Is Forehead Reshaping Advised In Men Because Of The Scalp Scar?

Q: Dr. Eppley, we talked about1 month ago about forehead reduction. Subsequently I have gone to a hair transplant specialist where I live and he told me that he thought that I would not lose anymore hair in my life. Now this was of course only his assumption. Anyway, I’m really struggling with my forehead problem and it’s limiting my days and is taking a toll on my mind. I would like to know if it’s strictly not done on men or if this operation is only done on men at a certain age. And if I would actually lose my hair in the front in a couple of years, how big is the scar and is it very noticeable? Because I’m thinking about this operation all the time knowing that there is something that can be done. Thank you for your time.

A: It is not that it forehead reduction/contouring is never done in men because that is not true. It is just that one has to think about it much more carefully than a woman because of the hair issue. The forehead problem is men has to be more ‘significant’, in terms of either its shape or its psychological impact on the patient, to justify the effort and the scar risk. Scalp scars generally heal fairly well actually and usually end up as just a fine white line in most cases. Scars in hair tend to heal well provided the hair follicles are not damaged during the making or closing of the scalp incision.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis Indiana