complications are not common. So I'm glad you two have posted about your experiences, so people can see that shock loss is real! And that permanent hair loss is real too. Another thing that's common is hair thinning, as blood supply is compromised by scar tissue under the sculp. I just had my surgery last Wednesday and even though I'm happy with the results, I know I'm not in the clear. And I can't really relax because of these possibilities. These things can reveal themselves over many months. Thanks, guys for making it real!

I wasn't aware of how common it actually was either that is why I wanted to post my story. I wanted others to know that its not always a perfect recovery like it appears on the internet a lot of times. :-(

Hi Jay1011, Try not to worry and keep in mind that this doesn't happen to everyone. There's a lot of people who did not experience this side effect, and others who only experienced minor residual thinning. Definitely try to relax! Your results look really nice.

While I believe this procedure is risky, I did Google the search terms you mentioned, and the procedure that comes up is scalp reduction, not scalp advancement. I believe they are different procedures.

Thank you for the positive I sure hope it all turns out well.

I could be wrong but her incision looks zigzag/ trichiphytic to me .... also I would like to add I had a trichiphytic incision and my hair did not grow in front of the scar.

That's odd because I heard that, that type of incision is actually better for hair loss. Well from one of the doctors on here.

Yes mine grew from the scar on. Ack. I actually had to get grafts to cover the scar and to round out my hairline. I think in most cases a little bit of hair grafting is imperative in making the hairline look more natural and thus completing the look.

From the scar on back*

Yes I was given a zigzag incision

Thank you

This is the most recent picture. He says it will be temporary and try not to stress. That is very hard:-/

Has he ever seen it?

On other patients?

Before surgery he had discussed the rare possibility that shockloss could happen. He showed me a picture of a case he had but it wasn't anywhere near this severe. I never asked if he has had a case similar to the amount of my hairloss before.

I'm not wanting to disclose that. I just wanted the story behind the forehead reduction procedure. He is a great Dr. and has made alot of people happy and I don't want anyone to not choose him over this. I don't regret choosing him because I feel it would of happened no matter who the Dr. was. It was just an unfortunate outcome:-( I'm hoping in time I will be able to post a great end result from this experience at least.

Yes it is really stressful to handle losing so much hair. I never realized shockloss could be so extreme. And it was very depressing finally loving the way my forehead had looked and losing it a week later:-( I figured I'd continue to post monthly now so that my surgery journey could be seen. Thank you for the reassurance I definitely need it.

Has your hairline receded further back than you original hairline? I am getting this procedure done and this is my biggest concern. I believe I'd just about be able to cope with loosing my hair to where my original hairline was, but any further back than that, then I think I'd feel too insecure to leave the house.

Yes it receded back even further in the middle for some reason. The top hair cover the sides but the middle is horrible with a bright scar. I wear hats and I just ordered a wig hair topper that I'm going to try out. I cut a really heavy blunt bang from the hair on the back side of my head but it super thin still. If i don't wear a hat I have to wear a lot of product and headband so bang doesn't move. I originally had a blunt bang to hide my big forehead and lost all of them after surgery so tried to make a new one with the hair I have towards the back. I'm really insecure with this. I just keep reminding myself of what it looked like right after surgery to give me hope that the outcome will be worth it later.

:( hugs dear! So sorrydear. Would you consider a hair transplant to replace the hairs?

I'm seeing hair follicles coming up so I'm hoping in time it will grow back. Hair transplant is definitely something I would pursue for the hairloss if it doesn't come back.

Okay that is good that you are seeing hair follicles. This is just something that you would just have to give it time
And let patience take over. Good luck to you!

Oh of curiousity, did your Dr place grippers or endotines Which are like tacks to keep the advanced hairline in place?

I don't know exactly what was all done/used. I can feel something underneath my skin though. Lots of little sutures or something.

Thank you

I sure hope so thank you.

Yes he said it grew back. I didn't ask alot of questions about shockloss because the chances were suppose to be so slim that I didn't realize I had anything to worry about. He showed me lots of before and afters just only 1 of minimal shockloss. I will continue to post new pictures as time goes on. Hopefully it will turn out well down the road.

Thanks for answering, I really appreciate! Did you consider asking your dermatologist for minoxidil for a few months (some people take it for a few months after hairloss from chemotherapy)? And taking biotin to promote hair growth?

I started taking biotin a month before surgery with the other vitamins my doctor wanted me to take and I'm still taking them. I haven't looked much into trying minoxdil. I was concerned there were side effects of losing more hair "I don't know if thats an accurate assumption though". Also thought it caused hair shedding after you stopped so unsure if thats the right path for me. I was unaware cancer patient only take it for a few months after chemo I may need to read into that further. Thank you

Minoxidil (=regain/rogaine) only has to be taken for life by people with male pattern hairloss, which is hereditary. As far as I know, it can be taken on a temporary basis if one has 'normal' hair without the chronic hairloss problem.

My scalp feels numb but it doesn't feel hard. I feel like maybe my shockloss is to this degree because I had a tight scalp. I was extremely bruised all down both sides of my neck after surgery. The side that needed even more lowering had even more shock hairloss on that side. Seems like it could of been correlated "in my opinion anyway":-/

I recently bought a hair topper piece that has a large base to help me feel a little more normal when I leave the house. I feel like this is going to be a long time for hair to grow:-(

That's terrible! :/ I had this light brown bruising all over my head after surgery, and extreme pain for 24 hours afterwards. And a lot of tension from the pulling up my neck. I don't know if it's because it's numb, but the top of my head where they lifted feels harder than the rest of my sculp. Which must be due to scar tissue, and what would that do for blood flow to the hair? I really can't rest until 6 months have passed. Just to see if I have any shock loss. I also had a tight Sculp, I think the mixture of having a tight sculp and taking off more than the sculp can comfortably stretch, can lead to this happening at some point. I'm getting so many questions about shock loss and what's happening with me, but really some people from what I've seen take months before it even starts. You're just lucky this process is happening now, as traumatic as it is. For your hair to shed and all the folicules to start growing again is going to take a few months. I remember when I lost half my hair from stress, that it was like two months of shedding (way after the period of stress happened) and then another three months of waiting and regrowth. Its a process :/

I sure hope this all turns out well. Your forehead turned out wonderful BTW

No offense taken. Yes the sides of my hairline were back really far and thin. I believe he cut all of that out so that I'd have thicker healthier hairs in that spot "not positive though" And no I didn't have a tissure expander. He said my case was going to be hard because my scalp was tight and the sides of my hair were far back but he would see what he got while he was doing the surgery.

Ok! Thanks for replying! How much lowering was he able to achieve?

I can't remember how much he said he ended up getting.

Thank you I sure am trying.

I have almost completely stopped losing more hair. Emotionally it is very hard. I have invested in some large sized hair toppers to make me feel normal again. Jon Renau Top Secret have been about the only ones that fit my type of hair loss. My doctor tells me to hang in there because the hair growth cycle should be starting soon. Thank you. I'm trying to be strong hoping that it all turns out well down the road.