A 23-year-old man who appeared to have a brain growing on the outside of his head has undergone nearly a year of surgery to remove the unusual condition. Xiao Li, from China's Hunan Province, had already experienced several failed skin grafts by local doctors, leaving his head covered in scars. He then travelled to Wuhan for what would become 11 months of treatment.
Complex Water-Based Stretching Surgery
Expert surgeons removed the diseased skin regions and stretched healthy patches across his bare skull. Fluid was inserted under the skin to stretch it further and eliminate the ridges that had formed. The condition, known medically as gyrular cranial skin or cutis verticis gyrata, has no known cause and is often mistaken for a protruding brain. It is actually a skin infection similar to eczema and produces soft, spongy ridges that can be mildly painful or irritating.
Psychological Impact and Recovery
According to Chinese media outlet CTDSB, the man felt immense 'psychological impact' from the condition, which first developed when he was 14. The surgery has left his scalp normal in appearance without the ridges, and he is now reportedly able to grow hair on his head. The cost of the 11-month surgery is not known, but similar treatments typically range from £5,000 to £20,000.
