Skull Reshaping

Q: Dr. Eppley, This is a general surgeon who practices in Iran whom I personally know. He asked me to correct his skull deformity. However I do not perform those procedures in my practice. I heard that you may be doing this kind of procedure. If so, can you guide me your process, so I can let him know. Again, he will be traveling from Iran.

A: I routinuely treat flatness of the back of the head using a custom implant approach from a 3D CT scan. The implant is placed through a low occipital small horizontal scalp incision in a simple 90 minute procedure. The amount of augmentation that can be obtained in a single stage skull augmentation depends on how much the scalp can stretch and is usually in the maximum rage of 12 to 15mms. But don’t let that number fool you as the effects of the implant are more impressive than just the number because of its surface area coverage. The manufacturing process takes about 3 to 4 weeks to get the implant ready for surgery. It is computer designed from the 3D CT scan. Patients can get the 3D CT scan in their country of origin and then just send it to me. They only need to come in one time for the surgery. The logistics of surgery care that the patient comes in the day before the surgery, has the surgery the next day and can return home in 1 to 2 days even for international patients.

For some patients who can not get a 3D CT scan, I do have ‘standard’ occipital skull implants that I occasionally use which actually come from other patient implant designs. (The shape of the back of the head is not all that different amongst some people)

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana