A groundbreaking operation is being called a success this morning after doctors successfully replaced 75% of a man's skull with a 3D printed prosthetic. The replacement skull was created by an additive deposition 3D printing process.

Oxford Performance Materials in Connecticut then gained approval from US regulators earlier this week and had kept the procedure a secret until now. The company says that it is now able to provide bone-like replacements that are etched in a way that promotes real bone growth and skin adhesion.

Oxford Performance Materials says that more than 500 patients in the US monthly could benefit from this new type of surgery and that it can produce an implant within two weeks of receiving 3D scans of the damaged area. The patients name was not released nor was the name of the location that the surgery took place.