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