Facelift & anti-aging
Forehead reduction in Korea
Forehead reduction, or hairline lowering, shortens a tall forehead by removing a strip of skin along the hairline and bringing the scalp forward. It suits a high hairline with stable hair and a flexible scalp. At our partner clinic it takes about 1 to 2 hours under sedation, with no overnight stay; plan 7 to 10 days in Seoul.
Who is a good candidate for forehead reduction?
- Your forehead is tall for your face and makes it look long. This is the reason the clinic gives
- You have had a high hairline for most of your life, and your hair along it is stable and thick
- Your scalp moves easily when you push it forward with your fingers
- You want a lower hairline in one operation rather than over several hair transplant sessions
When it may not be the right choice
- Your hairline is receding because of ongoing hair loss. The scar could show as hair thins, so a hair transplant or medical treatment may suit you better
- Your brows have dropped and weigh on your eyelids. An endoscopic brow lift treats that, while a forehead reduction does not raise the brows
- Your scalp is tight and hardly moves, which limits how far it can come forward
- You smoke and cannot stop for several weeks around the operation, since it raises the risk of poor healing along the hairline
Which method fits you?
A tall forehead can be shortened by moving the hairline down in one operation or by adding hair in front of it. A drooping brow is a different problem with its own operation.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forehead reduction | An incision along the hairline; the scalp is freed and brought forward, and the extra forehead skin is removed. The clinic says it angles the cut so hair can grow through the scar; how well the scar hides varies. | A tall forehead with a stable hairline and a flexible scalp | 7 to 10 days to daily life; stitches out at day 5 to 7 |
| Hair transplant | Hair follicles are moved from the back of the head into the front hairline. | A receding or uneven hairline, or a tight scalp | No large incision at the front; the change shows as the hair grows |
| Endoscopic brow lift | Short cuts inside the hairline let the surgeon lift drooping brows. It does not lower the hairline and can raise it. | Low brows and forehead lines, with a hairline that is not high | Stitches out at day 5 to 7 |
What happens on the day of forehead reduction?
- Consultation. The surgeon looks at your face proportions, how far your scalp moves and the hair along your hairline, then marks the new hairline with you.
- Sedation, which the clinic lists for this operation. Ask whether local anesthetic is added along the hairline.
- The surgeon cuts along the hairline, frees the scalp while protecting nerves and blood vessels, brings it forward and removes the overlapping forehead skin. The scalp is fixed in its new place and the cut is closed. The clinic lists about 1 to 2 hours.
- A dressing or band goes on along the hairline, and you go back to your hotel the same day.
What is recovery like after forehead reduction?
- Days 1 to 3
- The forehead is swollen and tight, and bruising can drift down around the eyes. Sleep with your head raised.
- Days 5 to 7
- Stitches come out along the hairline. Fringe or loose hair can cover the line once it is clean and dry.
- Days 7 to 10
- Daily life is usually back, according to the clinic. The scalp behind the scar often feels numb.
- Months 3 to 6
- Numbness slowly fades, hair can grow back along the line, and the scar softens and pales.
How long should you stay in Seoul after forehead reduction?
Allow 7 to 10 days in Seoul. The hairline stitches come out on day 5 to 7, and you should have that check before you fly, so leaving around day 7 or 8 is a typical plan. Of the 2 to 3 follow-up visits the clinic plans, ask which you need in Seoul. Ask when you can wash, color or style your hair, and avoid hats that press on the scar at first. If one side of your forehead swells fast, your vision changes, or you have trouble breathing or chest pain, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic.
What are the risks of forehead reduction?
- A visible scar along the hairline, especially if it widens or if hair thins later. Some people add a hair transplant to soften it
- Numbness of the scalp behind the scar, which is common and usually improves over months
- Hair loss along or near the incision, and inflamed hair follicles
- Fluid collection, bleeding under the scalp, infection or poor healing of the wound edges
- A hairline shape or height you are not happy with, which may need revision
- The general risks of sedation
What affects the cost of forehead reduction in Korea?
A forehead reduction quote depends on how far the hairline moves, whether its shape is refined as well, the sedation, and anything added such as fat grafting. We list no price yet; send photos of your face and hairline from the front and side so the clinic can quote. Ask for it in writing with the surgeon’s name, follow-up visits and stitch removal.
More questions
Will the forehead reduction scar show?
It sits along the hairline. The clinic says it angles the cut so hair can grow through the scar, though how well it hides varies from person to person. It is pink at first and fades over months, but it is a permanent scar, and it can show more if it widens or the hair thins. Wearing a fringe hides it in the early weeks.
How much can a forehead reduction lower the hairline?
It depends mostly on how loose your scalp is. A flexible scalp can come further forward than a tight one. The surgeon tests this at the consultation by moving your scalp, and marks a realistic new hairline before you decide.
Forehead reduction or hair transplant: which is better for me?
Neither is better for everyone. Forehead reduction lowers the whole hairline in one operation but leaves a scar along it. A hair transplant fills the hairline with your own hair and suits a receding hairline or a tight scalp, but the result shows slowly. Some people have both.
Is numbness normal after forehead reduction?
Yes. The scalp behind the scar is usually numb or tingly at first because small nerves are stretched or cut. Feeling returns gradually over months. Contact the clinic promptly about pain that gets worse, spreading redness or a wound that opens.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Forehead Reduction Surgery via an Anterior Hairline Pretrichial Incision in Asians: A Review of 641 Cases. PubMed, US National Library of Medicine
- Forehead Reduction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes. PubMed, US National Library of Medicine
- Forehead Reduction Surgery: Outcomes and Complications of 650 Cases in a Multiracial Population. PubMed, US National Library of Medicine
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.