Hairline Correction by Hair Transplantation for Reducing Apparent Face Length in Long-Face Women

Abstract

Background: The long-face morphology is associated with aesthetic concerns, and surgery is often necessary to correct excess length in the frontal plane, in the upper, middle, and lower thirds of the face. However, correcting midline facial length in the frontal plane alone does not provide facial harmony. This study introduces a novel approach to correcting long-face morphology using measurements in the frontal, oblique, and lateral views, and reducing hairline measurements using hair transplants. Methods: Eighty-three patients were enrolled in the study. The authors measured the midline facial length in the frontal plane and the lengths of the upper, middle, and lower thirds of the face. The authors also measured four additional distances in the oblique and lateral views, including the distance from the infratemporal hairline to the chin and from the sideburn to the chin. The patients’ midfrontal hairlines were lowered, and the distances from the infratemporal hairline to the chin and from the sideburn to the chin were also shortened. The results were evaluated by patients and the surgeon using a five-point Likert scale. Results: The mean patient Likert score was 4.5 (range, 3 to 5), and the mean surgeon Likert score was 4.9 (range, 3 to 5). No patients experienced adverse events. Three patients required touch-up surgery at the recipient sites to increase the hair density. Conclusion: This novel approach to correcting long-face morphology using hair transplants to decrease hairline measurements provided excellent facial harmony and symmetry. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.