@msmith49 I think my incision is about 4 inches. My surgeon put it cross ways in a crease in my neck so it really is invisible. They did a good job of closing the incision in layers with dissolving sutures so it healed nicely. No one ever notices it. During the first year, keep sun off the incision so it doesn't develop dark pigment while it's healing.

I also wore a neck brace 24/7 for about 4 months. It was to be 3 months, but at that time, my surgeon was on a personal leave, so I couldn't get an official recommendation to start weaning out of the brace until he could review the x-rays. I didn't mind the neck brace. I chose to do that because I could get a fusion without hardware. I had to wear the brace until it began to fuse. They gave me an extra set of padding so I could always have clean pads in reserve and I also used bandanas right under my chin folded to add to it, so I could exchange that daily. You learn to live with it. Just remember, you are doing this by choice. No one is forcing you to have surgery or wear a brace. It will help you be positive in thinking that this is a choice you are making to better your health and in doing that, you'll avoid possible worse problems if you did nothing. You have to believe that you will have a good outcome. Pray for that and believe that you can do this.

I'm sorry you are dealing with a not so nice assistant. I ran into a few of those too, but ultimately the surgeon who helped me had a very nice surgical nurse.

What are the questions that you need answered by your surgical team?