Brow Bone Reduction

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve had a brow bone reduction procedure before. It was a frontal sinus reduction. This procedure didn’t really solve my issue. I am unhappy with my forehead prominence and how especially at 45 degree angles it looks really abnormal. Is there a procedure to smooth this feature to get rid of the sticking out effect, but also not feminize my face. Obviously I am a male and not wanting a feminization look, i just want to smooth out my forehead protrusion.

A: In looking at your pictures it is unclear as to what type of brow bone reduction procedure you had. By your description of ‘frontal sinus reduction’ that would imply that you had a setback of the anterior wall of the frontal sinus. But with your current brow bone protrusion that is hard to believe. May be it was just burring a few millimeters of the anterior sinus wall. But the degree of brow bone protrusion aside, your forehead appears to be at a 45 degree angle. (although that is hard to tell based on your hairstyle) Such forehead inclinations can make the brow bones appear to stick out further than they really do. (pseudo brow prominence) This may have partially contributed to the ineffectiveness of your prior brow bone reduction surgery. It may be that forehead augmentation to change the slope of the forehead may be more beneficial. By so doing this will also maintain a masculine appearance. To make that determination I need to do some computer imaging from the side view and will need a picture that shows your forehead without hair hanging over it.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana