Skull Reshaping
Skull shape deformities are more common in society than generally assumed. Severe deformities such as tower skull (turricephaly) and scaphocephaly usually arise due to abnormal skull bone development and require reshaping of the bones. These conditions can be treated in infancy with helmet therapy or in early childhood through surgical bone advancement.
A more common condition, often referred to as a crooked skull, flat head, or flatness at the back of the skull, is characterized by a flattened and compressed upper-back area of the skull. The most frequent cause of a flattened skull is consistently placing a baby in the same sleeping position during the period when skull bones are still soft, or letting the baby sleep on a hard pillow or surface. Wrapping the head tightly in a way that applies pressure can also contribute to flattening, though it does not explain all cases.

Materials Used to Correct Flatness at the Back of the Skull
Since bone correction surgeries carry risks in adults, volumizing and flattening correction procedures are more commonly performed. Another reason for the frequent use of fillers in adults is that severe deformities requiring bone reshaping surgeries are less common, and many patients wish to avoid large scars on the head.
Historically, various synthetic materials such as Teflon, hydroxyapatite, Gore-Tex, Medpor, and surgical mesh threads have been used to correct skull flatness. With modern technology, 3D-printed implants similar to breast silicone implants are now custom-designed to fit the patient’s needs. There are also synthetic chemical substances like bone dust, bone cement, or bone paste used for filling.
The biggest advantage of these synthetic materials over fat fillers is their long-term volume retention. However, these foreign substances may cause complications such as thinning of the overlying scalp, exposure through the skin, infections, pain due to hardness while lying down, fragmentation under strong impacts, or chemical release into the body.
For these reasons, the patient’s own fat tissue—used safely for years in breast, facial, and buttock augmentation—is now utilized for shaping flattened skulls. A study by Dr. Burhan Özalp on this technique was published in the respected Journal of Craniofacial Surgery and has entered the medical literature. You can access this study at:
https://www.jprasurg.com/article/S1748-6815(15)00596-3/abstract
Where is Fat Tissue Taken From?
If there is sufficient fat tissue, the preferred area for extraction is the abdomen. If there is not enough fat, it can be taken from other areas such as the thighs.
Surgery Information
- The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 2 hours. The patient stays in the hospital for one night, and a 5-day recovery period is usually sufficient.
- The surgery consists of two main steps:
- Extracting and purifying the fat tissue to prepare it for filling the flattened skull area.
- Injecting the processed fat, which contains stem cells, into the targeted areas.
- The procedure leaves no visible scars since it is performed through tiny incisions.
Longevity of the Procedure
The survival rate of the injected fat varies from person to person, typically ranging between 30-70%. In some cases, a second session may be needed. To compensate for fat absorption, an excess amount of fat is injected initially. Care is taken to avoid excessive skin tension and blood supply issues in the transplanted fat.
Watch how fat injection is performed in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVG7K1ukuBM&t=3s
Possible Risks and Complications
- Temporary hair loss in the treated area.
- Temporary numbness, swelling, tightness, redness, or inflammation due to fat absorption.
- Swelling around the forehead and eyes.
- The brain tissue is not directly affected during the procedure.
- The filled area has a firm but slightly softer feel than the natural skull.
For more detailed information and risks, you can review the Informed Consent Form prepared by the Turkish Society of Plastic Surgery.
Originally posted 2025-01-11 11:34:27.