Forehead Contouring and Reduction Surgery

Forehead Contouring and Reduction Surgery

What is Forehead Contouring and Reduction Surgery?

Forehead contouring and reduction is a surgical procedure used to reduce the appearance of a prominent or masculine forehead.

The forehead is one of several facial features that can appear more masculine or feminine depending on the shape and size. For example, masculine foreheads usually have a heavy, bony ridge, known as “brow bossing” whereas feminine foreheads are smoother and less ridged.

Brow contouring smooths these ridges and reshapes the brow bossing, creating a softer, more feminine appearance.


Who is a Good Candidate for this Procedure?

Forehead reduction and contouring are appropriate for adults in good health who want to feminize the appearance of their forehead. It is often performed as part of  Facial Feminization Surgery, but is also performed on women who feel their brow and forehead appear too prominent or masculine.


How is Forehead Contouring and Reduction Performed?

Forehead contouring and reduction surgery focuses on three primary areas to achieve a more feminine appearance:

  1. Brow bossing
  2. The slope of the forehead
  3. The flat spot
To access the forehead area, an incision is made either right at or behind the hairline, depending on whether or not the hairline position needs to be changed. Although the exact procedure depends on the individual patient, most often the brow bone is osteotomized and reconstructed to reduce the appearance, and the orbital bones are shaped to reduce masculine characteristics.
Typically the frontal bone (between the eyebrows) is removed, shaped, and then reattached so that it does not interfere with the underlying sinuses.
If the forehead must be reshaped, to fill in a ridge or concavity, the doctor will use a synthetic material to create the desired more rounded shape.
Due to the location of the incision, forehead contouring is often done in conjunction with a brow lift or hairline restoration.

What Can I Expect after Surgery?

The most common side effects are bruising and swelling. These typically resolve within a week or two; however, it is not uncommon to have some minor swelling that lasts up to two months. Loss of sensation in the forehead area is normal and normally resolves on its own within two to four months. In some patients, it can take up to 10 months for the feeling to return to normal. Although this may feel uncomfortable, it is harmless.

Deep sutures will dissolve naturally while external sutures will be removed at a follow-up appointment five days following surgery.

You may resume gently washing your hair two to three days after surgery. We will discuss guidelines for washing your hair with you. Most patients will be out of work for about two weeks.

You should avoid strenuous activity and exercise for the first two weeks. After that, you may begin gentle movements, but wait at least four weeks for more vigorous exercise, like running or yoga.

Is there scarring with Forehead Contouring?

When thinking about a surgical procedure, it is always important to take scarring into consideration. Since the incision is made at the hairline, any scarring is minimal and fades over time. When making the incision, we are very careful with the placement to minimize scarring. When done in conjunction with hairline lowering the scars are virtually invisible.