How Can The Wide Sides Of My Head Be Reduced?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am looking in to see if i would be a good fit for head width reduction. A lot of width seem to be more anterior than posterior. On my left side its definitely my temporal bone that protrudes above the ear and the anterior region its solid bone i can feel from where my jaw connects to temporal bone its a bulges quite a bit and solid as a rock. On right side above ear (scar side) it appears it more upper anterior that protrudes. 

My skull is lopsided I look weird in glasses and most hats being the strawberry-ish shaped head. I would like the sides of my head to be more flat, especially where the forehead transition to the sides. Flat v.s bowed. Please advise if you can help. 

A: Thank you for your inquiry. Everything that you are feeling on the sides of your head is muscle and not bone. Everyone thinks it is bone but it is not. The temporal muscle is incredibly thick in the anterior region (2 to 3 cms) while it is thinner in the posterior region above the ears. (1 cm) The question is not whether such muscle can be reduced but how to do so. The posterior muscle removal is straightforward with an incision in the crease at the back of the ear. But the anterior muscle poses different considerations in that it can not all be removed and access to it is much more limited if one wants to have acceptable scars. It is usually treated with electrocautery reduction through very small incisions.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana