What Are My Head Width Reduction Options?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am reaching out with a serious enquiry around temporal removal and skull reshaping. I have been dissatisfied my entire lifetime with the size of my head (width, depth and height). Circumference at its widest is 62cm and its appearance is completely out of proportion with the rest of my body. Of particular concern is the width/ convex above the ears. Apart from the aesthetic and self-esteem concerns there are also the practicalities that I am unable to wear hats, helmets and any glasses that don’t pinch or hurt.

I am wondering what (if anything) might be able to be done to improve this? I have no expectation of a result as I would see any reduction as an improvement but am open to any and all viable options.

Looking forward to hearing back. Kindest regards.

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your picture. When it comes to reduction of head you have two options with different aesthetic outcomes. The first option would be posterior temporal reduction by muscle removal done through a hidden incision behind the ear. As you can see in the attached imaging it does provide some benefit although it is not an optimal correction of the problem. But it does so by being virtually scarless. The second option is a more extensive reduction of the bony temporal lines of the skull as well as the posterior temple muscle removal. This produces a more significant head narrowing I can only really be done through a semi coronal scalp incision. Well more effective it does so at the expense of a fine line scar across the top of your head.

I have seen patients choose either route and in the end that is determined by how much effort do they want to put into improving the problem and for what trade-offs (scar).

Dr. Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon