Cranioplasty Chicago
Cranioplasty is the surgical repair of defects in the skull, usually performed to amend the results of a traumatic injury or a previous surgery. The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago is one of only seven centers in the city that offer cranioplasty as a procedure.
Cranioplasty is performed not only to improve the shape and appearance of the skull, but also to provide protection for the underlying brain.
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR CRANIOPLASTY?
Your doctor may recommend cranioplasty for any of the following reasons:
- Cognitive Performance – Cranial defects can affect neurological activity in some patients.
- Safety – Defects in the skull may leave the brain susceptible to injury.
- Aesthetic – Visible asymmetries may impact appearance and, by extension, self-confidence.
Cranioplasty is usually more than just improving asymmetries of the skull; if you believe you might be a candidate for cranioplasty, schedule a consultation with us to discuss treatment options.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR CONSULTATION
If your doctor believes you are a candidate for cranioplasty, the consultation will include all aspects of the procedure, possible associated risks, and what to expect during recovery. During the consultation, be sure to share your entire medical history, particularly allergies, medications, and previous surgeries. Since the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago is one of only a handful of centers in the city that perform cranioplasty, we will discuss all facets of the procedure with you so that you have a complete understanding before making the decision to move forward.
HOW A CRANIOPLASTY IS PERFORMED
After a general anesthetic is administered, the surgeon carefully makes an incision on the scalp and separates the layers in such a way that the dura, the outermost membrane surrounding the brain, remains intact.
The affected cranial area is usually restored with a contoured graft customized to each patient’s individual needs. These implants may be made from titanium, a synthetic bone substitute, molded acrylic, or a graft from the patient’s own bone. The implant or graft is then positioned and secured using plates and screws.
Finally, once any bleeding is controlled and the scalp is placed back into position, the incision is closed with sutures in layers. It is sometimes necessary to have a drain in place for a few days following the procedure to remove any excess fluid.
RECOVERY AFTER A CRANIOPLASTY
Since cranioplasty is an inpatient procedure, patients will be transferred to the NCCU (neurological critical care unit) after recovering from anesthesia. Cranial procedures do not often cause much pain, but patients are given medication to ensure comfort.
Most cranioplasty patients spend two to three days in the hospital after their procedure. By the first or second day, patients are encouraged to walk around; by the third day, the head bandage will be removed. If a final CT scan shows no complications, you will be released to return home.
Intermittent headaches and fatigue are common after cranial surgery. Patients should get plenty of rest in the days following their procedure, and always adhere strictly to all instructions given by their surgeon. Sutures are usually removed between two and three weeks after surgery.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF CRANIOPLASTY
Any surgical procedure comes with potential risks. Always discuss these with your surgeon before making the decision to undergo a cranioplasty. Potential risks include:
- Bleeding
- Hematoma (blood clot)
- Infection
- Seizure
- Fever
- Stroke
Always make sure that the surgeon performing the procedure is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and that the surgery is being carried out in an accredited surgical facility.
WHAT DOES CRANIOPLASTY COST?
Most health insurance plans will cover a majority, or even the entirety, of a cranioplasty procedure because it is considered reconstructive in nature. Health coverage varies, so please contact your health insurance provider before scheduling a consultation.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago is always willing to answer any questions or concerns that potential patients may have regarding any of our procedures. We are as committed to medical education as we are to patient care. If you would like to schedule a consultation, call us today or use the Contact link to send us an inquiry.
All surgical procedures by the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety.
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This is a great case to highlight the complexities associated with creating an aesthetic tip and how small changes can yield significant aesthetic improvement. In this case, the patient had a droopy tip, hanging columella, and too much nostril show. In the post-operative views you can visualize a tip that is lifted, more projected, and the presence of a more aesthetic alar-columellar relationship. Happy for this patient and her beautiful and natural result. Posted with permission.
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Proud of our research team for getting this published. In this article, we developed a unique risk assessment tool to predict major complications in facial aesthetic surgery. Thank you to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal for publishing our work.
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The hardest type of rhinoplasties for plastic surgeons to perform are cleft rhinoplasties. A major reason is that the anatomy of the nose and midface are asymmetric, therefore, you have an asymmetric nose sitting on top of an asymmetric midface. In this case, I used rib cartilage to rebuild the cartilage of the nose and fat transfer to improve asymmetries of the midface and lips. In the post-operative frontal views, you can see a straighter nose, the tip has been lifted, and the right nostril has been brought down and inwards. On profile view, you can see the dorsal hump was lowered, the tip of the nose has been lifted, rotated, and refined. The fat was placed in the cheeks and upper lip to improve the midface deficiency that is common in cleft lip patients. Posted with permission.
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Plastic surgery can be dramatic or understated. This is a before and after with subtle changes to improve the proportions and aesthetics of the nose in a natural way. This patient wanted only small changes of the dorsum and tip. In the post-operative photos, you can visualize the dorsal hump has been removed and the tip has been refined, slightly rotated and projected. Posted with permission.
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Couldn’t be happier for this beautiful patient and her natural before and after results. This patient is 3 months out from a deep plane or sub-SMAS facelift, neck lift, and facial fat transfer. Pay close attention to the neck, jawline, and midface or cheeks. In the post-operative views you can see a well-defined neck and jawline. The face appears less bottom heavy, there is restoration of the midface volume, and the overall facial configuration is more heart-shaped and youthful. Posted with permission.
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It’s been a minute but this is a great before and after of a facial feminization case and this patient is only 6 weeks out from surgery. Pay close attention to the hairline, the forehead, orbital rims, eyebrows, nose, chin and jawline. Does this patient look like they had major surgery 6 weeks ago? Posted with permission.
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Check out this interesting rhinoplasty case where I performed a combined primary rhinoplasty and sliding genioplasty. Fixing the crooked or deviated nose is very challenging for all rhinoplasty surgeons and the goal is to achieve a straighter nose because a perfectly straight nose does not exist. On the frontal view, you can see a nose that is midline and with beautiful dorsal aesthetic lines. On the profile view, you can visual a nice nasal profile with a slight break at the tip. The sliding genioplasty complements the nose and improves the overall proportions and balance of the face. A chin implant would not be able to achieve this amount of chin augmentation or chin length. Posted with permission.
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It’s never too early to starting thinking about that summer body. This patient underwent a mommy makeover or a breast reduction/lift and tummy tuck. Pay close attention to the belly button, this patient had an umbilical hernia, which made the reconstruction of her belly button even harder. Most plastic surgeons take their time trying to make the belly button look as natural as possible since the appearance of the belly button can be an obvious sign that the patient had a tummy tuck. Posted with permission.
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