Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
What a craniotomy wound looks like afterwards | CION Cancer Clinics
A craniotomy usually leaves a long, thin line on the scalp, often curved behind the hairline and closed with clips or stitches. At first it looks red, raised and swollen. Over the following months it fades to a pale line that regrown hair often hides. This page shows what to expect, how to care for it at home, and which changes need a doctor the same day. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MM
Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
17+specialists on panel
15,000+patients treated
35+centres across Telangana & AP
4.8★ / 800+Google rating
On this page
- What will the wound on your head look like at first?
- How does the scar change as it heals?
- Why is your scar a different shape from someone else's?
- What do the words about the wound mean?
- What do families believe about the wound, and what is true?
- How do you look after the wound, and what can this page not tell you?
- Common questions about the craniotomy wound
The short answer
What will the wound on your head look like at first?
Most craniotomy wounds are a long, thin line on the scalp, closed with metal clips or stitches, and often curved just behind the hairline. In the first days it looks red, raised and a little puffy, with some dried blood along the edges, and that is normal for a healing cut.
Why it looks bigger than you expected
The surgeon has to fold back a flap of scalp to reach the skull, so the cut is usually longer than the opening in the bone underneath. A strip of hair around it is often shaved, which makes the line stand out more. The skin on either side may look swollen or bruised because the scalp has a rich blood supply and it bruises easily.
Why the cut is placed where it is
Your surgeon plans the line around the part of the brain to be reached, the scalp's blood vessels, and where hair will best hide the scar. The shape of yours says nothing about how serious the operation was.
Ask the team to show you the wound before you go home, so that you know what it looked like on the day of discharge and can notice changes.Week by week
How does the scar change as it heals?
-
The first few days
A dressing may cover the wound, or it may be left open to the air. The line is red and tender. Some swelling of the scalp and forehead is common, and the area around the cut may feel numb.
-
Clips or stitches come out
Unless they are the dissolving kind, they are usually removed within about two weeks, at the ward, a dressing clinic or by a nurse near your home. Your team will tell you the day. It stings briefly for most people.
-
The first couple of months
The line turns from red to pink and becomes flatter. Tiny holes where the clips sat fade. Itching is common as the skin knits and the hair starts to grow back around it.
-
Around a year
Most scalp scars settle into a pale, thin line, often hidden by hair. Numbness near the scar can take many months to improve, and a small area may stay numb.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistDifferent operations, different lines
Why is your scar a different shape from someone else's?
The cut follows what lies underneath. These are the shapes families most often see.
A curve behind the hairline
Often shaped like a question mark or a horseshoe on the side of the head. It is used to reach the front and side of the brain and usually hides well once hair regrows.
A straight line
Used on the top or back of the head for many operations. At the back of the head the line may run down towards the neck, where the thick neck muscles are also healing.
A small cut
Some operations need only a short cut, or a cut in the eyebrow or near the ear. These scars are small, but the swelling around them can still close an eye for a few days.
Whether a smaller cut is possible depends on the tumour, not on preference. Ask your surgeon why they chose the approach.A second operation
If you have had surgery before, the surgeon usually opens the old line again rather than making a new one. The scar may look slightly wider afterwards.
!
When the wound needs a doctor today
Call your surgical team or go to the nearest emergency department the same day if the wound opens, oozes pus or clear watery fluid, or the redness is spreading. The same applies to a fever, a soft swelling that keeps getting bigger, or new confusion, drowsiness or a fit. Do not put creams, oils or home remedies on it first and wait to see.
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
On your discharge sheet
What do the words about the wound mean?
- Clips or staples
- Small metal fasteners that hold the skin edges together. They are removed with a simple tool, not cut out.
- Absorbable sutures
- Stitches that dissolve on their own over some weeks and do not need to be taken out.
- Wound dehiscence
- The edges of the cut coming apart. It needs to be seen by the team quickly.
- Surgical site infection
- An infection in or under the wound. Signs include spreading redness, heat, pus and fever.
- Pin sites
- Small marks on the forehead or behind the ears where a frame held the head still during surgery. They heal within days.
Commonly believed
What do families believe about the wound, and what is true?
"Water must not touch the head until the scar is fully healed."
Most teams allow gentle hair washing with a mild shampoo once they say the wound is ready, often after the clips are out. Keeping the scalp clean helps healing. Ask your team when you can start rather than avoiding it for months.
"Coconut oil or turmeric paste will make it heal faster."
Oils, pastes and powders on a fresh wound can trap germs and hide early signs of infection. Keep the line clean and dry until the team says you can use a plain moisturiser on the healed scar.
"A dip near the scar means the operation went wrong."
A small dent is common, often near the temple where the jaw muscle was lifted, or over holes drilled in the bone. It rarely means anything is wrong, but mention it at your follow-up.
"An itchy scar is an infected scar."
Itching is usually a sign of skin knitting and hair growing back. Infection brings spreading redness, heat, pus or fever. Try not to scratch, and keep nails short.
At home
How do you look after the wound, and what can this page not tell you?
Check the wound daily in good light, or ask a family member to. A daily phone photo makes changes easier to see.
Simple things that help
Sleep with your head slightly raised for the first nights. Avoid tight caps, helmets and hair clips over the line until the team says it is fine. Keep the scar out of strong sun for the first year, because new scars darken easily. Do not dye or chemically treat your hair until the wound has fully healed.
Who this does not describe
If you are having radiotherapy or chemotherapy after surgery, your scalp may heal more slowly and the hair around the scar may grow back differently. People with diabetes, or those on steroid medicines, also tend to heal more slowly.
What this page cannot tell you
This page cannot judge your own wound. Only someone who can see it can say whether a change is normal. When in doubt, send a clear photo to your team.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about the craniotomy wound
Will the scar show once my hair grows back?
For most people with a scar behind the hairline, regrown hair covers it well. The line itself stays hairless, so it may show if you wear your hair very short, have thinning hair, or part your hair along it. A scar on the forehead or near the ear may stay visible, though it usually fades to a pale line.
Why does the area around the scar feel numb?
Small nerves in the scalp are cut when the skin is opened. The skin beyond the cut, often towards the top of the head, loses feeling for a while. Feeling usually returns slowly over months, sometimes with tingling or itching as it does. A small patch can stay numb for good, and this is not harmful.
Does it hurt when the clips are removed?
Most people feel a quick pinch or sting as each clip comes out, and it is over within minutes. Taking your usual pain tablet beforehand, if your team allows it, can help. Tell the nurse if any part of the wound looks open or wet, because they may leave a few clips in for longer.
There is a soft, squishy lump near the scar. Is that normal?
A soft swelling under the scalp can be fluid collecting after surgery. Small ones often settle on their own, but it needs to be checked. Tell your team the same day if it is growing, feels tight, or if clear fluid leaks from the wound. Do not press on it or try to drain it.
When can I wash my hair?
This varies between surgeons, so follow your own discharge sheet. Many allow gentle washing once the wound is dry and closed. Use a mild shampoo, let water run over the line rather than rubbing it, and pat it dry with a clean towel. Avoid swimming pools until the team says the wound has healed.
Can anything make the scar less noticeable?
Time does most of the work. Once the wound has fully healed, keeping it moisturised and out of strong sun helps it fade. Silicone scar gels are sometimes suggested. If the scar becomes thick, raised or keeps itching after many months, ask your team whether a skin specialist should look at it.
Can I wear a cap or scarf over the wound?
A loose, clean cotton cap or scarf is usually fine once the wound is dry, and many people feel more comfortable going out with one. Avoid anything tight that rubs the line or presses on a swelling. Wash it often. Helmets should wait until your surgeon says the wound and bone are ready.
I am caring for my parent. What should I check each day?
Look at the whole length of the wound for spreading redness, pus, clear fluid or gaps. Notice any new swelling, fever, drowsiness, confusion or fits. Note whether they are eating, drinking and taking their medicines. Keep the discharge sheet and the team's number by the phone, and call if anything worries you.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
Sources
- Cancer Research UK — Brain tumours
- NHS — Scars
- American Cancer Society — Brain and spinal cord tumors in adults
- Cancer.Net — Brain tumor
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Hair Shaving and Regrowth After Brain SurgeryHow much hair goes, and how it grows back around the scarCSF Leak After Brain SurgeryWhat clear fluid from the wound can meanWound, Stitches and ScarsWound care after any cancer operationComplications and Red FlagsWarning signs after surgery, in one place
Talk to us
Worried about how a wound is healing?
Tell us what surgery was done and what you are seeing. We will help you reach the right specialist. One helpline serves every CION centre.