Small head vs. Microcephaly

Nowadays, ‘small head’ is one of the most typically mentioned expressions when discussing the face shape of attractive people. A ‘small head’ indicates a small face as the size of one’s face is proportional to the size of one’s head. A small face, and ultimately a small head, is an important factor in discerning whether someone is attractive. For instance, it is aesthetically attractive if the size of the face is proportionally small for one’s height like someone with a well-proportioned figure (i.e., 8 heads tall, including the head).

Facial contouring and double jaw surgery are highly recognized as surgeries performed to make one’s face smaller. ‘I want a smaller face’ are the first words I hear from patients who come in to see me. In actuality, facial contouring or double jaw surgery are effective in reducing the face size of those with a relatively large face in proportion to the size of their head. However, facial bone surgery has little effect in reducing the face size if the face is large owing to a large head. Unfortunately, no surgery can reduce the size of the head itself. Thus, truly small heads are born that way.

The Rio Olympics has started. There have been a lot of reports on the Zika virus amongst media coverage of the Rio Olympics. The Zika virus is transmitted through mosquitos and symptoms are not very severe with about 80% of infections reportedly being asymptomatic. This Zika virus is most problematic for pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant as there is a high probability of the fetus acquiring microcephaly. What’s worse is that the fetus can acquire microcephaly if impregnated by a man infected with the Zika virus.  

Men who have travelled to areas with widespread transmission in the last 2 months must abstain from intercourse or use a condom for at least 2 months if their spouse is pregnant or even if not expecting. Male contaminants must abstain or use a condom for at least 6 months after they recover and women must refrain from getting pregnant for at least 2 months upon returning from Zika outbreak areas. Pregnant women should avoid non-essential travel altogether if possible.  

Numerous athletes have even boycotted the Rio Olympics as a result.

Microcephaly is a condition wherein the fetal brain does not develop normally and results in an abnormally small head. Microcephaly can also cause other brain disorders. This is because the skull doesn’t form properly as a result, interfering with brain development from increased pressure inside the cranium. Brain damage can result, inducing developmental disorders as well as other disorders such as cerebral palsy or microcephaly, among others. Other symptoms such as hearing loss, vision impairment, walking abnormality may also result. Microcephaly can cause very diverse symptoms or disorders and issues other than the head size will not result from a light case of microcephaly but severe microcephaly could be fatal.  

Ultimately, a small head that is smaller than average is aesthetically appealing but an excessively small head is tantamount to a serious disorder and sure enough, too much of anything always winds up a problem.   

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