My doctor told me that I could have the scar on my neck "revised". Same thing with my trach scar, he said they could "make it go away". The scar from my neck dissection has never layed down flat like they expected it to, and it bunched up a bit under my chin. The incision down the length of my neck starting just below my ear is almost invisible and he said the other part of the scar should look the same. Has anyone had this done?? I have an appointment in Sept with a plastic surgeon.
Thanks,
Minnie

I would give this plenty of thought. First, the deficit on that side of your neck, the missing volume that was removed of lymph nodes, muscle tissues, and surrounding fatty tissues, will still be there scar or not. In many ways that is more obvious to those that look than the scar itself. Second, if you are like most of us, you have a "gobbler" of tissue at the front of your neck left over as a result of all this....what is to me done with that? A new scar to remove it? Lastly, I can't remember if you have been radiated. If you have, all this is something that I would not venture into since you will have different healing issues than the average patient the plastic surgeon sees. While I am self-conscious about my missing part of my neck, these days it is a badge of honor....the evidence each year that I am still here, and still fighting. It is as much a part of who I am now as the scars I got from my time "in country" courtesy of Uncle Sam during two tours in the jungle, the gash on my knee from a little stint in Nicaragua, and the little piece of metal that is still stuck in my ass from a quick exit from Lebanon.

Minnie, I agree with Brian about the healing process, once you've been radiated. I was told that any cutting in the radiated area of the mouth could be disasterous and I could end up with open cuts that would never heal. My brother is a dentist and, because of the radiation, he can't do implants. He's hoping that some future technology will help, but it's not here yet.

I was very fortunate in that my scaring down both sides of my neck and under my jaw line is barely noticiable. I have a gouged out place on my wrist that you have to look hard to see and my sqiggly scar from my wrist to my elbow is a faint one. That's my harvested area.

Good luck.
Sandy

Sandy,

Hyberbaric Oxygen sessions have been pretty successful in regaining blood circulation in the gum area to allow implants. I remember you mentioning little or no insurance and I do know they are somewhat expensive. I wonder if the same thing could be accomplished with repetitive scuba dives? I would certainly let you borrow some equipment if you are a diver. Just a thought.

Ed

Thank you for the replies everyone, lots to think about.
Brian I did have 6 weeks of radiation. I have also done 30 dives for Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment to prepare for implants. I really don't have the defecit on my neck on the left side, when they took out the lymphnodes they put tissue from my leg in to replace what they took out. Both sides of my neck look pretty much alike. But, I am a slow healer. The decubitus on my heel is still open 15 months after my surgery. I also still have sores in my mouth from radiation. So, the healing aspect of it scares me after reading Brian and Sandi's response.
I will say that when I had two teeth removed in April that I healed up perfectly and in the normal time frame.
Alot to think on. I'm not unhappy with how I look but if I could get this scar on my neck to look better I would do it for my kids. They might not say it out loud but I know it's tough for their ages to have mom with a scar like this.
Guess I'll go see the plastic surgeon and take it from there.
As always, thank you for the info.
Minnie

Minnie, please email me with results from your plastic surgeon visit. I am interested. Thanks, Love, Carol

I would go for the functional things first, like the implants. People 5 years out actually have a pretty good success rate with them, earlier than that

Brian,
Good points. I most certainly want my teeth first. Your post confused me just a little, are you saying I should wait a bit to get my implants?? That I will have a better success rate doing it later?? I talked with a man in my area that had the procedure done one month ago and he is doing fine so far. He used the same dentist and oral surgeon I am using.
Minnie

Hi, Minnie. It is I, with implants, 3 of which integrated with the hyperbaric oxygenated bone very nicely, and two of which have been redone and are integrating as we speak (we hope). Dentist says he can make bottom teeth with just three, so I am very glad I did not wait. Have some new bottom temporary false teeth that snap over the good implant posts and look and work wonderfully, so I am a happy camper. Don't wait. Of course I had no teeth, so that might have motivated me (grin). Brian is correct, as usual, in that you should ask to talk to satisfied patients of your particular dentist. If you have any specific questions, just ask.

Hi Joanna,
A few questions for you:
1. How long was the recovery for you after the implants were put in, the posts.
2. How long before you got the teeth put on.
3. How are the teeth as far as chewing, etc.
4. Did your tongue object to having teeth in there after all this time.
5. What did you have to pay for?
I'm glad it's all working out for you. I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Minnie