Dr. Ibrahim H. Amjad, MD

Positional plagiocephaly, also known as deformational plagiocephaly or flathead syndrome, is defined as flatness on the back of an infant's head, occurring on either the right or the left side. This can occur because the infant prefers to sleep on one side or has significant neck tightness. This can cause various changes to the head, including forehead bulging and changes in ear position.

Dr. Amjad utilizes a specific device for closing open wounds on areas like the chest, arms, or legs. This device allows for precise adjustment to the wound size and careful control of skin tension, ensuring the skin edges are brought together optimally. The process is stopped if tension becomes too high, prioritizing patient safety and optimal healing by stretching the skin in reverse.

Macrocephaly, or a large head, can be a normal condition, especially if it falls within the normal growth curve. Bitemporal widening (widening on both sides of the head) is also a normal head shape variation. However, macrocephaly can sometimes be caused by an excess of fluid in the brain, so any concerns should be evaluated by a pediatrician or pediatric craniofacial surgeon.

The old wives' tale that cracking knuckles causes arthritis is not true. While most opinions suggest that in the short term it does nothing to the joint, over time, continued pulling can cause some ligament laxity, which could open one up to more injuries. Dr. Amjad personally does not crack his knuckles and generally advises against it.

The belief that shaving hair will make it grow in thicker and more coarse is false. While the stubble immediately after shaving may feel thick, pointy, and coarse, over time (e.g., a month or three months), the hair takes on the characteristics it had before it was shaved and does not grow in as coarse in the long term.

No, the old wives' tale that you can get warts from touching frogs is not true. Human warts are caused by different types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that infect various areas of the body. For example, planter warts are found on the feet and can be very painful, and warts can also occur on fingers and vocal cords.

Warts are self-limited, meaning they will theoretically go away if left alone, but they can be painful and difficult to deal with, often prompting treatment. Over-the-counter treatments work by burning the skin involved with the virus. Surgical excision is typically considered when the wart is very big or super deep. For planter warts or warts on the fingers, Dr. Amjad's preferred method is a multi-step process: wrap the wart with duct tape for one week continuously. After removal, use gauze to rub off the mushy wart skin, then apply wart cream to the remaining deeper layer (the base) to treat where the wart could still reside. Following this process, the wart should be gone.

Dr. Amjad clarifies that liposuction was never intended for general fat reduction, but rather for body sculpting. He emphasizes that complications will increase if liposuction is used improperly, highlighting its role as a contouring tool.