Don’t like your big forehead? Read on!
Introducing the cut and shut…otherwise known as “forehead reduction”...The fast way to reduce your upper-skin space and improve your hairline.
In just over a decade, fuelled by the relentless and often critical gaze of social media and influence of celebrity culture, a tidal wave of change has transformed men's grooming habits.
At the forefront of this change is the explosive growth of the aesthetics and grooming industry, a multi-billion-pound juggernaut encompassing everything from the rise of barbershops to a vast array of men’s products and cosmetic procedures.
Freed from the weight of judgement, men now have the liberty to enhance their appearance.
Loaded visited the Wimpole clinic to get the low-down on all things manhead. Gents, we present to you, the ultimate cut and shut.
“FOREHEAD REDUCTION is a cosmetic procedure that involves lowering the hairline to make the forehead appear smaller,” explains renowned hair transplant surgeon Dr. Michael May. “If the patient chooses to have this procedure, he may also need a brow lift or brow contouring to smooth out the skin of the forehead, and a hair transplant to fill in any areas with sparse hair density. This helps create a more balanced appearance.”
How it Works
“Forehead reduction is achieved by removing the forehead skin between the existing hairline and the desired new hairline,” says Dr Michael May. “The scalp skin is then drawn down to create a new hairline. The doctor will put some stitches in to promote fast healing. If the hairline needs to be moved by more than 5cm, the procedure is a little more complex. A tissue expander may need to be placed underneath the skin to stretch it before it can be drawn down and stitched or sutured closed. In these cases, a FUE hair transplant may be recommended to increase the density of the hair follicles across the stretched skin. Some clinics perform this procedure under general anaesthetic, while others use local anaesthetic. The treatment can be performed with both FUE and FUT techniques.”
If you’re after a less invasive option, stick to the good old traditional hair transplant.
“HAIRLINE TRANSPLANT restores the hair along the forehead and temples,” says Dr. Michael May. “It is a less invasive option than forehead reduction. Using modern hair transplant techniques, doctors and surgeons can deliver a natural, full and flattering hairline across the forehead. Can be performed with both FUE and FUT techniques.”
Forehead Reduction vs Hairline Transplant- Which is Right for You?
Forehead reduction
1) Prices from £6,000
2) Recovery time - bruising and swelling around the eyes and forehead in the week post-surgery. Two weeks of downtime depending on the patient.
3) Scarring - could leave a visible scar across the forehead requiring further treatment. Bruising and swelling around the eyes and forehead in the week post-surgery. Skin may feel tight in the first couple of days after surgery.
4) Pain - The procedure is performed using local anaesthesia by highly trained doctors. Discomfort especially in the week post-surgery could include headaches, bruising and swelling around the eyes and forehead, a prickling sensation, skin tightness, scalp numbness.
5) What makes a good candidate? - Those with a large forehead which the patient wishes to shorten. Those born with a high hairline or large forehead who otherwise have normal hair, and no history of hair loss.
6) Effectiveness - Highly effective in reducing the size of the forehead by moving the scalp forward and removing extra forehead skin. Can lower the hairline by up to 2 inches.
Forehead reduction surgery does not affect the position of the eyebrows, which is a concern for many men. If there is a desire to raise the brows as well, a forehead lift can be combined with the forehead reduction procedure.
Hairline Transplant
1) Prices from £5,000
2) Recovery time - The first 7 days are crucial to protect the newly implanted grafts
3) Scarring - Virtually no scarring
4) Pain - (A local anaesthetic is administered to make incisions for new grafts to be implanted). Minimal discomfort during the procedure. Possible need for pain relief and anti-inflammatories following the procedure.
5) What makes a good candidate - men experiencing male pattern baldness whose hairline is receding over the years, ageing them prematurely and making them self-conscious. Not appropriate for men with certain conditions such as alopecia areata.
6) Effectiveness - High success rates. A FUE success rate of 97-100% at Wimpole Clinic.
FUE or FUT?
“Both procedures involve removing hair from the donor area (an area on the back or side of the scalp where hair follicles are growing healthily) and implanting it in the gaps along the frontal hairline,” explains Dr. Michael May.
“Both procedures rely on having healthy hair in the donor area. So a hairline transplant isn’t appropriate for people with certain hair loss conditions, such as alopecia areata. The key difference between FUT and FUE lies in how the hair grafts are harvested. FUT involves extracting a strip of skin and cutting it into individual grafts, while in FUE, the grafts are removed one-by-one.”
- Recovery is easier and faster than FUT surgery, so a return to normal life is quicker
- The patient will get full, natural-looking hair in as little as 6 months
- The procedure takes less than a day to complete.
Loaded Life case study: Biz development exec George Gill (pictired) underwent forehead reduction alongside beard and eyebrow transplants at the Wimpole Clinic.
Their experts operate in several major UK cities, and have treated the likes of Rob Holding, Ben Stokes and Gary Goldsmith.
*All prices and techniques provided by the Wimpole Clinic and may vary according to your choice of clinic, medical requirements and doctor.
