Wide scar
The stitch has come apart or the scar gradually stretched into a wide stripe visible from afar.
CONDITION / SKIN AND SCARS
Cicatricial deformation of the forehead.
Forehead scar deformation is a scar from injury, surgery, or burn that has widened, pulled the skin, or displaced the eyebrow or hairline. It is corrected gradually: care and laser treatment, and if necessary — surgery.
CONCEPTUAL VISUALIZATION- What it is
- A scar on the forehead that has widened, pulled the skin, or displaced the eyebrow or hairline.
- Why does it appear?
- Injuries and cuts, removal of skin tumors, burns, harvesting of a forehead flap for the nose.
- When treated
- Most scars lighten within 2 years or longer; surgery is usually planned after its maturation.
- Who treats it
- Plastic surgeon; if necessary — together with a dermatologist.
01 / WHAT IS ITWhat is
What is
Forehead scar deformation.
The forehead is a large exposed area of the face that cannot be hidden under clothing. The skin here is not very elastic: a wide wound is difficult to close without tension, and tension makes the scar wider. Therefore, surgeons consider the treatment of forehead wounds and scars a separate task with its own specific features.
Deformation is discussed when a scar is not just visible but changes the appearance of the forehead: it stretches into a wide strip, sinks and forms a step, pulls the eyebrow up or down, shifts the hairline, or looks like a patch of a different color after a skin graft.
Natural landmarks are important for the forehead — the eyebrows, the hairline at the forehead and temples, and horizontal folds. During correction, the surgeon tries to maintain the symmetry of the eyebrows and hide the scar along these lines. Additionally, nerves and blood vessels run under the forehead's skin, which must be preserved during surgery.
This page is specifically about the forehead. There is a separate page, "Facial Scar Deformation," about scars that change the shape of other parts of the face.
This is general information. The doctor will tell you what will suit you after the examination.
02 / SIGNSHow does it look
How does it look
scar deforming the forehead.
Signs depend on the exact location of the scar and how much tissue has been lost. Often, not only the scar itself is concerning, but also that the forehead and eyebrows have become asymmetrical.
depression
At the scar site, the skin is pulled in, a step or pit has appeared, especially noticeable in side lighting.
Eyebrows at different heights
The scar pulls the eyebrow up or down, and the face looks asymmetrical — even at rest.
Displaced hairline
A scar near the forehead or temple has shifted the hairline, and there is a nearby area without hair.
Patch of a different color
After a skin graft or healing of a wound without suturing, the area differs in color and texture from the rest of the forehead.
A thick scar
The scar is raised, firm, red, or itchy. If it extends beyond the wound, it may be a keloid.
Keloid scars on the face03 / REASONSWhere does it come from?
Where does it come from?
Scar on the forehead.
The cause determines how much skin is lost and whether the neighboring forehead skin is sufficient to correct the scar.
Injuries and cuts
Hits, falls, car accidents. A torn wound on the forehead can heal with a wide or depressed scar.
Scars after injuries and cutsRemoval of skin tumors
The forehead and temple are common sites for skin cancer. After tumor removal, a wound remains, which is closed with a suture, flap, or skin graft.
Basal cell carcinoma of the faceForehead flap for the nose
When the nose is reconstructed using a flap from the forehead, the wound on the forehead is sutured. Tension can make the scar wider or cause the suture to separate.
Nose defects after removal of tumorsBurns
Severe burns on the forehead are rare; scars may also affect adjacent areas of the face.
Scars after facial burnsFractures of the frontal bone
If the bone under the scar is damaged, it is first assessed, and then the skin.
Fractures of the frontal bone
04 / SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE
When to seek medical advice?
An old scar on the forehead does not require emergency care: it is treated electively. But a fresh forehead injury is also a head impact, so first we think about the head, and then about the scar.
103 immediately if:
- bleeding from a wound that does not stop;
- blood beats in a stream;
- deep or large wound on the forehead;
- a fragment or glass is stuck in the wound - do not remove it yourself;
- a dent appeared on the head after impact;
- the person lost consciousness after the impact and does not regain it;
- the person keeps falling asleep or cannot keep their eyes open;
- convulsions;
- impaired vision or hearing;
- Clear fluid is leaking from the nose or ear;
- New weakness or numbness in any part of the body;
- a person speaks poorly, understands, walks, or maintains balance;
- behavior has changed — the person is irritable, distracted, or indifferent to everything;
- blood from the ear or a bruise behind the ear;
- a bruise around the eye, although there was no blow to the eye;
- head impact at high speed, such as in a car accident, or a fall from a height of more than 1 meter;
- in a child under 1 year, a bruise, swelling, or a large wound on the head;
- fresh burn on the forehead, including chemical or electrical.
Do not delay a visit to the doctor:
On the same day: after a head injury there was vomiting or dizziness; you are taking blood-thinning medications and hit your head; you hit your head after alcohol or other substances; soil or dirt is in the wound and cannot be washed out; you were bitten by a person or an animal; the wound or scar is swollen, painful, warm to the touch, or has pus. Planned: The scar is wide, depressed, has shifted the eyebrow or hairline, is painful, or simply bothers you — schedule a consultation.
05 / DIAGNOSTICSAs defined,
As defined,
what to fix
- Conversation
When and due to what the scar appeared, how the wound healed, what surgeries have already been done; photos before the injury, if available.
- Review
Width and depth of the scar, whether it is still maturing, the position of the eyebrows and hairline, how the eyebrows move, whether there is enough skin nearby.
- Photo in standard angles
Straight-on, from the side, with raised eyebrows — for planning and to compare changes over time.
- Examination as needed
CT scan — if the frontal bone could have been injured under the scar.
06 / TREATMENTHow we treat
How we treat
Forehead scars.
It is impossible to completely remove a scar. The goal is to make it narrower, more even, and less noticeable, and to restore the eyebrow to its place. Methods are chosen gradually, from simpler to more complex, considering the size, shape, and location of the scar.
01
Without surgery
While the scar matures, and together with the operation.
- Silicone
- Silicone gels and sheets have been named by an international group of 24 experts as the first choice for preventing and treating thick scars.
- Sun and massage
- Cover the scar from the sun for at least a year and apply SPF 30 or higher cream. The scar can only be massaged after it has fully healed.
- Laser
- An international consensus of 26 dermatologists and plastic surgeons from 13 countries considers lasers to be first-line therapy for scars after injuries. Vascular and fractional lasers are used.
- Injections into the scar
- Depending on the type of scar, the doctor may prescribe steroid injections.
- Botulinum toxin in a fresh wound
- It temporarily relaxes the nearby muscles and reduces wound tension. In a systematic review of 20 studies (894 patients; 18 included in the meta-analysis), facial, head, and neck scars treated with botulinum toxin were better than without it; in subgroups, results were better on the forehead and upper lip. The authors emphasize that more research is needed. Whether this is appropriate for you is decided by the doctor.
02
Surgery
When the scar is wide, retracted, or displaces the eyebrow.
- Excision and suture
- The scar is excised and sutured again, whenever possible hiding the suture in folds, along the eyebrow line, or hairline. Direct suturing is usually better than letting the wound heal on its own or a skin graft.
- Z-, W-plasty and broken line
- Techniques used to change the direction and shape of a scar. Each has its indications and limitations, so the plan is made in advance.
- Local patches
- If direct suturing is not possible, the wound is closed with a skin flap from a nearby area — this is considered the method of choice.
- Serial excision
- A wide scar is removed in several stages, excising part of it each time.
- Expander
- After forehead burns, dermotension is usually required: the healthy skin of the forehead is stretched for a flap, and if the scar is too large — skin from the upper chest for grafting. The result can be good, but the expander is associated with significant inconvenience for the patient.
- Lipofilling
- Autologous fat is injected under the retracted scar. In a meta-analysis of 23 articles (1,326 patients with scars after burns and injuries), the scars improved according to both patient and physician assessment.
- Free flaps
- For large full-thickness forehead defects — tissue from another part of the body with vascular suturing under a microscope.
03
Terms and sequence
- First — maturation
- Most scars lighten up within 2 years or longer. Surgery for persistent scars is done at a later stage and combined with other methods.
- Scar after a forehead flap
- In a retrospective study of 108 patients of one surgeon after nasal reconstruction, forehead wounds sized 2–4 cm, closed directly, more often separated or left an area without hair and had a worse scar appearance than wounds up to 2 cm.
- mood
- If a scar is distressing, talking to a psychotherapist can help — tell your doctor about this.
07 / AT THE VALIKHNOVSKYI INSTITUTE
How
How
we treat it.
Forehead scars at the Institute of Surgery of Dr. Valikhnovskyi are treated in the 'New Face' program. Laser, IPL, and scar care while it matures — at the clinic, together with a dermatologist.
CLINIC SERVICE
A new face
Form, symmetry, facial expressions and functions after injuries, wounds, burns, removal of tumors and congenital changes.
View service
What we do for this condition
- Scar excision — the scar is excised and closed with local tissues, hiding the suture in the natural lines of the forehead.
- Forehead flaps and flaps of adjacent areas — the defect is covered with skin that is close in color and texture.
- Expander — a balloon under the healthy skin of the forehead or scalp is gradually filled, and the stretched skin is moved to the site of the scar.
- Free microsurgical flaps — for large and deep defects.
- Lipofilling — microfat and nanofat under the depressed scar — for volume and softness.
- Fractional CO2 laser and IPL — for the relief, color, and density of the scar, often together with surgery.
- Scar care — silicone or tape, dermatologists’ check-ups; for keloids after excision — injections into the scar.
Rostislav Valikhnovskyi
Plastic surgeon, candidate of medical sciences, founder of Dr. Valikhnovskyi Institute of Surgery.
Publications by topic
- "Correction of cicatricial deformation of the frontal area: surgical methods and results of own research" — Hospital Surgery, 2025 (DOI).
How treatment works with us
- Photo onlineSend photos of the forehead straight on, from the side, and with raised eyebrows.
- ConsultationExamination of the scar, eyebrows, and hairline, assessment of the nearby skin reserve.
- PlanWhat can be done without surgery, when surgery is needed, and how many stages will be required.
- TreatmentLaser, injections, excision, flaps, expander, or lipofilling — individually or combined.
- RecoverySilicone, sun protection, and follow-up check-ups; the final appearance of the scar is assessed after months.
08 / QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSCommon
Common
questions
Short answers. What is right for you, the doctor will tell you during the consultation.
Is it possible to completely remove a scar on the forehead?
No, any treatment leaves a scar. The goal is for it to become narrower, smoother, and less noticeable, and for the eyebrows to be symmetrical.
When can a scar on the forehead be operated on?
Usually after maturation: most scars lighten by 2 years or longer. While the scar is maturing, silicone, sun protection, and laser therapy help.
Where will the new suture be?
The surgeon tries to hide it in the horizontal folds, along the eyebrow edge or the hairline. How well this can be done depends on the location and size of the scar.
Is laser alone enough?
Laser is one of the main methods for scars after injuries. But if the scar is wide, depressed, or pulls the eyebrow, surgery is usually required, and laser is combined with it.
The scar after a forehead flap for the nose has widened. Can this be corrected?
Yes, such a scar is evaluated and treated the same way as other forehead scars: excision, flaps, laser. What will suit you best is determined by the doctor after the examination.
Does Botox help with forehead scars?
Botulinum toxin in a fresh wound has been shown in studies to improve facial scars, more noticeably on the forehead. But there are still few studies, and whether it is appropriate for you is decided by the doctor.
After an injury, one eyebrow is higher. Can this be corrected?
Eyebrow symmetry is taken into account when planning scar correction. The doctor will tell you exactly how to restore it after an examination.
Sources
17 sources · international guidelines, reviews, meta-analyses, and NHSshowCollapse
- Updated scar management practical guidelines: non-invasive and invasive measuresJournal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 2014doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2014.04.011 ↗
- Laser Treatment of Traumatic Scars and Contractures: 2020 International Consensus RecommendationsLasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2020doi:10.1002/lsm.23201 ↗
- Management of Forehead ScarsFacial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, 2017doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2016.08.012 ↗
- Scalp and Forehead ReconstructionSeminars in Plastic Surgery, 2018doi:10.1055/s-0038-1642638 ↗
- Reconstruction of the Forehead and ScalpFacial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, 2019doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2018.08.009 ↗
- Simplifying Forehead and Temple Reconstruction: A Narrative ReviewJournal of Clinical Medicine, 2023doi:10.3390/jcm12165399 ↗
- Les brûlures du front (Forehead burns)Annales de Chirurgie Plastique Esthétique, 2024doi:10.1016/j.anplas.2024.06.021 ↗
- Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin-A on Face, Head, and Neck Scars: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisFacial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine, 2024doi:10.1089/fpsam.2023.0170 ↗
- Clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A injection for reducing scars in patients with forehead laceration: A double-blinded, randomized controlled studyMedicine, 2019doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016952 ↗
- Donor Site Closure in Paramedian Forehead Flap Reconstruction: Impact on Scar Quality and Patient SatisfactionJournal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2026doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000012163 ↗
- Scar revision techniques: z-plasty, w-plasty, and geometric broken line closureFacial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, 2011doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2011.06.002 ↗
- Effectiveness of Autologous Fat Grafting in the Treatment of Scars: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2024doi:10.1007/s00266-024-04131-w ↗
- Correction of cicatricial deformation of the frontal area: surgical methods and results of own researchHospital surgery, 2025doi:10.11603/2414-4533.2025.2.15396 ↗
- ScarsNHS, 2023nhs.uk/conditions/scars ↗
- Cuts and grazesNHS, 2026nhs.uk/conditions/cuts-and-grazes ↗
- Head injury and concussionNHS, 2025nhs.uk/conditions/head-injury-and-concussion ↗
- Burns and scaldsNHS, 2026nhs.uk/conditions/burns-and-scalds ↗
The figures on the page are from these sources.
Forehead scar
bother?
Send photos of the forehead straight on, from the side, and with raised eyebrows. The doctor will say what can be corrected and where to start.