Can The Contour Of The Skull Be Restored After A Craniotomy?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a cranitomy ten years ago and a correction surgery of issues arising from the earlier surgery six years later. As much as the said surgery was successful, the surgeon removed a muscle on the right side of my head in what he termed as ‘wasted muscle’. As a result, I have bumps and depressions on the scalp. Further, the surgery affected hair growth which is scanty. 

My query therefore is, is it possible to correct the bumps and depressions on my head/scalp. Also, is there a way I can have a normal hair growth? 

A: Contour deformities are not uncommon after craniotomy surgery. While surgery can be improve the contour of the bone (get rid of the lumps and bumps through skull reshaping surgery) only hair transplantation can restore near normal hair growth in the affected scalp area.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana