Ditto to what JAM posted. I had bilateral ND on April 12. Incision will be in neck crease, but does basically go from ear to ear, and is usually stapled, though sometimes glued. There will be swelling, at least 2 and up to 4 drain tubes extending from neck to little bags. She will have an IV with saline, antibiotic. May have oxygen as well.

She will not be pretty to look at, I guarantee. My wife was a little green when she first saw me -- unknown to me, they did not bandage the incision (this is increasingly typical).

The good news is that I was up a little bit the next day (I had a late afternoon surgery), had 1 drain removed each day thereafter, and was very mobile and up most of the day 36 hours after surgery. Everyone is different, of course. Pain was far less than my cervical fusion in February.

Best of luck.