Hello, this is Woori Plastic Surgery.
Forehead reduction surgery is a procedure that reduces the length of the forehead by removing tissue along the boundary between the forehead and the scalp. It is considered when the forehead appears wide or when the forehead length feels disproportionate to the facial proportions. The purpose is to move the hairline downward and create a more defined impression. Today, let’s take a closer look at the side effects of forehead reduction surgery.
I can’t feel my scalp
During forehead reduction surgery, the tissue connecting the forehead to the scalp is incised. In this process, no matter how carefully the surgery is performed, some blood vessels and nerves are inevitably affected. Because of this, many people experience decreased or absent scalp sensation above the incision line, and in some cases toward the top of the head, as a side effect of forehead reduction surgery.
How long does the sensory loss last?
The nerves that go to the scalp are not large nerves, but rather many small peripheral nerves distributed widely. Because of this, the area affected by one of the side effects of forehead reduction surgery, sensory loss, can vary from person to person, and there may also be differences between the left and right sides. However, these peripheral nerves have good recovery ability, and in most cases sensation returns naturally as early as 3 months, and at the latest around 6 months. Cases where sensation never returns for life are extremely rare.
You do not need to worry too much
Scalp sensory loss, one of the side effects of forehead reduction surgery, is a relatively common temporary change due to the nature of the procedure. In most cases, it naturally recovers over time, and often improves without any special treatment. If you fully understand this process before surgery, you can feel much more at ease during recovery.
If you are considering the side effects of forehead reduction surgery, rather than vaguely worrying about scalp sensory loss, we recommend understanding it as part of the recovery process and consulting with medical staff who can explain it clearly.
