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!!

I had nothing but stitches and a drain the first time and stitches, one staple and a drain when they did the other side 4 years later. Both incisions were about 3 inches, but done in two totally different fashions. Scars from both are barely visible. You need to make certain your surgeon is a good plastics guy also. I don't remember whether stitches were removed before I went home or shortly afterwards.

Eileen

Interesting....so many different approaches, to neck dissections as well as to treatment in general. No wonder we all have so many questions! Obviously they all work......

I guess I was lucky to get away with just a 3" incision! My ENT removed a mass of nodes on the right side. The removal of the drainage tube was almost as fun as the PEG removal. Actually, there was more pain with the PEG removal though.

Bill D.

Incision inside my mouth stitched and neck dissection also stitched both with disolveable stitches. I also had the bottom of my mouth kind of scooped out that took along time to heal. Outside incision not very noticeable as it is in a neck crease. post op a year and still numb in the neck dissection area and also 1/2 my tongue, I know that is permanent now. Yes, Sharlee that drainage tube removal was no fun!!

Mine was pretty much like Bill D. since we had the same ENT. I am glad for the glue due to it went away on its own. It has been 3 months since my surgery and you can't see the scar. Dr. Chen did a super job. Bill D, how long does the sore throat last?

I read all of your posts...
my mom is having her surgery on Tues, the 15th. We are under the impression from the plastic surgeon that it will go across the front of her neck, one ear lobe to the other, she is having a bilateral, with 20-30 nodes removed. I never considered there might be another way he may do it. I guess I should prepare myself and family? Or better yet, only myself? Jerry, did I ever call and thank you?? I hope I did.

Hi, DR, had a thought about "preparing" everyone. Just want to warn you that your Mom will probably look dreadful when you see her in the recovery room: there might be tubes and hoses everywhere,her neck may be bound in gauze bandages and there may be swelling, she may have pressure pumping booties on to stop blood clots in her legs, she will most likely be hooked up to several machines. These are all normal parts [not pretty] of "after neck dissection surgery". The staff should give you a ph# that you can call anytime to speak to the nurse caring for her during the times you aren't allowed in the room. It's hard to see her this way, but it is part of the process, so don't let it scare you too much. Amy in the Ozarks

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.

Hi Forum;

I had 68 staples that closed about a 14 inch incision following the removal of 27 lymph nodes. No fun having those staples removed - very uncomfortable - but no lasting pain. However, a fair amount of anxiety.

My ENT said it would be anywhere from 6 months to 2 years before any feeling had returned. I am now at the 16 month point, and while some sensation has returned to my shoulder area, what remains of my neck, ear & the surrounding area remains very woody to the touch with no feeling on the inside. I do feel a pain-like sensation when my ear is touched or bumped, which I guess is a good sign the nerves are coming back, but I am not altogether certain that is what's happening.

I feel I was poorly informed about this surgery, and strongly urge everyone who is contemplating a radical neck dissection fully explore its ramifications. My ENT left me with the impression it was little more than day surgery. As he once said to me "...if I told you what I was going to do, you wouldn't have let me do it."

Not what I would call an informative bedside manner. Its hard to criticize the man who helped save your life, but everyone should find out as much as they can about surgery before it happens.

The only real complication from my neck dissection was infection that arose as a result of my long hair (at the time). I should have taken the precaution of having my hair cut off rather than leaving it shoulder length. Proves that common sense ain't so common !

In any case, good luck and a speedy recovery !

JT2

Hello Lamont!

I was going to say that you named this topic incorrectly, but with 19 responses many would beg to differ!

Here are some titles I thought would serve us better???

Our Morbid Curiosity
Comparing Battle Scars
Badges of Honor
Badges of Courage
Badges of Life
Real Tattoos

In the pugilist world, they are called "Badges of Honor". When people talk about getting "inked", I say why do your want to put scars on your body? Which, by definition is exactly what they are? Or I say no thanks I have enough scars already. I really feel 85% of all these young people will look at their tattoos in the mirror in 10 to 20 years after getting them and muse, WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING! :rolleyes:

I already had a grand collection of scars and never plan on or look forward to new ones. But since we're on the subject I feel compelled to share/show my new "TATS" off.

The one going lengthwise on my tongue looks like the letter