Skull Augmentation Surgery

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in a skull augmentation surgery for the back of my head as it’s very flat. I have a few questions:

1) Is this procedure dangerous? Have any of your patients had complications/died?

2) How many times have you done this/similar procedures? I have seen a video where you reshape the top of someone’s head, are there any additional videos/patient stories?

3) Why is this surgery so uncommon? I do not live in the Indianapolis area, but from my research, you’re one of the very few surgeons in the United States who does this procedure.

4) How long does the surgery take/the healing time? I read a few different responses online.

5) What is the estimated cost?

Thank you!

A: In answer to your questions about skull augmentation surgery, specifically occipital skull implant surgery, the answer to your questions are:

Skull augmentation using custom made implants is a very safe and effective procedure. It is not more ‘dangerous’ than breast augmentation surgery. No major medical complications have ever occurred and none would be so predicted.
I have performed over 150 custom skull implants and over 1,000 cranioplasies surgeries in general. Getting patients to be willing to tell their story online for all the world to see is very rare, particularly in aesthetic skull surgeries.
I can not speak for what other surgeons do or don’t do. I only know what I do ink my plastic surgery practice.
This is a 90 minute surgery procedure that 10 to 14 days to have a good recovery. There are no physical restrictions after surgery.
My assistant will pass along the cost of the surgery to you tomorrow

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana