Will Adding A Skull Implant To The Upper Back Of My Head Create A Smoother and Continuous Curve To My Head Shape?

Q: Dr. Eppley ,I’m a 25-year-old male living in Germany, and I’m reaching out to inquire about custom cranial implant surgery — specifically for occipital augmentation. I have a noticeably flat back of the head and would like to improve the posterior contour with a rounded, visibly projected occiput. My goal is to achieve a clearly defined, aesthetically curved occipital area — one that appears masculine and full, but still remains proportionate and natural to the rest of my skull and face. I am not seeking anything extreme — just a correction that brings balance and proper cranial shape from profile and 3/4 views. I also wonder if you believe a small augmentation to the upper back of the skull (top/vertex) might be beneficial to create a smoother, more continuous curve — or if occipital augmentation alone would be sufficient in my case. If possible, I would greatly appreciate your professional opinion on what you believe would work best for me based on a visual assessment — just from photos at this stage. I’d be happy to send profile photos, measurements, and undergo a CT scan if needed for evaluation. 

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending your head picture. Based on the attached imaging I believe this is the type of change you are seeking. As you have mentioned this would be a small augmentation to the upper back of the head. Imaging of your pictures is what sets the aesthetic goals. A 3-D CT scan is only the platform on which the skull implant is designed. The scan does not tell us what is achievable nor what your exact aesthetic goals are.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon