The agony and the ecstasy of deep brain stimulation surgery
I've had fully awake brain-surgery.
1990
I was under 16 years of age.
I had a tumor causing epileptic seizures. 
I had my right-temporal lobe completely removed.<p>I was talking to the surgeon while he worked on me.<p>They needed to communicate to (a) make sure they didn't affect my speech center, and (b) try to manually trigger a seizure (aura) to test if they were close.   I smell burnt toast Dr Penfield. 
[  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUOG2g4hj8s" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUOG2g4hj8s</a>  ]<p>The most painfull part of the procedure was getting the needles under my scalp to numb the skin (a local anesthesia)  before they drilled in.<p>The mostly used hand-tools.<p>2 holes were drilled (using a hand-drill).  They created a large reverse question mark, going from infront of my ear (in my sideburn), up around the 'corner' of my head, and then back towards the back of my head.<p>They used a hacksaw, and then the flap that was left over was laid back onto my head.<p>I'll be happy to answer any questions that anybody may have.