Can Hairline-Lowering Surgery Help With Hair Loss? What Is It?

The mother of four and model also acknowledged that this is what you typically see on the red carpet. Extensions. According to the American Pregnancy Association, between 40% and 50% of women have postpartum hair thinning, which Teigen, like many new mothers, had to deal with. This is a very typical (and frustrating) experience.

The majority of individuals use topical serums or oral supplements to manage hair loss, but Teigen chose a more drastic approach: hairline-lowering surgery, a cosmetic operation that has been mostly unheard of until recently.

Let us examine this procedure in more detail, including what it entails, who it is intended for, and whether it actually treats hair loss or merely masks it.

So, what is surgery to lower the hairline?

As the name suggests, hairline-lowering surgery, also known as forehead reduction surgery, involves a surgeon literally moving your hairline forward to lessen the vertical distance between your brows and hairline. 

Reshaping the canvas is more important than sprouting new hair.

The objective is to improve face proportion, says Dr. Lesley Rabach, a board-certified facial surgeon and cofounder of LM Medical NYC.

Consider your face in horizontal thirds: nose to chin, eyebrows to base of nose, and hairline to eyebrows. The technique helps rebalance that symmetry if the upper third appears disproportionately lengthy, as it might for those with high foreheads or hair loss.

Do You Think It is Right? Give the "Four-Finger Test" a try.

Are you unsure if you qualify? The four-finger test is advised by Dr. David Shafer, a double board-certified plastic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue:

Your proportions are probably good if four fingers can fit between your hairline and brows.

Do you have five fingers or six? Assuming, of course, that you truly want it and are not merely aiming for perfection, you might be a better fit.

What Are the Actual Advantages?

Let us face it, the main purpose of this operation is cosmetic. However, that does not mean it is shallow. Many patients want to regain their confidence and sense of control, particularly women who are dealing with hereditary thinning or postpartum hair loss.

What hairline-lowering surgery can provide is as follows:

A more harmonious face shape

A refreshed, more "alive" appearance

A decrease in the use of wigs, hair extensions, or creative styling

Additionally, most procedures are completed under anesthesia in around one to one and a half hours.

What about the drawbacks? Let us be honest.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and this is most definitely not a treatment for hair loss.

Ideal candidates, according to Dr. Rabach, have stable, thick hair. That is crucial. The effects might not last over time if your hairline is actively retreating due to male pattern baldness or another kind of alopecia.

The surgical scar may become noticeable as your hair continues to recede, making it difficult to conceal.

A slight headache or minor puffiness are the most common side effects. Most people recover very quickly, however you might need to ice the region for a day or two and wear a light head wrap.

The Procedure: What to anticipate prior to, during, and following the consultation

Your surgeon will draw the hairline's future location using a marker and take pictures. They will assess the elasticity of your skin, the density of your hair, and the stretchability of your scalp.

Day of Surgery

You will be sedated following a vitals check and maybe laboratory testing. After removing a small portion of skin from the forehead and hairline, the surgeon stitches the new hairline into position.

Recovery

The next day, you will be examined. Usually, stitches are removed after a week. The majority of edema goes down in two weeks. A micro hair transplant may be used to soften or fill in the hairline six months later, and you may return for laser scar refining after six weeks.

How Much Does Surgery to Lower the Hairline Cost?

Hold on tight—this is not inexpensive.

Without anesthesia, the operation at Dr. Rabach's office costs between $23,000 and $28,000. Depending on your surgeon, the city, and the particular methods employed, costs can vary.

Always request clear, detailed pricing right front.

Is It Able to Prevent Hair Loss?

The short answer is no.

Although hairline-lowering surgery reshapes, it cannot stop or reverse further loss. Even with the surgically advanced hairline, thinning may still occur if you are genetically predisposed to it.

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick of MDCS Dermatology cautions patients who are already suffering active loss to proceed with caution. She states, "It is not a hair restoration surgery."

Other Choices to Think About First

Think about these less intrusive solutions if you have early or moderate hair thinning:

Topical or oral minoxidil

Supplements (such as iron or biotin if you are lacking in either)

PRP treatment

Low-power laser treatment

FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplants for specific regeneration

Conclusion: Is Surgery to Reduce Hairline Worth It?

Hairline-lowering surgery can significantly alter your appearance and increase your self-confidence if your hairline has moved as a result of postpartum changes or heredity, and if you are not actively losing more hair. However, it should not be regarded as a treatment for hair loss because it is not one.

As with any cosmetic surgery, it is important to approach it with reasonable goals, clear expectations, and the appropriate medical advice.