I have come across many people that are concerned more than anything about the scar that you are left with after decompression surgery.

I have to say, with a little humour in mind, that it's mainly the ladies that voice the concern...... but I do understand the reasons why to be honest. But then again, in the main they are able to "hide it" generally a lot easier.

It isn't exactly a small scar, usually from the "ball" of your head down to where you can normally feel your first vertebra seems to be the norm.

The picture seems to make the scar look a little crooked, but I think its the way I may have been sitting at the time. I have only just noticed this on the photo to be honest. My scar is very straight, and as it progresses it looks better day by day and week by week.

Now, I have always had very short cropped hair, especially at the back, so mine is blatantly visible most of the time, either in its entirety or behind a small amount of growth. Below my hair line, it is always visible.

I tend to wear mine with pride, as there is very little that I can do about it anyway, and am not going to grow a pony tail under any circumstances. This is where you ladies have an advantage over us guys.(If you chose to do so that is.

The scar is often referred to as a zipper......I first heard it used by Chiarians from the USA, but it does actually do very well to describe the look of it if you have staples to close the wound after surgery.

It does sound a little gruesome, and doesn't look great straight after the surgery, but the human body has a superb skill in that it heals itself very quickly. Mine was nicely healed after just 6 days, and although it didn't feel like it at the time it was quit strong when I left hospital.

I had no issues with healing at all afterwards, I kept it dry when in hospital until the stitches were removed, and maintained its cleanliness afterwards by applying a thin coat of Savlon to keep it clean and moist and to act as a barrier against nasties getting into it. Not sure if this is medically approved practice or not, but it worked for me.

When it as "fully healed and closed" about 2 weeks after surgery, I started to apply "Bio oil" as a result of a recommendation from a lady that I have met on one of the forums. This is a great snippet of advice! I understand from good authority that ladies use it during and after pregnancy to combat the old stretch mark thing? Well, I can honestly say that my scar is healing very nicely and have long lost the "redness" generally and it has helped with the visual appearance greatly.

I guess I was again lucky, as I do know of others that have had small wound infections and the like, nothing too serious, but enough to keep an eye on it all the same......if this happens I would recommend seeking advice immediately as leaving it to either fester or go away on its own will only lead to complications.

I wear my "zip" with pride, I don't honestly care of people see it or not. I do hear comments from people behind me in supermarket queues sometimes.......I might have a big brain but my ears work perfectly! But hey, it's a talking point and your opportunity to turn round and bore them to death and to meet new friends ;)

Take a look at the gallery and have a look at my zip!

Gallery

Other Links:

Does Chiari and Syringomyelia affect everyone in the same way?
Chiari and Syringomyelia Symptoms
How I explained it to my young kids