Can Skull Bone Remodeling By Osteotomies Be Done In Adults?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I believe that you can solve my issue. I am looking for a team of plastic and neurosurgeon who could do skull remodeling surgery in adult for me for my skull abnormal shape, not only reshaping by burring down the bone, but a radical open surgery to remodeling the skull. 

I have a tall shaped skull and little narrow from sides, 

In consulting some physicians they suggest doing barrel stave or other techniques same that been used in craniosynostosis . 

Knowing its risky surgery and its pure cosmetic, but I believe in your experience to take my case . 

Thank you 

A: While this is a standard technique in infants and possibly up to 2 or 3 years of age, it is not an appropriate procedure in an adult. This is because the basic premise of such surgery is that the dura is osteogenic and has a great capability to heal once the bone is staved open. That healing ability does not exist in adults. This healing limitation coupled with the lack of the ability to bend the skull bone in adults due to its thickness makes this an ill-advised procedure in an adult…or at the very least one prone to a significant risks of complications for what is a cosmetic procedure.

While there are skull reshaping techniques for adults they are based on extracranial techniques not intracranial ones.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana