Head Augmentation

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested ins time head augmentation. I have a generally small head and wonder if it is possible to add some volume to the skull to make it a bit higher and wider. Have you performed this kind of surgery before? How is it done? Are there any possible complications or dangers with this surgery?

A: Thank you for sending your pictures and the morphed head shape images. What they show is a crown and side of the head augmentation effect. A custom skull implant can certainly be designed to achieve that type of head shape change. This is not the question. The only question is whether your scalp will stretch enough in a single procedure to accommodate such an implant. The amount of augmentation you seek is right on the edge of whether your scalp will allow for the implant to be placed and a competent scalp closure achieved over it. Generally thin Caucasian females have the least amount of scalp flexibility due to its thinness. In other words do you need a first stage scalp expansion or not? If you can accept a little less of a result then you would not.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana