Mid-fossa post-surgical scarring?

[Girlfriend]

HI all,

Partner and I still researching our options (partner has small AN, minimal symptoms, diagnosed at U of IA, going to Mayo for second opinion).  As always, this is the the best resource around.  I'm wondering...how much scarring is there post-surgery with the mid-fossa approach?  Just wondering what to expect.

[Girlfriend]

Me again--let me clarify--I'm inquiring about facial scarring.  Not the most important aspect of decision-making, but rather about being prepared about what will follow surgery....

[sgerrard]

Not meaning to scare anyone, but this topic, http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=8023.0, which initially asked about how much hair is shaved, turned into a gallery of surgical scars. They are all different, even with the same procedure.

It is worth noting that almost everyone I have seen mention it has said that the surgical scar heals up well, and that it is not noticeable to anyone. I think there is stuff you can put on it to make sure it heals nice. They are usually hidden by hair almost from the beginning (unless you shave your head like Pooter does).

AN surgery would not normally involve any scars on the face itself. Those could come in if you later had some kind of facial surgery, to address a facial nerve issue, if you wound up with one. Again, they can also be coaxed into healing up very well.

Steve

[Kaybo]

Girlfriend~
I don't know of ANY Acoustic Neuroma surgery that causes any type of scarring on your face.  Like Steve said, some of the surgeries to repair some things caused by the AN surgery can leave scars, but that is way down the line.  I had the 12/7 but the scar for that is in a crease in my neck and not visible AT ALL unless I point it out.  I just had the T3 last March and the scar from it is in the "smile line" - it is a BIT more noticeable, but not really either.  They are so good these days at Plastics that I wouldn't even worry at all about that!!

K

[Dog Lover]

Hi Girlfriend,

Did partner see Gantz at U of IA? He's one of the best.  I had mid-fossa surgery at U of IA last Aug. I was going to go to Mayo to get their take on GK, but after talking to Gantz, made my decision to have the surgery.

If you have any questions about U of IA or drs. there feel free to send me a Personal Message.

Cathy

[Dog Lover]

Oh - and no facial scars. And my hair covers up any incisions that were made.

Cathy

[MAlegant]

No facial scars here (I had retrosigmoid, not very different) and my surgery scar has disappeared.  I used scar butter on it and massaged for a few minutes every day.  Hope this helps.
Marci

[Girlfriend]

Thanks everyone, for your responses.  The archived post-surgery photos are not scary (to me, anyway); it really helps in making the unknown more knowable.  As always, this site is the best!

[vcschaub]

This is my middle fossa scar, 3 days after surgery. The scar is not on the face and my hair covered it nicely.


[/quote]

[Sue Vogel]

Hey, Girlfriend,  I just wanted to share with you that Cathy (Dog Lover) is right.  It doesn't get much better than Dr. Bruce Gantz from University of Iowa.  I didn't have the Mid Fossa like Cathy, I had a Translab. in October of 2008.  My scarring is very minimal.  They are very talented at U of Iowa.  Talk to Cathy. She helped me through my recovery time.

Good luck.
SUE

[Pooter]

Somehow I missed the thread with all the pics or I would have joined in on the fun!  I can tell you that my retrosigmoid scar seems to be much smaller than the ones shown.  I think I got the better end of the deal in that regard, however I keep my head shaved basically so my scar really shows.  I don't mind, though, because I wear it as a badge of honor.

Not to side track, but do other people have a boney thing that sticks up higher than the rest of the area near the bottom of the incision?  My doctor even commented on it when I saw him last.  Not that there's anything short of going back into surgery and having removed, but I was just curious if I was the only one..

Others are right in that there should be no facial scarring to expect; only the incision behind the ear (somewhat) which is covered up nicely with longer hair (not super short like mine)..

Regards,
Brian

[Dog Lover]

I don't have anything that sticks up, but I still have a dent in my head from where they cut into my head. I asked the doc about it last week when I went in for my  5 month post-op check. She said it was bone and it would fill in.

Cathy

[Pooter]

I have a "dent" in my head also (still waiting for it to "fill in" if that happens at all), but by the "dent" is a boney area that sticks up a little.. I, obviously, can't see it unless using a mirror, but it's VERY noticeable to the touch and I think it's huge based on that.  I don't think it's very big in reality.  It's not really a problem, so I was just curious more than anything.

Thanks for the response!

Regards,
Brian

[MAlegant]

Yes, have the bony thing but it seems to be getting better, or rather, smaller.
Marci

[EJTampa]

I'm having retrosigmoid.  If I'm going through with this surgery, I want a scar to show for it!
 
Ernie