Can My Skull Augmentation Goals Be Achieved With Bone Cement?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I hope this finds you well. I am in the process of selecting a surgery clinic with expertise in skull augmentation. Please take a look at the pics of the current shape of the skull and desired outcome. I am interested to know a minimal incision /PMMA funnel injection technique could be used in my case. While I understand the selected technique shall be decided during a personal examination, I trust you could suggest best procedures/techniques and materials could be recommended for best outcome even by just looking at the pictures.

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending your imaged pictures. This would NOT be a good indication for bone cement augmentation and, actually, would be the worst possible treatment choice. Bone cements have a very limited role in skull augmentation and are best used for low volume small areas of skull augmentation.  (spot areas) What you have imaged is an overall skull augmentation result that, while not particularly thick in any one area, covers a large surface area of the skull. The only way to achieve that effect in the desired shape with the desired surface area of coverage is a custom skull implant.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon