These days, cosmetic procedures are highly advanced, super effective, and more accessible than ever before. That explains why so many people are seeking aesthetic fixes they’ve been considering for years.
Forehead reduction is a perfect example of a procedure that can be done quickly, with minimal impact on your schedule if done through a hair transplant, and bring about transformative results. What exactly is forehead reduction surgery, and what should you know about the procedure before signing up for a consultation?
We’re giving you the full breakdown right here, so you can pick the right treatment, find the best surgeon, and get the results you want.
*Jae Pak MD Medical does not perform the Forehead Reduction procedure.
Clients undergo forehead reduction for any number of reasons. Here are the big three.
The portions of a person’s face are one of the first things you notice about them. Subconsciously, we scan faces for symmetry on either half and the proportions from top to bottom – the forehead, middle, and lower areas of the face.
For many people, the forehead represents a problem area in terms of aesthetics. When the forehead appears to be too large, it can throw off the vertical balance of the face and be aesthetically displeasing to the individual.
Forehead reduction aims to bring these three sections of the face back into balance, shortening the height of the forehead and aligning the proportions in the vision of the surgeon and client.
With improved facial aesthetics, patients often report improved confidence, self-esteem, and a healthier view of their own appearance. This has ripple effects throughout life, including career, relationships, and general satisfaction.
A confidence boost goes a long way in this world, and a proficient forehead reduction treatment can help people get to that next level, whatever their goals may be.
On the spectrum of cosmetic surgical procedures, forehead reduction is masterful in its simplicity and efficiency of every move. No injections, no fillers, or short-term solutions – forehead reduction is permanent and transformative in a positive way.
Besides, forehead reduction is a relatively quick and painless process, as we’ll describe shortly. Compared to other cosmetic treatments, results show quickly, and you can jump back into action with that renewed confidence you’ve been waiting for.
Forehead reduction is comparatively straightforward, minimally invasive, and often better priced than other types of surgery with similar aims.
Alternatives to forehead reduction include brow lift or hairline lowering via grafts. Remember to talk with your doctor and explore all options before moving forward on any type of treatment.
Ready to learn about the process of forehead reduction treatment from beginning to end? Here is a breakdown of the entire procedure.
Before you book a consultation for a forehead reduction treatment, you’ll want to know if the procedure is right for you. That means determining if you’re a good candidate for forehead reduction or if another procedure may yield better results.
First, analyze your facial aesthetics and determine if the forehead is truly the “problem area” that should be addressed.
You can measure your face, divide the vertical sections into thirds, and do the math to see if the forehead does not fit your facial structure equation.
For women, the ideal forehead hairline is between five and six centimeters above the eyebrow, while men tend to have a slightly more prominent forehead at six to eight centimeters.
These are averages, of course, and every face is different with unique dimensions. Just be sure you identify the forehead as the definitive area in need of improvement before moving forward.
Candidates for a hair transplant must also have a relatively stable hairline, meaning cases of more severe androgenetic alopecia – featuring the m-shaped balding pattern – may not be ideal for forehead reduction treatment.
For this reason, forehead reduction is generally performed on women, though men can sometimes be good candidates for the procedure.
Ideally, the hairline is even, strong, and more horizontal than bent or curved. A “flat” hairline is optimal for surgeons since no change will be made to the hair itself unless the reduction treatment is paired with a traditional hair transplant.
In addition to these factors, the patient should be medically stable for surgery, with good scalp mobility, and have a clear idea of what they want in terms of procedure results.
The consultation for forehead surgery mostly focuses on determining the patient’s goals, establishing realistic expectations, and discussing the treatment details in steps, recovery, and a timeline for results.
During the consultation process, you’ll also determine the procedure’s total cost and payment plan with the surgeon or an administrative assistant. On average, forehead reductions range between $4,000 to $10,000, depending on the scope of the surgery and the surgeon’s experience level.
From start to finish, a consultation should not take more than an hour, and hair restoration specialists will also work with patients to map out a long-term plan to ensure results and keep hair loss and side effects to a minimum.
The day of the procedure begins with the patient’s arrival to the clinic and a final dialogue with the surgeon and assistants for confirmation.
The patient proceeds to the operating center, where the hairline and forehead will be marked precisely with a skin marker before being numbed with a local anesthetic. There is no need for heavier anesthetic medication for forehead reduction – just a local numbing agent.
From there, incisions are made along with the marked areas of the head, separating the skin from the connective tissue beneath and removing a portion of skin. The skin is typically only a couple of centimeters in length, just enough to create a small space for adjustment.
Finally, the skin of the hairline is pulled down to meet the forehead incision, closing the gap and shortening the forehead before the area is closed off with sutures.
Most patients report minimal discomfort during the surgical process, mentioning that a minor feeling of tugging and pulling on the forehead is the worst experience.
Scarring is kept to a minimum with careful suturing and typically hidden by hair regrowth along the hairline during the post-surgery recovery period. All in all, the procedure takes only a few hours, and patients will return home that same day.
About recovery, what can patients expect after heading home after a forehead reduction procedure?
Immediately following the surgery, patients may experience some soreness in the affected area, particularly on the first night. However, this discomfort subsides quickly in the days to come and is gone after one week or so.
During this time, exercise and stress should be kept to an absolute minimum.
Around this time is when patients will return to have sutures removed from the forehead and to discuss follow-up points with the surgeon.
If everything goes according to plan, the patient will recover for another few weeks before returning to the clinic for a final follow-up and assessment. It may take several months before the final results are achieved.
A successful forehead reduction treatment is all about finding the right surgeon and clinic for the job. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you browse your options and reach a decision.
Learn everything you can about a surgeon before seeking consultation for forehead reduction treatment, or any type of hair restoration procedure, for that matter.
A surgeon’s reputation is everything, and you can assess this based on their accolades, achievements, and how they are held with esteem in the community.
In general, hair restoration specialists are better suited to perform forehead reduction surgery thanks to their understanding of hairline aesthetics, proportions, and the properties of the scalp and hair for best results.
A big part of your research process will be reading reviews, browsing testimonial videos, and flipping through before and after galleries to see first-hand what the surgeon has accomplished in the past.
Not all online reviews can be taken 100% seriously, but you can get a reasonable assessment of professionalism, capabilities, and other relevant attributes as you browse for the ideal surgeon.
Since forehead reduction may not be as widely practiced as hair transplant or other cosmetic procedures, be sure to find a surgeon with plenty of experience in this area and the reviews to back it up.
Thousands of people each year undergo forehead reduction treatments through a hair transplant with fantastic results.
If you’re a good candidate for the procedure, set up a consultation with a trusted specialist and get the ball rolling sooner than later.
Sources:
American Society of Plastic Surgeons Unveils COVID-19’s Impact and Pent-Up Patient Demand Fueling the Industry’s Current Post-Pandemic Boom | Plastic Surgery Multiplane Forehead Shortening: Sparing the Frontalis Muscle and Supraorbital Nerve | NCBI
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