Rhiannon Ingle
One woman has splashed out thousands upon thousands of pounds to get forehead reduction surgery after hiding under her fringe for 20 years.
Beth Halsey has opened up about the controversial decision to go under the knife to have her hairline surgically lowered after being bullied at school for her 'fivehead'.
The 27-year-old, who lives in Colchester, Essex, ended up paying £9,000 for the three-hour procedure after spending decades in fear of walking down the street on a windy day and her forehead being exposed.
Beth, who works as an operations director, also admitted she would actively avoid any photos without a fringe.
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Opening up a little more about her decision to get the surgery, she explained: "I had a fringe and hid my forehead my whole life pretty much. I always had the insecurity even with the fringe. I always used to worry about walking down the street on a windy day that my fringe was going to blow back.
"I've had a fringe my whole life and had one cut in since the age of around seven. At school people used to say 'why's your head so big?' and they'd call me 'fivehead'."
Beth revealed she had 'always hated' her forehead and 'tried to hide it away', adding: "I'd always think about it if I was swimming on holiday.
"I'd never have any pictures taken if I didn't have my fringe down. It did affect my self-esteem."
After years of battling with insecurities about her looks, she decided to undergo hairline lowering surgery earlier this month.
She has been sharing details of the process on social media with video footage boasting more than a million views on TikTok documenting Beth's journey to a smaller forehead, which she described as 'life-changing'.
Beth first heard about hairline lowering surgery two years ago and began making enquiries before opting to go under the knife earlier this month (5 March).
After three hours under local anaesthetic to remove part of the skin, Beth said her 'fivehead' has finally reduced to a forehead.
"For some people having a fringe is absolutely fine but for me it got to the point where I then started hating the fringe as well as the forehead," she explained.
"I didn't want to be stuck with it forever."
Beth carried on: "When people say 'there's nothing wrong with me' that's not the compliment people think it is. It comes across as quite patronising.
"I know I don't have to have this surgery but it's going to change my life and it has."
Revealing she once 'never knew surgery was option', she said: "I learnt about this surgery, looked into it and went for the consultation and it was all amazing.
"They try to keep it looking natural and make sure your face still looks in proportion. My hairline was lowered by about an inch or just under."
Beth likened the healing process as feeling 'like a bad headache', adding that the pain was 'manageable'.
"There's an immediate difference," she gushed. "I'm over the moon with the results.
"Once it's healed I'll start venturing out with no fringe. This will be my first time going out with my forehead on show for 20 years!"