ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: alwaysthere on November 09, 2009, 12:23:26 am
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I have developed a dent behind my ear where my surgery was. It doesn't hurt or anything, but I was wonering if anyone else has had this happen. It's big enough that my thumb fits in it pretty good. My head and ear are still very tender even after 4 1/2 months. but I figured that was normal.
Patty
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Patty,
I also have a dent behind the ear. It took almost 6 months for the swelling to go away and when it was gone the dent was there. Dr. said that the fat that they use to fill the hole doesn't always completely fill the hole. Unless it is painful I wouldn't worry about it, but I'm no expert so I would aslo say ask your Dr. the next time you see him. From my experience it sounds like everything is normal for 4 1/2 months post OP.
Dan in Germany
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Patty,
I think it must be pretty normal. I have a "dent" also, but mine is tender, which amazes me because I have no feeling on that side of my head or neck except where the dent is!! The area where the bow of my glasses hits, hurts. So much so that I am looking into contacts once again. I've tried them a couple of times before, unsuccessfully, but hey third time is a charm so I am hoping it will be for me!!
I asked my doctors about my dent and was told that the skull didn't close as they hoped it would because of swelling of my brain, that the steroids didn't help because I couldn't take them long enough (I developed a severe case of thrush). I figured it was just an answer to get me off their backs. I'm hoping you will ask your doctor and post his or her answer!
Good luck,
Brenda
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My dent behind my ear is about 2 inches long and a little over 1/2 inch deep for most of the 2 inches. It does not hurt at all. Although when I sleep on that side it sometimes is irritating.
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I have a dent, also.
Jan
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Me too! I always refer to it as "the crater". Last time I was at the hair salon, a new woman was shampooing my hair and I forgot to warn her. When she got to that part of my head, she got a very concerned look on her face and yanked her hand away - I'm pretty sure she thought she'd broken my head! :D
My dock also says it is perfectly normal and has something to do with the fat. Jeez, why can't the fat in my butt get smaller???
Debbi
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Patty,
I also have a dent behind the ear. It took almost 6 months for the swelling to go away and when it was gone the dent was there. Dr. said that the fat that they use to fill the hole doesn't always completely fill the hole. Unless it is painful I wouldn't worry about it, but I'm no expert so I would also say ask your Dr. the next time you see him. From my experience it sounds like everything is normal for 4 1/2 months post OP.
Dan in Germany
Patty,
Many docs, but not all correct the defect caused by drilling with titanium mesh/plates or other means -- this is called a cranioplasty and is often done in addition to filling the voice left by surgery with a fat graft. It is also standard operating procedure to just do the fat graft, seal the bone and close the surgical site, and many docs do this. Those patients who don't have the cranioplasty (and maybe some who do?) end up with an indentation behind their ear. Unless you have problematic symptoms, this is normal.
Wendy
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Thanks for the replys. Debbi, you made my day with what you said. I just laughed and laughed. Sounds like something I would say. Thanks for the pick me up this morning.
Patty
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I have fat, mesh, and a plate - but still have a dent. It doesn't bother me though and no one but me and my hairdresser know it's there.
Funny story, Debbi ;D I just had a new hairdresser a couple of months ago and I didn't want to surprise her so I showed her my BAHA abutment prior to the shampoo. I thought she'd fall over dead with shock. She kept asking me if it was okay to get it wet - like I haven't been washing my hair for the past 20 months :D
Patty, forgot to say that the tenderness @ 4 1/2 months is perfectly normal. Although I just had numbness that seemed to last forever, some have tenderness. Time heals; one of these days the tenderness will leave you.
Jan
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Yes, count me in with a dent in the head. More like a golf divot ;D I had the titanium mesh and head Spackle, no fat graft, and there is a slight indentation on the far side of my scar. Most people can not notice it even when I point it out to them. Doc said it healed fine and that is it.
Neal
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Dont think I have a dent in the head...ENT tried to find the hole and couldnt....They put fat in hole, and sewed me up....no mesh no bone plaster, Not sure if they put bone back in...still have to ask neurosurgeon when i see him in 3 weeks...
JO
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I have quite a crater of a dent too since had the translab and then the CSF leak surgery. I always add that the CSF leak was due to the hospitals use of a new gel product and 3 people got leaks so went back to the one they used before.
We forgot to have a biggest dent contest at the symposium! Darn! It bothers me to wash that area as just feels so weird! Cheryl R
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I am dented too. It doesn't hurt and isn't tender, but it's a pain in the neck when I put on my glasses. That top of that ear is closer to the side of my head and I can't just slide my glasses on - I have to kind of maneuver them over and behind that ear. Really, not a big deal, but when you walk out into the bright sun and have your hands full and want to just quickly slide on your sunglasses, it can be a small inconvenience.
Yet another weird thing we have to live with that most people don't! :D
Lori
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Me too, actually I have a dent on both sides, I can feel them but really can't see them. Off topic - got my six month MRI last Friday, go back to my Dr. this Friday. I feel pretty good and can hear (in my only hearing ear) well but needless to say I'm a little nervous. I will report back Friday.
John
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I'm dented too....about a 2 inch long divot. No fat(in head), but have titanium mesh.
Patrick
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Yup, I have a two inch dent also. I had translab with fat and titanium mesh. It doesn't sound like it matters which way they patch you up you have a chance of having a dent. No one warns you though and I think they should tell you there is at least a chance of it happening. If I didn't have all you to tell me it was normal I would have gone running to the doc for nothing. My dent also causes my problems with my glasses and has also changed the shape of my face. Not a lot, some people can't see it even when I point it out to them but my therapist sees and measures it at each appointment to make sure it doesn't get to the point where it will cause other problems. So far,, so good!!
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I'll weigh in with two dents ..... one on each side, AN side deeper ..... done with no fat graft but titanium plate. First side done 15 years ago ..... finally no longer tender. Second side done 19 months ago, still quite tender to touch.
Clarice
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I love it! Every time I read these posts I find something new. A dent in my head...now I can add "hole in my head" to the "I'm hearing transmissions from Mars" jokes...Dennis just read this post and asked me if I could use the dent to store spare change for the toll gate. I think not..if there's that much room, I'll use it for a place to keep sugar cubes for the horses.
But.. seriously, I am glad you asked about this...it gives me something else to be aware of when I talk to docs at Shands about surgery options and dates.
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More than once in the past year I have referenced my own triumphs as "Not bad for someone over 55 with a giant hole in my skull." Yes, I am dented, too. I remember saying to my doctors before my surgery that I looked forward to decreasing the density of my skull with the addition of belly fat so that my head would float higher in water. It would reduce my chances of drowning. I think my dent has character.
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Yep, I've got a dent, too! And I can also accurately call myself a "numbskull," since the area is still w/out any feeling. :D
Priscilla
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ha ha....I've got a dent, too. Actually, 3 of them - on the top and both sides. My (grown) kids call it my trap door.
Cathy
PS - Sue - did you get my last email?
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I didn't have the body fat deal, just titanium mesh, etc. but apparently, just about every AN surgery patient has a skull 'dent'. I do - and it's substantial - but unnoticeable to others., so, I'm good.
Jim
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I have the titanium mesh and yes....a dent. I always wondered why....nice to know this is not unusual!
Erin
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I have a dent and I can also feel two screws. Yippeeee
Michelle :o
I also have a natural dent at the crown of my head - most do in our family, we call it the 'candy dish' hehehe
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I have a huge dent but that is was falling head first down a ravine while hiking, can't wait to have more dents if I have surgery. I always warn hairdressers because it is shocking, glad I have a good head of hair, must be worse for guys, sorry guys.
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Hi Patty,
I have the same thing. It is behind my left ear and sometimes my glasses irritate that sensitive area or if I wear a headband. I am also careful about brushing and shampooing my hair too. Other than that, I forget that its there.
Lynn
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Ok guys, honestly I'm feeling left out...I have no notiicable dent at the surgery site...Awhile back, the ENT felt behind my ears and he couldnt find a dent either...I see him again next wednesday and will see if he can find me a DENT in Ma Head...lol...other then the baha site!!!!lol
JO
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I also have a little dent in my forehead. I have a small scar and from what I understand this is from the halo that was screwed into my head. Does anyone else have that little dent as well? The ones on my side of my head disappeared over time but the scar on my forehead you can tell since it is a different color. Just wondering....
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TP,
I've got the forehead dent too! And a small scar. You know, that little thing was the only part that bothered me when I had the pressure bandage on in the hospital. I have half my head cut open and that didn't bother me, but one little tiny boo boo made me crazy!
I honestly didn't notice the dent until you mentioned yours, but the scar shows up pretty well after I've been in the sun for a while. :D
Lori
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Yes, my daughter has a big dent behind her ear also. It feels really weird to the touch back there. I had assumed it was normal.
Cindy
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I had the fat graft, no titanium . . . no dent behind the ear. My fat does NOT shrink! The divot is in my abdomen. My, :o oh, :o my! And an angry scar.
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Finally someone like me!!! thank you Nancy...and yes the dent is in my abdomen....but my scar is fadin....
JO
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Don't worry girls, just because some of us have a dent in our heads doesn't mean we got to miss out on the divot in our abdomen. Someone called it a muffin top and that describes mine perfectly. Good thing I'm a little too old for a bikini. That would be quite a sight!
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I also have the dent in my forehead - it kind of looks like a picked chicken pox mark after years of healing.
Michelle ;D
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I remember asking my ENT about the forehead dent and he said "Oh, you'll have to ask the neurosurgeon about the." I then said something to the effect that it looked like the drill from Home Depot was used there. He finally told me that is was caused from the device used to hold my head in place. Geesh, he could have said that in the first place instead of dancing around about it. It does look like a pox scar and seemed to take forever to heal.
Brenda