How do you prepare for a hairline lowering procedure?
There is no specific preparation for this procedure.
What is the average hairline lowering treatment plan?
Hairline lowering is an outpatient procedure performed in one day (no overnight stay in the clinic is necessary).
What can I expect and what should I do during the recovery period after hairline lowering?
The day of the procedure — On the day of the procedure and the day after, you may feel some pain or discomfort that can easily be relieved with the painkillers we will give you.
The first week — During the first week, there may be some slight swelling and bruising, but these are not very noticeable. If staples have been used, they will be removed after seven days. Foreign patients can return home the same day. The staples can be removed by a general practitioner in their own country. The stitches used are dissolvable.
The following weeks — After two to three weeks, the dissolvable stitches in the hairline will fall out on their own.
After 6 weeks hairs begin to grow through the scar, making it less visible.
Scar — The scar will remain red and swollen for between two and six months. After about six weeks, small hairs will start to grow through the scar, making it less visible.
Numbness — All patients experience numbness at the front of the scalp. The feeling returns after a period of three to twelve months. Sometimes patients experience an itchy feeling during the recovery period.
Temporary hair loss — Two to four weeks after the procedure, hair loss of the fine hairs may occur. We call this an “effluvium” and it occurs in approximately five percent of procedures. This phenomenon is caused by the temporary reduction in blood supply to the displaced skin. The hair normally grows back within three months. In some cases, we recommend using a 5% Minoxidil solution for the front of the hair-bearing scalp after the procedure. This can reduce possible hair loss and promote the growth of the lost hairs and the hairs that grow through the incision.
Full recovery — Full recovery can be expected after 12 to 18 months when the scar has fully grown. The scar will remain visible, but after a year it is usually so faint that it is no longer noticeable.
Complications
Hypertrophic scar — Some patients have a tendency to develop hypertrophic (swollen) scars. We can treat this with (repeated) corticoid injections or we can surgically excise the scar followed by (repeated) corticoid injections.
Thinning hair — This complication is diagnosed in one percent of patients.
Reduced sensitivity of the scalp — It is possible that the scalp becomes permanently less sensitive. However, the patients who reported this did not experience this as a problem.
How long can I expect the results of a hairline lowering procedure to last?
