Forehead Reduction vs. Hair Transplant: Which Is Right for Me? By Sahar Nadimi on May 01, 2024

man and woman with thick, healthy hairA large forehead can leave people feeling self-conscious about their appearance. An individual may have a prominent forehead for several reasons, including genetics, wearing tight hairstyles, hair loss, or previous forehead surgery. 

Fortunately, there are treatments for those who want to reduce their forehead and give the impression of a lower, fuller hairline. At the Chicago Hair Institute, plastic surgeon and hair restoration specialist Dr. Sahar Nadimi offers forehead reduction to lower the hairline and hair transplant surgery to restore hair volume. Here, we discuss forehead reduction vs. hair transplant and which is right for each of our Chicago, IL, patients’ specific needs and desires.

What Is Forehead Reduction?

Forehead reduction is a cosmetic procedure that lowers the hairline to give the forehead a less prominent appearance and improve the balance of facial features. The procedure is performed while the patient is under the effects of local anesthetic and sedation to eliminate pain and anxiety. During surgery, Dr. Nadimi makes an incision along the edge of the hairline. Through this incision, Dr. Nadimi can separate excess forehead skin from connective tissues and remove it. She lifts the remaining skin and closes the incision. 

Depending on each patient’s needs, forehead reduction surgery can lower the hairline by two and a half to three centimeters. The alterations do not alter a person’s natural appearance but are enough to create a more proportionate forehead height and enhance the appearance of the brows and other facial features.

Forehead Reduction Candidates

Forehead reduction surgery is an ideal solution for anyone who has a higher and more prominent forehead than they desire. The procedure can be performed on men or women. However, the procedure is more often performed on women because if men experience hair loss related to male pattern baldness, the scars of a forehead reduction procedure can become visible. 

What Is a Hair Transplant?

A hair transplant is a surgical technique to address hair thinning or loss. Surgeons at the Chicago Hair Institute offer follicular unit transplant (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). During a FUT procedure, the surgeon removes strips of tissue from an area of the scalp with good hair growth and transplants it to areas of hair loss. 

FUE hair transplant removes individual hair follicles and moves them to areas of hair loss. The FUE procedure is more specialized and complex. The benefit of FUE over FUT is less visible scarring, making it an ideal solution for individuals who like to wear their hair short.

Hair Transplant Candidates

Ideal candidates for hair transplant surgery include those experiencing hair loss or male pattern baldness and individuals with a high forehead who are poor candidates for forehead reduction surgery. Hair transplant surgery may also be performed in conjunction with forehead reduction to lower the hairline and add volume.

Contact Chicago Hair Institute

If you are unhappy with the size of your forehead or have experienced hair thinning or loss, doctors at the Chicago Hair Institute can help you consider whether you are an ideal candidate for forehead reduction, hair transplant, or both. To schedule a consultation at our Chicago-area office, send us a message at your earliest convenience.

Related to This

Dr. Raymond J. Konior, MD, FACS

Chicago Hair Institute

Dr. Raymond J. Konior and the team at the Chicago Hair Institute offer world-class treatment backed by over 30 years of expertise in the field of hair restoration. Our doctors are nationally affiliated with professional associations including:

  • American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery
  • International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
  • American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

To learn more or to schedule an appointment at our Chicago, IL, hair restoration clinic, contact us online or call (630) 932-9690.

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