Forehead & Temple Implantation
What Is Forehead Augmentation?
As the name implies, forehead augmentation is an elective cosmetic procedure that changes the shape and/or volume of the forehead. This can be done surgically or through the use of your own fat or fillers.
Is My Forehead too Small or Sunken?
Your reasons for deciding on this procedure depend entirely on the problem you want to have corrected. The motivation (or objective) may also be different whether you are a woman or a man, or depending on cultural norms.
Men vs. Women
As a rule, men’s foreheads tend to be higher, have more angles and feature a ridge of bone that sits just over the eyebrow. Those who have flat foreheads and high hairlines may want a forehead that is bonier and denser, and will therefore opt for a solution that gives them a more prominent browbone.
Women’s foreheads tend to be shorter and softer or more delicate in appearance. When considering augmentation, women often seek a rounder forehead or one that has more of a vertical incline.
Cultural Norms and Aesthetic Preferences
Ethnicity can sometimes play a role as well, since beauty standards differ across cultures. Aside from cultural norms, there are personal preferences to consider. Forehead augmentation is generally performed to address one of the following aesthetic concerns:
- Flatness or a lack of volume in the middle of the forehead
- A forehead that is tilted forward or backward
- Brows that are too pronounced or protrude near the eyebrows
- An indentation or hollow section in the forehead
- A forehead that’s too wide or too narrow
Many of the ‘flaws’ you might perceive in your own forehead are most obvious in a side profile. Changing the look of the forehead – particularly by adding volume – has the added benefit of making the bottom of your face look slimmer – if this is a look you want to achieve.
Forehead wrinkles and other imperfections will also be minimized when volume is increased.
What Are the Surgical Options?
Forehead augmentation, it should be noted, is only suitable for people who are healthy enough to undergo surgery. Here is a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each surgical solution.
Silicone Implants
Customized implants have become the norm as they are developed before surgery and allow the physician to create any shape and thickness necessary. They are also easily reversible if necessary.
A ready-made implant (Safesil®, Korea) is trimmed to fit the individual shape prior to surgery and then introduced into the forehead through a 4-cm transverse incision made above the hairline. The incision for these is fairly discreet. The incision is stitched following surgery and the area is bandaged.
The disadvantage with this option is that there may be fluid or blood accumulation for 1-2 weeks which can be prevented by forehead bandaging for a few days. Silicone rupture is very rare.
Swelling lasts for 1-2 wks. Staples at forehead wound are removed in 7 days then you can wash your hair after that.