ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Post-Treatment => Topic started by: imnocleaver on September 27, 2009, 07:30:04 pm
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After seeing ilsemor's thread on hair issues, and reading what others have gone through post-surgery, I'm curious:
Did any of you (especially the ladies out there), upon seeing how much hair was shaved off for surgery, just decide the heck with it and shave off your whole head of hair so it would all grow in at once? Or did you just cleverly cover your scar with hair/scarf/Elmer Fudd hat/etc.?
Just trying to decide, if it were to become necessary, if I have enough moxie to pull off the Sinead O'Connor look from the early 90's while my hair grows back, or if I should just opt for an extended version of the Donald Trump combover.
Or I could always go with a nice fez.
Thanks!
Michelle
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Michelle .....
There are several pictures floating on various threads (I did not take time to try and find them) of surgical sites of different forum members. Many of us had very little hair shaved ...... some virtually none at all, which was amazing to me. I had fairly short hair at the time of surgery (3 inch-ish) via retrosigmoid approach and once the white bandages were off, no one could even see my incision. When people found out I had just had brain surgery, they would give me that "Sure you did!" ::) look until I pulled my hair back so they could see it.
I certainly would not consider shaving my head ..... others may chime in here with thoughts.
Clarice
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My Dr. told me NOT to cut my hair at all - I had the Translab and they just shaved about 1/4-1/2" and then just used super duper gel to hold the rest back!
K ;D
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Hi Michelle,
Ok, as a licensed cosmetologist, have to chime in with my 2 cents.
Based on a multitude of incision pictures and in person I've seen for AN surgery (male and female), please remember that hair grows, on average, approx 1/2" per month. There is absolutely no need to shave your head (unless you like the look and want something daring in making a fashion statement) for AN surgery. Creative accessorizing (ie: use of head scarves, hats, etc) may also help the cause. Depending on which surgical approach is being done, there are creative ways to help cover the incision site until it grows back......
again, just my opinion. But, you do what you feel is best for you. See what it's like after the surgery.
Phyl
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Wasn't an issue at all for me...my hair covered up the area completely...I almost wish it had been more dramatic - I felt very guilty being wheeled through the airport in LA and Atl looking perfectly fine ;) A bald head with the incision showing would have resulted in much more sympathy from all the passengers I cut in front of ::)
Cindy
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I had fairly short hair at the time of surgery (3 inch-ish) via retrosigmoid approach and once the white bandages were off, no one could even see my incision.
This is my experience EXACTLY. The fact that my incision was behind my ear (retrosigmoid approach) meant it was in a place that few people tend to look - unless they knew I had the surgery.
I was pleasantly pleased with the lack of hair that my docs shaved and by the time I had my stitches removed (9 days post op) my hair had already started growing in around my incision.
Even if your hair is long, I don't think most docs go wild with the razor. From what I've read on the forum, most of them just lift up the hair and shave underneath - so once surgery is over the long hair works well to hide the shaved patch.
Don't pull a Sinead - there's no need for it.
Jan
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Hi Michelle,
I have long hair. Before getting wheeled in (I had retrosigmoid also), I told them to be conservative with the hair shaving. The hair that was left covered it up nicely, but I couldn’t resist showing off my new do and scar to anyone who was willing to look! ;D
Scarlett
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I had requested they shave it all off. My surgeon told me if I still felt the same way after surgery, he would finish the job. So little hair was shaved compared to what I expected. I am glad he made me wait until after surgery to decide.
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With translab, I only had a couple inches above the ear shaved. No one could see it unless I lifted my hair. I noticed you posted on Cheryl's caringbridge...did you see her mid fossa photo? That's quite a bit of shaved head there! But I think once she brushes out her hair it may cover. After surgery, the hair gets matted and covered in ointment, so that photo may not be what will actually show.
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Before surgery I had my hairdresser retool my short haircut, leaving lots length on the top that would cover what I guessed would be shaved. It really worked out beautifully and covered the incision site nicely. Also, my neurosurgeon's mother and sister were hairdressers and he explained that long ago he had been 'schooled' on what to shave and what not to shave during surgery. So he left a little bit of hair near the hairline so that it could cover as well. 3 months post op I just had coloring and a new cut last week. Can't tell I had surgery at all! At least from my hair!!
Hope everybody is well!!
Miss Molly
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The only discomfort regarding hair... is not being able to wash it for 7 days.... When I was finally allowed to get my whole head wet... that was heaven.... I just sat under the shower for about an hour...
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Ain't it the truth?
I couldn't shampoo for nine days :o so the first shampoo was like heaven ;D
I wish I would have thought to use baby shampoo though. I got some shampoo in my eyes - and immediately closed them - which made for a very interesting and dangerous situation given my balance issues @ the time.
Some use a shower bench post op - wish I would have thought of that.
Jan
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Ok, sitting here with a newly minted, bad to the bone, Middle Fosa scar, you will see there are many option for this hair things. I have long hair and Dr. Brackmann likes a clean slate. They seem to shave more for MIddle. Actually I am ready just in tme for Halloween! Seriously I wasn't expecting it, was a bit shocked but am ok with my last of the Mohengan look.
caringbridge.com
cherylroberto
for photos.
I will most likley NOT go down to Astor Place in NYC village when I get hiome, as tempting as it is to just go for a once-in-a-lifetime Mohawk but it fun to fantasize!
I think will be buying some of the current scarfs and finding my inner Woodstock, I think, this fall.
THe strangest thing is I have half a head of hair pulled on one side, and then my Punky side, and I don't feel the least self-conscious about it. Don't mess with a postie on steriods! ;D
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Yea - Cheryl is posting again! With humor too! Have you fully washed and brushed your hair yet? That's almost a full days job!
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Well, you didn't say that this was an exclusively "ladies thread" so I'll chime in here. First of all, we all know what Stoneaxe did after his operation. So there is no questions there that need answering!! I did however have a pretty good head of hair going into the operation. I really wanted to take advantage of my only chance to have a Mohawk in my (older) lifetime. But ironically, I was overuled by my KIDS!!! I guess that they could not take the embarrasement of having their 52 yr old father walking around town with a Mohawk! So I borrowed a friend's electric razor, and placed the adjustable teeth on a low setting and went to work. I haven't had one of those types of haircuts in 40 years!!! However, I did get most of the hair back to a short of average length about four weeks after surgery. It sure was nice to return to an almost normal looking existence. The kids even stopped calling me Frankenstein!!!!
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I was a little freaked before surgery because it felt like he was shaving so much off. He shaved underneath my long hair, but it was quite a lot above and around and behind my ear. Then he had to shave off all these little circles in various places all over my head for MRI leads. I thought, 'great, i'm being punished for never donating my hair to chemo patients.' I couldn't tell anything post op because my head was all wrapped up and I didn't care anyway. A few days later, after being home and getting to wash my hair, I was impressed at how well my 'barber' did. All my long hair covered everything. I'm 8 months post op now, and if I put my hair up in a pony tail, I have a little tuft that hangs down like short hair, almost shoulder length. Overall, it really wasn't any big deal, and usually not noticeable.
But I hope I don't look like Donald.
Keri
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I thought, 'great, i'm being punished for never donating my hair to chemo patients.'
I've seen your hair, you got great hair, and you could still donate to chemo patients :)
xoxo
Phyl
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I will be shaving the majority of my hair off on October 31st. My reasons are:
1) My hair is short anyways (1.5" - 2") so it won't be that big of an adjustment
2) Keeping it very short will make it easier to keep clean prior to getting the "all clear" to suds it up
3) It can all grow back together and will give me a 6-8 week break from haircuts
4) Most importantly, my kids are going to be the barbers. This gives them a "part" in the whole situation, a nice, fun, nonthreatening part!
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4) Most importantly, my kids are going to be the barbers. This gives them a "part" in the whole situation, a nice, fun, nonthreatening part!
DR -
this is a great idea ;D
Jan
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I was thinking that that was a GREAT thing to do too so that everyone is involved! Hats off (hair too) to you, DR!!
K ;D
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DR .....
You have a wonderful attitude about this whole thing. What a special way to involve your children. Many times children are very frightened by illnesses of their parents and do not know how to express it or ask appropriate questions. What a great way to help them relax and know that you are confident.
(I might guess that you have some uncertainties yourself, but it sure helps to strive for the upbeat attitude!)
Good for you and keep us posted.
Clarice
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Oh, please post pics after your kids cut your hair!!!
Keri
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Oh, please post pics after your kids cut your hair!!!
Keri
No problem. I have several coworkers and friends looking forward to seeing it as well.
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Cool 8)
I'm looking forward to the pictures, too!
Jan
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I actually did kind of a combo of what Seal wanted to do and DR did - my son and husband gave me the mohawk I've always wanted a few weeks pre-op. I figured if I was ever going to have a chance for it this was it!
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Nicole -
pictures?
Jan
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Jan-
I have "before and afters" on my blog - http://buginthebrain.blogspot.com
I think the post is in September somewhere and is titled "The Haircut".
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My surgery was translab. The usual incision site had too many blood vessels, so they had to shave adjacent...think sorta left back quadrant (almost) with a bit of the front. The incision went down about an inch, maybe a bit more, on my neck, plus the incision behind my ear. Although I had fairly long hair, there was no way to hide it. I had thought of cutting my hair prior to surgery, but could not do it. After surgery, I wore lots of hats, baseball caps & scarves. I bought pretty scarves in preparation to return to work. My sister stayed with me for about two months. Before she left, I had her take it all of. And I have kept it short. The scar is still visible...it is that short. Of course, some people stare, but it's okay.
And I had to wait 2 and a half weeks after surgery to wash my hair...that was the best feeling ever!
Ronnye
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I'm with whoever said to wait until after surgery to decide what you want to do. No one was more surprised than me when I came out of surgery with barely anything shaved. There is no way you would ever know what I had just been through. Here is the thread with pictures (some additional pictures on the 3rd page of the thread).
Glad you've got a sense of humor (or sense of tumor, as my friend used to say) about it.
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=9767.msg111298#msg111298
Adrienne
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Hi, I thought I was being smart and cut my somewhat long hair I figured it to would grow back all together I was very surprised that there was no need to cut the hair at all they only shaved the incision site which was an "S" and if i still had the long hair it would have covered it and no one could tell..
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We went this morning for our haircuts. There was a lot of laughter and everyone had a good time. Now I look like I'm ready for boot camp!
I posted some pics at my blog (see sig below.)
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Hey DR,
Read your blog. Very cute boys. They did a great job with your buzz cut! What fun for them!
Surgery is coming- you will fly through this, I'm sure. Your MRI shows a nicely formed small tumor which is not smashing the brain stem.
Lucky YOU!
Prayers and well wishes on 4 November.
Maureen
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DR ......
Love the pictures of the haircutting party ..... what a wonderful way to defuse a potentially stressful situation for your boys. ..... and probably for you, as well.
Thoughts and prayers!
Clarice
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Dennis,
Great haircut! Brackman's going to take off more! lol! I just posted my Halloween Middle Fosa Mohawk under An Community/Halloween - you can join our rock band! ;D
Can't wait to hear how everything goes now...rest up a lot now!
Cheryl
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Love it - great idea!!
K ;D
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Nice do, DR. Looks like the boys had a great time. It's not every day you get to give your dad a haircut.
I liked the picture of the Flock of Seagulls, too. Thank goodness your boys didn't model your new style after them :D
Jan