Do I Have Plagiocephaly?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am an 18 year old boy and i have some questions. My mother told me that when i was born my head was not fully formed yet and that she used to put pillows around my head when I sleep so that it could form. I today see pretty clearly that my side profile from the left and from the right don’t look the same. My right side of the backhead looks normal but the left side looks strange and very “flat” in one place. This makes me very insecure and I want to know if its all in my head, if its due to my hair growing a certain way as its pretty wavy/curly or if there really is a problem?

 A: I would obviously need to see some head pictures but I suspect you are referring to having plagiocephaly with one side of the back of the flat compared to the other.

By your description the problem is certainly in your head but I think it lies on the outside of the skull rather than internally…meaning its real.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon