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.I was talking to the surgeon while he worked on me.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. 
[  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUOG2g4hj8s  ]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.The mostly used hand-tools.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.They used a hacksaw, and then the flap that was left over was laid back onto my head.I'll be happy to answer any questions that anybody may have.