How Much Does Forehead Reduction Surgery Cost?

Forehead reduction surgery costs $9,352 on average, according to 472 reviews from RealSelf members. The price can range widely, from just $5,000 to as much as $14,900.

Also known as hairline lowering surgery or hairline advancement, this cosmetic procedure minimizes the appearance of a large forehead or receding hairline by removing a small amount of excess skin, to move your scalp and natural hairline slightly lower. 

Read on to find out why the price of this procedure can vary so much, and whether real patients think it’s worth the money.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Forehead Reduction Surgery

What does the cost include?

During an initial consultation, your prospective surgeon should outline their recommended treatment plan and provide a personalized price quote—ideally an itemized list, in writing.

Make sure it includes:

• The consultation fee, which is often applied to the cost of your procedure
• Any pre-op medical tests
• The surgeon’s fee
• Facility fees for the hospital or private surgery center
• Anesthesia fees for the provider and supplies
• Follow-up care

If any of these items aren’t included in your cost quote, ask for them to be added, so you won’t get any surprises when the bill comes. Having an all-in estimate will also help you compare prices, if you’re deciding between two or more qualified surgeons.

Also ask if you’ll need to budget for recovery supplies, such as pain medication, antibiotics, or bandages.

Is forehead reduction surgery worth the money?

Forehead reduction has a 90% Worth It Rating from reviewers on RealSelf, so most people thought their results were worth the investment. If you're self-conscious about a high forehead and want a permanent solution, there's a good chance you'll be satisfied by the outcome of a forehead reduction procedure.

Many of these happy patients report that they feel a lot less self conscious about their forehead size and the balance of their facial features post-surgery. One reviewer even says that it was the “best decision” she ever made.

Several reviewers who said it wasn’t worth it reported visible scarring along the incision site and increased hair loss that marred their new hairline.

Keep in mind that this facial plastic surgery procedure can only reduce the height of your forehead, not narrow a wide one. If that’s your primary concern, you may be a better candidate for hair transplant surgery.

Not everyone is a good candidate for a hairline lowering procedure. People with very thin hair, female or male pattern baldness, or skin that’s prone to keloid scars probably won’t have the results they’re after.

To get a comprehensive understanding of this procedure and whether or not you're an ideal candidate, book a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Why do hairline lowering surgery costs vary?

The price for lowering a high hairline can vary by thousands of dollars, due to these factors.

1. Where you have your forehead reduction procedure. 

You can expect to pay a steeper price for this and other plastic surgery procedures in major cities, simply because the higher cost of living means that doctors have more overhead.

If you’re more concerned about cost than convenience, it may be worth your time to consult with a few different qualified surgeons who have modest practices in relatively affordable neighborhoods, so you can compare personalized price quotes. Some even offer free consultations.

2. The credentials and expertise of your surgeon. 

Forehead reduction surgery is usually performed by plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, or hair restoration surgeons. Some hair restoration surgeons are certified by The American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, but you'll also find surgeons who were board certified (or even double board-certified) in other specialties, then shifted their focus to hair restoration procedures like this one. 

Before you choose your surgeon, check their board qualifications on their RealSelf profile and make sure they have a solid track record of positive patient reviews for this procedure.

They should also be able to show you a large gallery of forehead reduction before and after photos, including patients who had similar hairline concerns and got a good result.

An in-demand, board-certified physician with decades of experience will charge higher surgeon's fees than a surgeon who is closer to the beginning of their career.

Just keep in mind that the most cost-effective route is to have the procedure done right the first time. A skilled surgeon will be more likely to give you the kind of final results you’re after, with fewer side effects and complications. 

3. The type of anesthesia you get and who administers it.

Depending on your needs and your surgeon's preference, your forehead reduction surgery will be performed under either local anesthesia with sedation (often called twilight sedation) or general anesthesia. 

Both options are administered by either an anesthesiologist (an MD) or a nurse anesthetist. An anesthesiologist will charge more for their time and expertise. 

4. The complexity of your scalp advancement surgery.

No two hairline lowering surgeries are the same. Some patients have enough scalp laxity for a straightforward, one-stage procedure. Others need to have a tissue expander placed first, to create enough forehead skin laxity for an eventual hairline advancement procedure.

If you also need hairline contouring or other advanced techniques that take more time and skill, your procedure will be more expensive.

Some patients opt to add on additional surgical procedures when they go under the knife—after all, you’re already paying for the anesthesia. 

Common combinations with forehead reduction include:

• A facelift (average cost: $12,450)
• A brow lift (average cost: $7,787)
• Hair transplant surgery (average cost: $8,928)

These added cosmetic surgeries will increase the total cost, but there's a chance your provider will provide reduced rates for booking all of them simultaneously.

Can you finance forehead reduction surgery?

Hairline lowering is an elective cosmetic procedure that isn’t covered by insurance, but most plastic surgeons offer monthly payment plans or accept third-party financing options, to help make it more affordable. Low-interest credit cards are also an option.

During your initial consultation, ask the patient coordinator about which options your surgeon recommends.

Forehead reduction surgery costs in U.S. states

According to reviews on RealSelf (as of July 2023), patients pay significantly less for forehead reduction in Arizona than they do in California. States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.

Forehead reduction costs in major U.S. metros

Average costs according to patient-reported data, as of July 2023. Cities not listed did not have enough data to include.