Can First Stage Scalp Expansion for A Second Stage Skull Implant Be Prolonged for Four or Five Months?

Q: Dr. Eppley, What is the maximum scalp expansion possible? I think I would like to spend at least 4 months and maximum of 5 months in the first stage scalp expansion. This is because i would need a pretty big augmentation, and my case is a bit of an outlier. Perhaps something similar to this photo. Is it possible? I have the time to spare.

A: Based on the picture you are showing no form of skull augmentation would require a scalp expansion to that degree. That is from a reconstruction case due to scalp loss and the scalp flap would be covering normal vascularized tissue one the tissue expander was removed not an implant.

But I am all for a nice slow scalp expansion in which more could be achieved than in the typical six week period commonly used in most two-stage skull augmentations.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana