Mayo Clinic's approach
Mayo Clinic specialists have experience caring for adults and children who need cranioplasty to repair the skull. The care team evaluates the reason for the skull defect, the condition of the skin and soft tissue, infection risk, imaging results, and the person's overall health before recommending surgery.
Mayo Clinic's cranioplasty care brings together neurosurgery and other specialties involved in skull reconstruction. Mayo Clinic researchers are studying adult and pediatric cranioplasty outcomes, implant materials and complications after skull reconstruction.
Collaboration
Cranioplasty often requires more than one area of expertise. Mayo Clinic neurosurgeons may work with specialists in plastic and reconstructive surgery, otolaryngology (ENT)/head and neck surgery, radiology, infectious diseases, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and other specialties as needed.
This team approach can be especially helpful when the skull repair is more complex. This may include:
- A large skull defect.
- A custom implant.
- Skin or tissue that also needs repair.
- A history of infection.
- Previous radiation therapy.
- Previous surgery.
Expertise
Mayo Clinic specialists use imaging, surgical history and the person's health needs to plan cranioplasty. The repair may use the person's own bone or an implant made from another material, such as titanium, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or hydroxyapatite.
Technology
Mayo Clinic is a leader in neurosurgery. Doctors, surgeons and other healthcare professionals use state-of-the-art facilities that include an intraoperative MRI suite, comprehensive intraoperative neuromonitoring and image-guided surgery.
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery and rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic Children's in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.
Learn more about Mayo Clinic's neurosurgery and neurology departments' expertise and rankings.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:
Costs and insurance
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.
In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.
Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.
Aug. 08, 2026