What is The Youngest Age Skull Implants Can Be Placed For Plagiocephaly To Round Out Their Heads?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hi! I have been looking at your work with skull implants. I have two boys ages 7 and 9, both have plagiocephaly. My younger boy had torticollis and it made his head misshapen I tried to talk to his doctor about a helmet when he was a baby but he said it would round out by itself, that didn’t happen. With my older boy he had a skull fracture happen right before his 1st birthday he didn’t have to have surgery but I always laid him on the opposite side of the fractured side and this caused a flat spot. I feel so much guilt and blame myself and really want to find a good plastic surgeon to place an implant to round their heads out. I fear so much that they will be bullied. As a mother I want what’s best for my children. I have so many questions I don’t even know where to start. Is skull reshaping dangerous? Should they wait until they are older to think about having an implant placed? I look forward to hearing back from you!  Thank you in advance for your time!

A: Such skull reshaping surgery is not done until they are past puberty and not usually before 16 years of age.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon