The hairline does not end at the forehead.
When the side profile changes, the impression changes
The hairline does not end at the forehead. When the sideburns that continue along the temples are connected naturally, the contours of the face are completed. When the frontal and lateral hairlines are arranged, the face looks smaller and the features appear more distinct. This area is easy to overlook but is important for completing facial proportions.
Small differences determine the level of finish
The lateral area can look awkward from even a slight lift of the hair or a very small angle difference. Sideburns must match the direction and flow of hair along the facial line, so the procedure is technically and aesthetically demanding. The difference in experience and aesthetic sense determines how natural the finished sideburns look.
Even though it's a difficult operation, I keep recommending it
Sideburn transplantation is actually a fairly demanding procedure for the operator. For the hair to appear as if it grows attached to the face naturally, it must be planted at a very low angle, almost lying flat. Maintaining the same posture for a long time during the procedure puts considerable strain on the wrist. Compared with follicular units that produce several coarse hairs at once, single-hair grafts are often needed to create a natural boundary.
That means selecting, splitting, and implanting grafts takes more time. So it is not a comfortable operation. Yet during consultations I often find myself recommending sideburn transplantation first. I think it’s because the change I envision after surgery is more noticeable than the extra difficulty during the operation. I will likely continue to recommend sideburns to patients who I think they will suit.
Sideburns that disappeared after a facelift
After a facial lift, some people feel their face looks flatter than before. This is because, as the face is lifted, sideburns are pushed back and diminished. Re-creating those lost sideburns restores the three-dimensionality of the face that had been forgotten. Even for people who originally had few sideburns, a little reinforcement by hair transplantation along the lateral line can, together with the lift, make facial contours appear more distinct.
Bleeding, infection, swelling, scarring, folliculitis, sensory changes, temporary concurrent shedding, or graft take below expectations may occur. Preexisting hair loss may progress after transplantation, so long-term management is needed.