Can Temporal Reduction Get Rid Of The Bulges On The Side Of My Head?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in your temporal reduction procedure. My head is an unusual shape and size and increases in size above the the ears quite dramatically. Please see the pictures attached. Is there anything you can do to reduce he bulge and make it look more normal?

A: Temporal reduction is one of many head reshaping procedures to change abnormal contours. I can see from the pictures you sent that you have a very prominent bulge above your ears. This is caused mainly by the size and shape of the temporalis muscle. While many people think this is due to the shape of the bone, it is really mainly a muscle thickness shape issue. This can be dramatically changed and a near flat temporal profile above the ear achieved by temporalis muscle reduction. This is done through a small vertical incision above the ear. The prominent part of the muscle is released and removed.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana