How Does The Scalp Scar Turn Out In Top of the Head Skull Reduction?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hi I am very interested in a skull reduction to improve my confidence and treatment of stress caused by body dysmorphic disorder. I’m a 26yo male  who was had anxiety about my head shape my whole life. My main concern is the top of my head being too tall, and a slight outward shape above my ears and around the back. No hairstyles look suitable on me, and I think any improvement could be huge for my health. I can’t slick my hair back, my forehead is very square and feels almost too vertical instead of protruding in a natural shape. I had a horrible hair transplant done which I need to get corrected first. I was hoping reducing my forehead would the the solution, but the issue is more the shape of my head combined with a high and wide hairline.

My main questions are what the scars and usually like, and how hard it is to hide them under hair? I did see one photo on your website but the patients hair looks a lot different and messy in the after photo, which I as wondering is a result of hiding the scars. If you have any more patient before and afters I’d love to see them. I have good hair genetics with my parents having most of their hair still, and use minoxodil daily to help keep it thick. I would be willing to try finasteride at a low dosed and hopefully have no bad side effects, as a hair loss prevention.

A: By your description of the desired skull reduction locations the incision would have to be across the top of the head between the bony temporal lines or may just a bit below them. This would provide access for removal of the outer cortical layer of the top 0f the head as well as onto the sides and even into the upper forehead. These incisions usually heal quite well with minimal scarring particularly in skull reduction surgery where there is no tension on the healing closure.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon