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The Scar

Posterior Fossa Decompression

    2 days post-op

Then & Now

                            1/26/99 - 5 days post-op        

                            5/25/05 - 6+ years post-op

Hair Tips From Nancy (Posterior Fossa Decompression)

As you can see in the picture on the left, I had two incisions, and a fairly large area of hair had been shaved. My neurosurgeon uses a dural patch from the patient's own scalp tissue, necessitating the upper incision and the larger area.  Women seem to find the hair situation more daunting than men, so here are a few quick tips:

• Approach the whole issue positively and with a bit of humor. It really isn't a big deal since the hair grows back quickly. Instead of obsessing, make a joke about it.

• Most surgeries are planned many weeks in advance, giving you time to grow out your hair. My hair is short and layered, so I used those weeks to grow out the hair on the upper part of the back of my head.

• After the surgery, I borrowed the "comb over" concept used by bald men, and did a "comb down." As you can see in the photo, the hair completely covered the bald spot. The hat I had bought to hide the incision was returned to the store unworn.

• Just for fun, take a picture. The surgery is a big event in your life, and the photo will be a memory.

Chiari & Basilar Invagination

   5 days post-op; surgery for Chiari and basilar invagination

Shunt Surgery

    Post-operative scars from surgery to place a shunt to drain fluid from the spine.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Most people who undergo Chiari surgery will spend at least one night in the Intensive Care Unit.  This can be a very trying time for both the patient and their loved ones.  For the patient, the ICU can be a noisy place with very sick, and dying, people near by.  Sometimes, loved ones are only allowed to visit for a few minutes at a time, a couple of times a day.  For loved ones, this will be their first opportunity to see the patient since they came out of surgery.  They may be shocked to see their loved one's head wrapped, with monitors and oxygen attached to them.  The photo below is provided courtesy of George Weir, www.georgeweir.com.