In short: hairline lowering brings the hairline forward and shortens the forehead, through an incision along the hairline itself. It can bring the line forward by up to around 3 cm, and it suits long foreheads with a rounded hairline and no recession at the temples. The trade-off is a scar at the front of the hairline, and it moves the line without changing its shape. When the issue is recession at the temples, a hair transplant usually gives a more natural result.
A long forehead or a high hairline is one of the features many patients want to change in the upper third of the face. There are two ways to do it, surgery or a hair transplant, and they solve different problems. Knowing which one fits your hairline is what decides the result.
What is hairline lowering?
Hairline lowering, also called forehead reduction or hairline advancement, shortens the forehead by bringing the hairline forward. It is done through the hairline approach (pretrichial or trichial), the only one of the three forehead approaches that allows it. We compare the three in our post on forehead feminisation approaches.
Through the same incision we can also work on the frontal and orbital bone and anchor the brows higher. That is why, when the forehead also needs feminising, hairline lowering and forehead reconstruction are done in the same operation. It can also be done on its own, without any work on the bone.
Who is it for, and who is it not for?
Hairline lowering suits a long forehead with a rounded hairline and no recession at the temples. The surgery moves that line forward naturally, but it does not change its shape. Trying to reshape it during the advancement increases the risk of an unnatural result or an unsightly scar.
The advancement also has a limit: around 3 cm at most, and it varies from patient to patient. The main limiting factor is the laxity of the scalp, which Dr. Gutiérrez assesses personally at the consultation. Previous surgery, the underlying bone anatomy, age and skin quality also play a part.
It is not the right option when the hairline recedes at the temples, because bringing it forward keeps the same shape. It is not right either if a scar at the front of the hairline is something you want to avoid.
Hairline lowering or hair transplant?
| Aspect | Hairline lowering | Hair transplant |
|---|---|---|
| What it changes | The position of the hairline, up to around 3 cm | Density and shape of the hairline, including the temples |
| Shape of the line | Kept as it is | Can be redesigned |
| Scar | At the front of the hairline | FUE: tiny marks in the donor area. FUS: a strip hidden in the hair |
| With forehead surgery | Through the same hairline approach | FUS in the same session, through the coronal or posterior approach |
| Cost at ARQÉA | €6,500 (on its own) | €6,000 (FUE or FUS) |
In many cases, a hair transplant delivers a more natural result than surgically lowering the hairline: the latter leaves an exposed scar and only moves the line downwards, without being able to change its shape. We explain why the hairline matters so much in our post on the upper third of the face.
Can they be combined?
Yes, in two ways. After hairline lowering, a hair transplant can be used later to camouflage the scar if it is needed. And if your forehead is feminised through the coronal or posterior approach instead, a strip of up to 2,000 follicular units can be taken from the scar area itself for a hair transplant in the same session. Neither of those approaches brings the hairline forward: only the hairline approach does.
The scar
The main drawback of hairline lowering is that the scar is exposed: any issue with healing is more visible than with the other two approaches. How it ends up depends on your hair and on how you heal, and the consultation is where we assess it for your case. We always close it with a trichophytic technique, in two layers, with the skin flap anchored to the bone (Endochor®) as a safety measure.
Recovery
When hairline lowering is done on its own, without bone work, it can be a day case, and the stitches come out between days 5 and 7. When it is done with forehead surgery, we recommend one night in hospital and the stitches come out on day 8. You can stay in Barcelona until then, or travel home on day 3 or 4 and come back for the removal. The forehead is one of the areas where swelling settles early. We explain the phases in our post on FFS recovery.
How much does it cost?
Hairline lowering on its own costs €6,500 at ARQÉA. Forehead feminisation costs €8,500, and a hair transplant (FUE or FUS) costs €6,000. Prices include anaesthesia and the surgical centre. When it is combined with forehead feminisation, the price depends on each case and is set at the consultation. You can see every price in our guide to FFS costs in Europe.
Frequently asked questions
How much can the hairline be lowered?
Up to around 3 cm at most. The limit varies from patient to patient: the main factor is the laxity of the scalp, which Dr. Gutiérrez assesses at the consultation.
Will the hairline lowering scar be visible?
It sits at the front of the hairline, so it is more exposed than the scars of the other forehead approaches. In some cases a hair transplant is used later to camouflage it.
Is hairline lowering better than a hair transplant?
It depends on the shape of your hairline. Hairline lowering moves a rounded hairline forward. When there is recession at the temples, a hair transplant usually gives a more natural result, because surgery cannot change the shape of the line.
Can hairline lowering be done with forehead surgery?
Yes. The hairline approach also gives access to the frontal and orbital bone, so the forehead can be feminised and the hairline brought forward in the same operation.
How much does hairline lowering cost?
Hairline lowering on its own costs €6,500, with anaesthesia and the surgical centre included. When it is combined with forehead feminisation, the price depends on each case and is set at the consultation.
When can I fly home after hairline lowering?
When it is done on its own, without bone work, it can be a day case and the stitches come out between days 5 and 7. When it is done with forehead surgery, the stitches come out on day 8. You can stay until then, or travel home on day 3 or 4 and come back for the removal.
As we always say, this article is for general information and doesn't replace an individual medical assessment. Which option fits your hairline is decided at the consultation.
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