Can I Have Skull Augmentation If I Have Microcephaly?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have microcephaly. My head circumference is 21cm although i have normal intelligence, this condition is psychologically distressing and has negatively impacted my self-esteem. I often stuff my wigs with clothe just to add volume to my head and give off an illusion of a semi normal sized head. Is a reconstruction possible for me that would make my head size bigger? that would be a dream since microcephaly is incurable and permanent. Thank you.

A: Skull augmentations using custom implants can provide some increases in head size based on how much the scalp can stretch to accommodate the underlying augmentation. Most significant head size increases require a two stage skull augmentation approach using a first stage scalp expansion.

To determine what can be done in your case I would need to evaluate and do some imaging using pictures of your head.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World Renowned Plastic Surgeon