What exactly happens before, during and after a Craniotomy?

Hi, I have looked through the comments and did not see where anyone mentioned what is involved in a craniotomy. Does this mean they have to shave your head and remove part of your skull?
Recently diagnosed with several meningiomas.

Along the planum sphenoidale is a homogeneously enhancing extra-axial mass measuring 1.0 cm with a dural tail.
5 mm homogeneously enhancing extra-axial mass overlies the posterior left occipital lobe.
Plaque-like extra-axial enhancement along the middle cranial fossa associated
with hyperostosis of the left greater sphenoid wing. Enhancement extends along the foramen rotundum.
Impression:
3 extra-axial enhancing mass is identified on the planum sphenoidale, along the
posterior left occipital lobe and along the left middle cranial fossa associated
with left sphenoid wing hyperostosis. Imaging findings are highly typical of
multiple meningiomas. Recommend outpatient referral to neurosurgery.

20 years ago I learned of an optic chasm tumor which they believed to be benign and is currently still there. My last MRI was September 2014 and these new masses were not there then. Waiting to see the neurosurgeon scheduled March 26th.

@bnwenis, you asked about a craniotomy and "Does this mean they have to shave your head and remove part of your skull?"
I'm tagging fellow members @scottdemauex @jeanneoc @kdog1957 @thomhorowitz @cddonahoe @cscmaryann so they can share how their procedure was done.

Whether a piece of the skull (bone flap) is temporarily removed during surgery and how much hair is removed depends on the type of craniotomy. For example, with a keyhole craniotomy you may not need your entire head shaved for a keyhole craniotomy. Surgeons usually shave only a small area around the incision site to keep the area clean and reduce the risk of infection. The rest of your hair is left untouched and can often cover the shaved spot as it grows back. If your procedure is planned near your hairline or forehead, the surgeon may make the incision in a way that helps hide the scar in the natural hairline.

You can read more here:
- Keyhole craniotomy https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/keyhole-craniotomy/about/pac-20585909
- Craniotomy https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/craniotomy/about/pac-20568981

I hope this information helps to prepare your questions for the neurosurgeon at your upcoming appointment.

Hello,
I had a craniotomy whereby a bone flap around the diameter of a tennis ball was removed from my forehead. The incision was located just above the hairline and extended ear to ear. Only the area close to the incision was shaved. It wasn’t actually shaved with a razor, it was closely clipped with scissors. Evidently surgeons prefer close clipping the hair to shaving it. The piece of skull was replaced and secured with titanium hardware after removal of the tumor.

Hi!
I too had craniotomy as described above, I have shoulder length hair and after my staples came out my hair covered the area affected by the procedure. My tumor is an temporal lobe insular glioma, so incision went from just in front of my right ear up toward behind ear then half way up scalp, like a large half circle, came back down behind same ear. When I woke up my hair was braided and popping out of top of bandages, now its four months and you can only tell anything happened when Im in a ponytail and that side has some short hairs above that ear. Hope this helps!! Where is your tumor? My pre surgery visit gave me time to have dr describe where he would be going in, maybe you can do that too🙏❣️
Best wishes!

@colleenyoung Mine was a cut ear to ear above the hair line . Then a portion removed to access the tumor. Now it appears I am about to have another. Since after 5 years I have regrowth. I am not sure how this will go .

@scottdemauex, that must be a gut punch to hear that you have regrowth. Is surgery being recommended or a different treatment?

We have reviewed the situation and they feel the only course of action is to do anther surgery.
Mostly to confirm the pathology has not changed. I will be getting a second surgical opinion shortly and proceed from there