Scalp Scars

[rfn]

Hi Folks

I first signed up on the forum years ago, and even now, years later, I'm still balding and utterly miserable.  To cut a long story short, I have a dent in my head from a skull fracture.  After years of searching, I have finally found a surgeon in my country who can repair it - but that will involve cutting through my scalp, burring down excess bone, and filling the dent with bone cement.  That will fix the major issue, even though I'll still be far from having a perfect cranium.  I truly wish that I can just shave it all off someday and carry on with my life like a normal person, instead of a miserable, self-conscious, and socially-withdrawn twenty-something.  I believe that having my head fixed will put my closer to that goal, but I am concerned about scarring - I don't want to spend thousands of dollars only to look worse at the end of it.

Has anyone here had cranial surgery done that involved cutting through the scalp?  Would you be willing to share photos of your scars?  If I go for the surgery, a plastic surgeon should stitch the wound up as best as possible, but I still need to know what I'll be letting myself in for.

Many thanks.
rfn

[slymyke]

Hi rfn,

One pretty active member on the forum has mentioned a couple times that he has had several surgeries to his head.  You may try to send him a private message if he doesn't see your post.  His name is greatnessinc. 

[slybeard]

I would expect a good plastic surgeon could close the incision to prevent scaring.  They do that sort of thing all the time.  Make sure they (the surgeons) understand you will likely shave your head in the future and want it to be scar free - otherwise they will assume the scar will be hidden by your hair.

[Goatee]

To be honest, you are who and what you are! I have some scars on my head and to be honest who cares! Is it that bad? What are the risks? Are they worth it?

We are here to help mate. Have you shaved your head first to see how you feel?

[Tyler]

Have you tried shaving your head despite your dent?  I have major scars all over my torso due to surgeries when I was young and I still go to the public water parks, lakes, etc.  Sure, people will look and occasionally ask, but you get used to it over time.

[chgobuzzbald]

Have researched  Fillers  like Juvaderm  or Cosmoplast ?  My dermatologist  uses  them to fill in laugh lines.  I believe there are others used to fill out  sunken cheeks on certain patients.  I  would think a skilled cosmetic surgeon would want to try that before surgery. 

[rfn]

Hi Guys

Thank you for the replies so far.  I haven't been able to work up the courage to shave - the shortest that I've gone is a #2 buzz cut, and the dent was clearly visible.

I realize that plastic surgeons will try to minimize the appearance of a scar, but I don't know what a 'minimized' scar looks like.  I work in a corporate environment, and I hope to move into upper-management someday - and with the way the world works, I don't foresee that an abnormal, scarred individual will ever head up a department containing a couple of hundred employees - the world likes beautiful people.  At least sly guys appear to be dominant, so if I can get my head sorted out without a major scar, I still have a chance.

chgobuzzbald, I've spoken to a plastic surgeon about fillers, but that will only address the dent, not the raised bone around it.  The left side of my head is a lot higher than the right, almost in-line with my sagittal suture, and then it suddenly drops into the dent.  It doesn't make a nice, 'smooth' descent to from the top of my head to the side (if that makes sense).

[Liam]

The scar appearance has more to do with how well you heal, I mean besides the fact that the surgeon will try to make it as clean as possible and you have all the caution not to stretch it and stuff like that.

If you are going bald, is better to have the scar in a place where your hair is thinning, where you will have no hair in the future. If you get that grey shadow when you shave your head, the scar will be a lot more noticeable in those areas, since you will have hair growing around it but no hair will grow on it.

How big will be the scar and where exactly?

[rfn]

The scar appearance has more to do with how well you heal, I mean besides the fact that the surgeon will try to make it as clean as possible and you have all the caution not to stretch it and stuff like that.

If you are going bald, is better to have the scar in a place where your hair is thinning, where you will have no hair in the future. If you get that grey shadow when you shave your head, the scar will be a lot more noticeable in those areas, since you will have hair growing around it but no hair will grow on it.

How big will be the scar and where exactly?

I've reasoned about it in the same way - if there are any supplements that I can take to build up my immune system and improve my body's ability to heal itself, I'll strongly consider using them.

As for the location of my skull fracture; it's in my left parietal bone - so I figured that the best place to cut would be on top of my head, where my hair is thinning the most, rather than a cut in my 'power donut' on the side where it would be more visible.  It's up to a surgeon to tell me exactly how long the scar will be, but I would imagine that it'll be somewhere in the region of 2 - 3 inches.

[Semi-Sly]

I have had numerous plastic surgeries on my face and a few othe areas.  The ones done by the expensive cosmetic surgeons turned out the best.  They used really fine sutures an both times they gave me scar cream to rub into scar every day for at least two months after.  Those scars healed up almost undetecable.  I have one repair that was done on my chin
When I was a little boy.  That one was dressed by our family doctor and it still very apparent.

I had one repair done on the top of my skull.  It was done in an emergency room.  They had intended to simply staple my scalp back together.  I wouldn't let them because I didn't't want a Frankenstein scar.   The e-room doctor said "What is the problem, your hair will hide it". Even then I knew that someday my scalp would be making public appearances!  I made them close the wound using Super-glue.  While the scar itself is not too bad, there is an obvious dent on the top of my head?  Barbers always notice it but nobody else seems to stare at it

So if you are using a speciAlist plastic surgeon you should be O.K.  He will use very fine and tiny sutures. If you are religious about using scar cream for several months afterward YOU will be the only one who notices the scar!   I say; stop procrastinating ang get it over with.  It is not going to get any better while you wait.  The younger you are when you get this done the better your result will be.

I had two other procedures done just this year.  The scars on my chest healed beautifully.  they were closed by aplastic surgeon. .
The ones on my abdomen were done by a general surgeon they are not so good.

I will have another operation next week.  They wil make 6to 10 two inch incisions into my left arm.  Afterwards it will be casted and immobilized for four months.  I won,t be able to rub scar cream on any of the incisions so I am guessing that these scars will be pretty bad.  So what?  A few scars on a guy make him look dangerous!

[rss114]

I have never had surgery on my head but when I was 4 years old I had a tv fall on my head and it was not one of thoughts ultra thin ifs we have today left a good scar on my head about half a inch from my hairline and it's very visable with my sly head and unfortunately it's raised and I nic it with my ardor when I shave

[Semi-Sly]

And I bet that you are the only one who has ever noticed it.  Am I right?

[rfn]

I have had numerous plastic surgeries on my face and a few othe areas.  The ones done by the expensive cosmetic surgeons turned out the best.  They used really fine sutures an both times they gave me scar cream to rub into scar every day for at least two months after.  Those scars healed up almost undetecable.  I have one repair that was done on my chin
When I was a little boy.  That one was dressed by our family doctor and it still very apparent.

Thanks BBBA, you're starting to reinforce my trust in professional plastic surgeons.  Based on what you said, it sounds like it's a reasonable bet that I'll look quite alright if a plastic surgeon closes the wound (and I do my part with the scar cream).

Much appreciated.

[greatnessinc]

My last surgery was done very cleanly, however the one from when I was 10 is a lot rougher even though it was the same surgeon. Modern medical science has advanced greatly. I'm certain that if you do indeed decide to go with the surgery that the scaring will be minimal.

[rfn]

My last surgery was done very cleanly, however the one from when I was 10 is a lot rougher even though it was the same surgeon. Modern medical science has advanced greatly. I'm certain that if you do indeed decide to go with the surgery that the scaring will be minimal.

Thank you sir, much appreciated.

On that note, does anyone have a picture of their scars that they would be willing to share?