Baby Girl Born With a Large Dark, Hairy Birthmark Across Her Forehead Undergoes Multiple Surgeries

When little Elena entered the world, she had a striking physical difference that was immediately visible: a large, dark, hairy birthmark covering her forehead and extending into her scalp.

Doctors identified the condition as a congenital hairy nevus, a pigmented skin lesion present from birth.

For Elena, the concern went beyond appearance. Her medical team recommended surgical removal because of the potential risk of malignant changes associated with the lesion.

But removing such a large birthmark from a young child’s forehead would require far more than a single operation.

A Birthmark That Could Not Be Removed All at Once

Elena’s birthmark covered a substantial area of her forehead and scalp, creating a complicated reconstructive challenge.

The skin covering the scalp is relatively tight, meaning surgeons could not simply remove the entire lesion and pull the surrounding healthy skin together to close the wound.

Doing so could place excessive tension on the remaining tissue.

Her treatment team at the Little Baby Face Foundation therefore developed a staged surgical plan.

Her First Surgery Began in November 2022

Elena underwent her first operation in November 2022.

During the procedure, surgeons removed most of the hairy nevus, significantly reducing the affected area.

However, some of the birthmark remained because there was not enough surrounding skin to safely complete the removal in one operation.

Her doctors allowed time for recovery before beginning the next stage of treatment.

Doctors Placed a Balloon Beneath Her Scalp

In January 2023, Elena returned for a second procedure involving tissue expansion.

Surgeons inserted a special balloon-like device beneath the skin of her scalp.

Over approximately five weeks, the expander was gradually filled with saline solution, stretching the surrounding healthy skin to create additional tissue for reconstruction.

Although the temporary swelling changed the shape of her head during treatment, the process served an important medical purpose.

The expanded skin would allow surgeons to cover more of the area after removing the remaining birthmark.

A Third Surgery Brought Another Remarkable Change

After the expansion process, Elena underwent a third operation to remove the tissue expander.

The foundation later shared photographs documenting her progress approximately one year after her initial surgery.

By that stage, her appearance had changed significantly.

A smaller portion of the nevus remained, and doctors noted some mild asymmetry involving one eyebrow. They planned to continue monitoring her recovery before deciding whether further correction was necessary.

A Journey That Requires Time and Patience

According to the foundation’s published update, Elena’s remaining nevus was benign, although her doctors intended to remove it because of the potential cancer risk.

Her treatment illustrates why reconstructive surgery for extensive congenital birthmarks often requires multiple carefully planned stages.

For children like Elena, recovery is not measured by one operation alone. It involves allowing the skin to heal, monitoring progress and making decisions that support long-term health.

Her before-and-after photographs document how much her medical team had accomplished while continuing to prioritize her well-being.

Elena’s journey is a reminder that behind a visible birth difference is a child deserving of compassionate care, support and every opportunity to thrive.

Source: Little Baby Face Foundation — An Update on Elena’s Hairy Nevus Treatment (2023).