What exactly happens before, during and after a Craniotomy?

my crainotomy apparently was very different than yours. i had "hair sparing technique" and no hair shaved. Moreover, i had "no fat packing". The only incision i had was a cosmetic like several inch vertical incision on the left side of my head --slightly to the front and above my ear. Moreover, i had dissolvable stitches and little discomfort from my incision sight. There was an excellent neuro-anesthesiologist who was very calming to be around. He started with a pediatric anesthetic (no needles) and the next time i was aware of anything, i woke up in the OR. I have severe asthma and my pulmonologist wrote instructions that he wanted the anesthesia "reversed" as soon as the surgery was completed and the breathing tube was to he removed immediately. I was in no pain and was immediately transferred to ICU (as i was informed i would be)

@colleenyoung Thank you for asking . I will be having surgery on the 27th . I found a Doctor I really like and he spent a lot of time reviewing my situation. I know it is what I have to do now . Praying for all to go well.

If it has a blood supply, you will have an Embolization, first. They will probably map your tumor with Cameras via your thigh vein (they did mine) so they have a "GPS" and can make a surgical plan. On the day of, you will have a part of your head shaved (sometimes all, but based on where they enter/how big a window they need to make), a flap made in your scalp and a window of bone removed where the best approach for your is made, they will tunnel to it, and chip away a hard tumor/suck out a small tumor. They will retrace their tunnel and windo approach to get out, rivet the skull window back in, pack that area with fat (usually taken from your abdomen) to protect it, and sew the flap over the fat.

@scottdemauex, checking in. How are you doing? What will be your next step?

@colleenyoung sorry to be so long to respond. The recommendation is another surgery. I wish there was an alternative but they feel it is best . I will be having a second opinion tomorrow.
I don’t really feel it will be different. I hope I like the doctor better!

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

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

@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 .

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!

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.