Is There Risk of Brain Bleeding From Skull Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, ), i was a totally surprised with the common risks associated with skull implant surgery from an article I read,  for example but not limited to 

 * bleeding in the brain! As far as I know cement bone material will be implanted between the scalp layer and the skull itself, so hoe this will may occur a bleeding in the brain.

* infection in the brain! 

* swelling in the brain area!

* memory and speaking problems.

 Actually these risks curb my decision to move forward with this surgery. So, may you please,doctor, explain these risks?

A: The article to which you refer was not written by me and I don’t know who the author was or their experience in aesthetic skull reshaping surgery. What I can say based on my extensive experience with this surgery is that none of the risks to which they refer are possible. This is EXTRACRANIAL surgery  not intracranial surgery thus there are no risks of brain injury, infection or damage.

The risks associated with aesthetic skull augmentation are aesthetic in nature such as implant infection (not yet seen), implant asymmetry, edging and size and shape consideration iof the final outcome. There is also the risk of visible scarring from the incision used to place the implant.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon