Hairline lowering surgery can be a crucial step for transgender women who want to achieve a more feminine appearance. By understanding the distinctions between masculine and feminine hairlines, and how the surgical procedure is performed, patients can make informed decisions about pursuing this procedure with board-certified plastic and craniofacial surgeon, Dr. Jordan Deschamps-Braly.
Distinguishing Characteristics of Masculine and Feminine Hairlines
The hairline frames the upper face and can have a significant impact on the look of the forehead and the overall proportion of facial features. Understanding the specifics of how the hairline differs among men and women is crucial when creating a natural-looking result. These are some of the main differences:
Hairline Position and Shape
The masculine hairline typically sits further back, which contributes to the look of a larger forehead. Masculine hairlines also have an ‘M’ shape due to recession at the temples, while feminine hairlines have an oval shape that runs in an even line across the forehead and around the temples.
Aging Patterns
Male pattern baldness often results in a receding hairline, while female pattern hair loss typically manifests as overall thinning. Hair loss is bothersome for all people, but a receding hairline can be especially stressful for transgender women since it is a noticeable sign of their gender assigned at birth.
Hair Growth Direction
Men’s hair generally grows toward the face in a straight pattern, while feminine hairlines grow away from the face and down, creating a whorl pattern. Bringing the hairline forehead and transplanting new hair to the area can easily conceal this identifier of male vs. female hairlines.
How is Hairline Lowering Surgery Performed?
Feminizing hairline lowering surgery is almost always included in facial feminization procedures, especially among patients who have a naturally large forehead or higher hairline. It can also benefit non-transgender patients who want to address their receding hairlines. During the surgical procedure, an incision will be made along the hairline and the scalp tissue containing the hair will be brought forward, lowering the hairline and shortening the forehead. After the area has fully healed, individual hair follicles can be transplanted onto the hairline later using follicular unit excision (FUE) hair transplant or follicular unit transplantation (FUT). FUE and FUT is not currently offered at Deschamps-Braly Clinic, but we have referrals with doctors we have worked with for these treatments.
Recovery and Postoperative Care
After surgery, the scalp will be bandaged to protect the healing incisions. Mild swelling and bruising are common but typically improve in one week. However, recovery time will vary depending on whether hairline lowering was received alone or in combination with other facial feminization procedures. At your consultation with Dr. Deschamps-Braly, he will assess your facial anatomy, discuss your concerns, and explain the hairline lowering procedure and other surgical options in detail to determine the best choice of treatment for your individual needs and treatment goals.
Schedule a Consultation
At The Deschamps-Braly Clinic, we specialize in gender-affirming procedures to help patients feel their most confident and beautiful selves. If you are considering hairline lowering surgery, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with expert facial feminization surgeon Dr. Deschamps-Braly at our office in San Francisco, CA.
