What Can Be Done To Reduce The Size Of My Massive Forehead?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a forehead reduction. I have attached two photos of my forehead for your review. I hope these are enough. As you can see my forehead is massive and it gets me down !! Can you help? Is it always successful? Is there much recovery?

A: Thank you for sending your pictures. What you refer to as a massive forehead is one that is very long. I would estimate that the measurement between your eyebrows and the edge of your frontal hairline is at least 7.5 cms. If the forehead length in females is greater than 6.5 cms it is considered too long. This can be improved with a frontal hairline advancement, also known as a forehead reduction. This is where an incision is placed along the edge of the frontal hairline, the scalp behind it is loosened, lifted and brought forward, and the forehead skin underneath then removed. The amount of forehead skin removed is the amount that the vertical length of the forehead is shortened. Generally, 1.0 to 1.5 cms can be reduced in the middle of the forehead. There is less so taken out from the sides where it tapers into the upper temporal area. This is a very effective and successful procedure. Forehead reduction is an outpatient procedure that takes 90 minutes to do under general anesthesia.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana