At JOGAK Plastic Surgery, we use PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate) bone cement for forehead, vertex, and occiput augmentation. PMMA bone cement is an acrylic polymer material that has been used for many years in various medical fields, including orthopedic surgery and cranial reconstruction.

No. At JOGAK, we do not insert a prefabricated implant with a predetermined shape. Instead, PMMA bone cement is contoured directly during surgery. Before it hardens, the material is applied to the required area and shaped according to the planned contour and the surrounding head shape.

The PMMA bone cement is not separately fixed to the skull. Because it is shaped directly to conform to the surface of the skull during surgery, it closely adapts to the skull surface after hardening and remains stable in position. Movement of the bone cement from its original position during normal daily activities is very uncommon.

No. PMMA is a non-absorbable material and does not naturally dissolve or disappear in the body. Once hardened, it maintains the shape created during surgery and can therefore be used to augment the contour of the skull.

No. PMMA bone cement is not a material that requires routine replacement after a certain period of time. If there are no specific problems, it maintains the created contour and is not intended to be replaced periodically.

Yes. If necessary, PMMA bone cement can be removed through revision surgery. After removal, the head contour generally returns to a shape similar to its preoperative appearance.

Yes. No surgery or surgical material is completely free of potential complications. Possible complications include infection, chronic seroma or hematoma, pain, hypersensitivity reactions to the material, scarring or localized hair loss around the incision, and problems related to the position or shape of the material. In some cases, additional treatment, revision, or removal may be required.

Head contouring surgery at JOGAK is performed under local anesthesia with intravenous (IV) sedation. At the beginning of surgery, local anesthesia is administered to the surgical area while you are under IV sedation. Once the area has been anesthetized, the procedure can be performed without pain. For patients with claustrophobia or significant anxiety about surgery, continuous IV sedation throughout the procedure may be considered after consultation and administered under the care of an anesthesiologist. General anesthesia is generally not required for head contouring surgery.

From the start of anesthesia to closure of the incision, surgery generally takes approximately 40–50 minutes.

The total time at the clinic is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Consultation and preoperative preparation → approximately 1 hour
Surgery → approximately 40–50 minutes
Recovery → approximately 30–40 minutes

No. You do not need to shave your head or cut your hair short. If your hair is long, it will be tied back during surgery. If your hair is very short, only the area around the approximately 5 cm incision may need to be partially shaved.

For forehead augmentation, an approximately 5 cm horizontal incision is made about 4–5 cm behind the hairline. For vertex and occiput augmentation, an approximately 5 cm horizontal incision is made near the hair whorl.

Yes. A compression bandage is applied after surgery to help control bleeding and swelling and to protect the surgical area. The compression bandage is generally removed on the second day after surgery.

You may come to the clinic without a companion. However, if you have previously experienced significant dizziness or other symptoms after IV sedation, we recommend having someone accompany you. Do not drive yourself on the day of surgery. Please use public transportation or arrange for someone to accompany you or provide transportation.

PMMA bone cement is placed in the layer between the skull and the periosteum, so the material itself rarely has a direct effect on the hair roots or follicles. However, localized hair loss may occur around the scalp incision if hair follicles are damaged. During surgery, care is taken to preserve the hair follicles and roots around the incision as much as possible.

As with incisions elsewhere on the body, a scar may remain on the scalp. Generally, a fine linear scar may remain. In some cases, the scar area may become thinner or slightly depressed. The degree of scarring varies from person to person.

Yes. Once the surgical area has healed sufficiently, a hair transplant can be performed if needed. The appropriate timing should be determined according to the surgical area and the condition of the scalp.

In most cases, previous hair transplantation does not prevent head contouring surgery. However, we recommend waiting at least one month after hair transplantation before undergoing head contouring surgery.

Yes. PRP and routine scalp treatments can be resumed once the surgical area has healed sufficiently. Treatments that may irritate the incision or surgical area should be avoided during the early postoperative period. The appropriate time to resume treatment depends on your recovery.

During surgery and immediately afterward, pain is generally minimal because of the anesthesia. Pain or a feeling of pressure may develop in the surgical area about 2–3 hours after surgery as the anesthesia wears off. The degree of discomfort varies from person to person, and prescribed pain medication can help control it. In most cases, pain gradually decreases over the first 1–2 days.

During recovery, you may experience a feeling of tightness or heaviness in the surgical area. These sensations gradually decrease as you recover, and most patients do not notice a foreign-body sensation once healing is complete.

The PMMA bone cement used for head contouring generally weighs approximately 40–50 g. After recovery, most patients do not notice the weight of the material.

The compression bandage is generally removed on the second day after surgery. Daily activities usually become more comfortable after the bandage is removed.

After the bandage is removed on Day 2, you may gently shampoo the hair and scalp while avoiding the incision area. From Day 4, you may shampoo the entire scalp, including the incision. Avoid rubbing or irritating the incision.

Scalp staples are generally removed 10–14 days after surgery. The exact timing may vary depending on how the incision is healing.

There is usually little swelling or bruising on the day of surgery. It generally begins to appear on the first postoperative day, becomes most noticeable around Days 3–4, and improves substantially by about one week. After forehead or vertex augmentation, swelling or bruising may move downward toward the forehead, around the eyes, and other areas of the face. Although recovery varies from person to person, approximately 80–90% of the swelling and bruising has usually improved after about one week, so we recommend allowing approximately one week for recovery.

Facial swelling and bruising are less common after occiput augmentation than after forehead or vertex augmentation. Swelling or bruising may instead move toward the back of the neck or behind the ears.

After forehead or vertex augmentation, we recommend allowing approximately one week of recovery because of possible facial swelling and bruising. After occiput augmentation, facial swelling and bruising are uncommon, and most patients can return to normal daily activities without significant difficulty once the compression bandage is removed on Day 2. Recovery time varies from person to person.

Yes. International patients can receive a consultation by sending us photographs and the necessary information. After reviewing your current head shape and the areas you would like to improve, we will provide individualized guidance regarding whether surgery is appropriate, the changes that may be expected, and the surgical approach.

At this time, JOGAK Plastic Surgery does not offer separate video consultations. Instead, Dr. Yong Tai Song personally reviews your photographs and information and provides consultation and assessment by email or online communication.

Please send photographs from several angles that clearly show the overall shape of your head, including the front, side, back, and a view from above. You may also send photographs or reference images showing the areas you would like to improve or the contour you would like to achieve.

Staples are generally removed 10–14 days after surgery, so if possible, we recommend staying in Korea during this period so that we can monitor your recovery and remove the staples at the clinic. If a longer stay is difficult, you may return home after your postoperative condition has been evaluated and have the staples removed by a medical provider in your home country.

If your postoperative condition is stable and there are no specific concerns, air travel is generally possible 1–2 days after surgery. The actual timing of your return flight will be determined individually based on the surgical area and your postoperative condition.

Yes. If you are unable to stay in Korea for an extended period, you may return home before staple removal once your postoperative condition has been evaluated. The staples can generally be removed 10–14 days after surgery at a hospital or medical clinic in your home country.