Can I Change The General Shape Of My Head?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I want to know if it is possible to reduce the height of the head by reducing the size of the forehead bone, as well as reducing the size of the sides. I would also like to know if it is possible to change the general shape of the head and restore those areas that need it.

A: Thank you for your inquiry  and sending your pictures. In answer to your questions:

1) The most important area of skull reduction would be its height or what you have called the height of the frontal bone. The question is not whether it can be reduced but will the thickness of the bone allow for a visible height reduction. Only a 3D CT skull scan can answer that question accurately. We would need to measure on that scan the thickness of the bone and see how much can be safely removed. There is the issue of whether a scalp incision and resulting scar across the top of your head would be a worthy trade-off if improvement could be adequate. But that question is secondary to will the bone thickness allow for it.

2) The sides of the head are an easier decision to make as the temporal muscle will almost always allow for the convex side of the head to be made straight. But that is a question that can be confirmed by the 3D CT scan.

These two head shape issues are intertwined as if you reduce the sides of the head without making any changes to its height it will look even taller. So the determining issue is the viability of the height of the head reduction.

Dr Barry Eppley

World Renowned Plastic Surgeon