I have noticed, from reading this forum, that many of you had your neck incision stapled because you mention having to have the staples removed. My neck incision was glued. I haven't heard anyone else mention this. Am I the only one and is this something new or uncommon?

Hi Lamont,

Just to throw out another method, I had sutures that had to be cut and removed about a week after surgery. Gluing sounds like the ideal situation as there is nothing to remove. I wonder if the size of the incision determines if gluing can be done.

Just as a point of information, I had no problems with handling anything that was done to me, but I almost fainted when the sutures were removed. Considering that I am a dentist and I place sutures and remove them, I was quite surprised at my reaction. Would have preferred the glue.

Jerry

I know it isn't new...gluing incisions, that is. Cynoacrylic glue (crazy glue) was orignally developed in the Vietnam war era as a surgical adhesive.

My neck dissection was sutured as well. Jerry, you weren't alone; It was a really good thing I was lying down when they started taking out sutures...I didn't have too far to fall after I fainted!
Wayne

I had sutures as well ..One set removed and the other disolved. with some kinda tape like stuff over it. The set removed ..I dunno how I felt I was still whinning about the removal of the drain tube in my neck ...that I was told "wasn't going to hurt"..WELL I BEG TO DIFFER...I tell ya I came off the bed after that !

Lamont,

I see you were glued at Emory as was I. I had a 3" incision on right side of my neck. My ENT doing the surgery told me that gluing minimized scarring. Mine was done back in September and is now virtually invisible. Of course, I'm 60 and already wrinkled and the scar runs down the center of a wrinkle that was already there.

The right side of my neck is also still numb and the ENT said it could take 6 months to a year before the feeling came back. It's now a bit over 7 months and it still seems just as numb as ever. It just feels weird when shaving and not feeling anything when running the razor over that area.

Bill D.

You guys should have gone through with me.... I had STAPLES. I loooked like I had a zipper running aorund my neck. The drain was a bitch but quick and overwith, but the removal with the pliers of the staples seemed to last forever. In perspective though, no big deal in comparison to all that has been done to me.

Bill D......What did they do through that 3" incision?? Mine is about 12" at least, total..maybe a few more inches. It starts under my chin, goes almost straight down, nearly to my collarbone, and back up to behind my ear. It was stapled also...and yes, you do look like one of hte Adams family members, with that zipper and a drain dangling from beneath it. They removed about half of the staples one week, and the other half the next week. My scar is ok, but it is not invisible. It is not unsightly, though I wouldn't mind it being a little less visible.....small potatoes with all the other stuff done to me, as others have said.

Another stapled patient here. I had a cervical spinal fusion in February, so they used the same line, except this one goes basically ear to ear around the neck. I had 3 drains, which they removed on successive days in the hospital. Staple removal wasn't bad.

I still think I look like the understudy in Young Frankenstein, but my wife and son say it is hardly noticeable. I pay them well to lie . . . ;-)

Between the fusion and the neck dissection, I almost wish they would put a zipper in! All in all though, the neck dissection has been much less of a hassle than I expected. I had the surgery late on a Thursday afternoon, was discharged Monday morning, was working from home for 7 days, as they would not let me drive, and back at work the follwing Tuesday.

Bill D.,
My experience sounds identical to yours except my incision is probably 6 to 8 inches. Mine also is in a natural crease so, it is not very noticeable. I don't understand why they don't use glue for all of them. It was totally painless and no staple scars.I have reached the 5 month mark and, like you Bill, my neck is still totally numb.
Also, regarding shaving, I now only have to shave the tops of my cheeks, mustache and lower neck area as the radiation killed off the rest of my facial hair. I didn't know you got free electrolysis with radiation. What a deal.

Staples for us .53 of them !Rob looked like Frankensteins monster!!