Category: plastic surgery case study | skull reshaping

Background Congenital skull indentations are distinct depressions in the skull present at birth. They are most commonly partial-thickness defects rather than full-thickness bone deformities. The most likely cause is prolonged intrauterine pressure from structures such as the maternal sacral promontory, rib cage, or even the fetus’s own foot or hand. Although birth trauma (e.g., forceps Read More…

Background Among the various aesthetic skull protrusions, the occipital knob is the most well-known and visually distinct. As its name implies, it presents as a solitary, rounded prominence at the bottom of the occipital bone, on the back of the head. This structure is an enlargement of the inion, a naturally occurring part of the Read More…

Background A variety of aesthetic skull deformities exist, some of which are less well known. One such example is the posterior fontanelle skull deformity, located at the site of the original “soft spot” in infancy. This area lies at the intersection of the midline sagittal suture and the paired lambdoid sutures. At birth, it is Read More…

Background The sagittal crest is a raised midline ridge of bone most commonly seen in many mammals and reptiles. It serves as the attachment site for the temporal muscles—developmentally indicating strong jaw function. In general, the higher the sagittal crest, the larger and stronger the temporal jaw muscles (e.g., gorillas, certain dinosaurs). Humans typically do Read More…

Background The success of skull reduction surgery depends primarily on the thickness of the undesired bony protrusion. These protrusions are generally categorized as either ectopic or developmental. Ectopic skull protrusions are localized bony bumps, often resulting from trauma. They tend to be thicker than the surrounding bone. The most well-known of these is the osteoma, Read More…

Background A narrow head shape in adults can only be corrected through implant augmentation. The most critical design consideration is whether the implant should remain within the bony temporal line or extend beyond it. Type 1 Implants augment only the sides of the head and stay within the temporal lines. Type 2 Implants—used for more Read More…

Frontal bossing is a well-recognized aesthetic skull deformity that can present in various forms. It manifests as a prominent forehead or an overall convex forehead shape, often accentuated by a high or receded frontal hairline. In many cases, the increased distance between the eyebrows and the hairline amplifies the appearance of the forehead prominence. Anatomy Read More…

Understanding Scaphocephaly Scaphocephaly refers to a narrow head shape. In its most severe form—sagittal craniosynostosis—the head appears both very narrow and elongated due to premature closure of the sagittal suture. This medical condition is typically treated with early cranial vault remodeling surgery. However, most cases of scaphocephalic head shape are mild, purely aesthetic, and occur Read More…

Background: The occipital knob is a natural spike of bone on the visible end of the bony back of the head. Why it gets more visible in some people is not known although it appears to be more gender specific as I have seen it in many men but never yet in a woman. This Read More…