Hairline Advancement

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a frontal hairline advancement. I have no issues with hair loss. My hair hairline simply dips back into in the middle and that’s where I drew a line if that was eliminated on my picture. I have some breakage on the edges from hats and headbands, but nothing permanent. It grows back instantly. Is this possible? 

A: Thank you for sending your picture. Where a hairline advancement works the best is exactly where your hairline issue is….in the center of the frontal hairline. This is because the best mobility of the scalp comes the center where the maximal its release is done down the middle all the way to the back of the head. This is due to the limits of the incision and resultant scar. In order to keep the scar from extending all the way down to the ears, most hairline advancements cut back no further than the high temporal region. As one gets closer to the end of the scar the amount of scalp advancement disappears.

Given where you have put the markings for the desired hairline end point I think is a very achievable goal. Scalp elasticity always determines how much the hairline can be moved but a 1 to 2 cm forward movement is possible in most people.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana