What Type Of Frontal Hairline Advancement Do I Need?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am reaching out to request a virtual consultation regarding my concerns about the appearance of my forehead and hairline. I have noticed that the prominent bones on my forehead have an unusually large appearance, which has been a source of insecurity for me. I am considering plastic surgery to address this issue and improve my overall facial aesthetics. Additionally, I would like to discuss options for altering my hairline, as it is not as full as I would prefer. After conducting extensive research, I have decided that your expertise aligns with my goals, and I believe that you would be the ideal surgeon to help me. Although I am currently located in the New York City region and unable to travel to your office in Carmel, Indiana, I am eager to move forward with a virtual consultation. I hope that during this meeting, we can discuss my concerns in detail and explore possible solutions. I am looking forward to the possibility of working with you and hopefully proceeding with surgery within this year. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

A:Thank you for sending all of your pictures. Your forehead concerns represent a considerable challenge for which there is no easy fix.  It is a combination of a sloped skull with  protruding upper forehead and a significant posterior location of the hairline including the temporal hairline. Each one magnifies the other problem and they are developmentally connected. But it is the hairline that is the worst offender than the bone shape as a more anteriorly located hairline will make the skull-forehead shape look better…but the reverse would not be true.

When considering a frontal hairline advancement the key question is how much forward movement is needed. The reality is that of you don’t get at least 2.5 to 3cms forward movement it would not be worth it. (see attached diagram) This will require a first stage scalp expander to do so.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World Renowned Plastic Surgeon