Can My Peaked Head Shape Be Fixed?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am experiencing an issue with the shape of my skull, specifically a noticeable protrusion at the top of my head (the crown area). This bump is quite visible even when covered by hair, and it has been causing me significant psychological discomfort and a lack of confidence.

I have attached a photo to better illustrate my condition.

I would like to know:

Is this bump considered a normal variation, or is it a skull deformity?

Is it possible to surgically reduce or correct this protrusion for cosmetic purposes?

What type of procedure would be suitable for my case? And is it safe?

A: That is a classic sagittal crest head shape but the reality is that it is a pseudo sagittal crest, meaning it appears to be a high crest but it is the parasagittal areas at the sides that are deficient. These side deficiencies make the normal height of the sagittal crest appear too high. 

That being said what technique you use for improvement depends on your  goals. If you just need a few millimeters removed from the crest for a minimal reduction then you doing a crest burring reduction. But if a significant change is needed in the top of the head shape than parasagittal skull augmentations are needed.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon