Octavia IV (NX) – Removing Backrest Upholstery and Foam Together

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to replace a plastic headrest guide on my 2024 Skoda Octavia IV (NX) with sports seats and integrated headrests.

According to the official Skoda repair manual, the backrest upholstery and foam padding can be removed together as one complete unit by releasing the retaining strips at the bottom of the backrest.

However, the manual also instructs you to remove the entire backrest from the seat frame first.

Has anyone managed to remove the complete backrest upholstery and foam without separating the fabric from the foam and without removing the backrest from the seat base?

I'm trying to avoid removing the approximately 23 upholstery hog rings, as I only need access to the headrest guide mechanism.

Any experience, pictures or tips would be greatly appreciated!