A local anesthetic, similar to the one used by dentists, is injected and will cause a brief burning sensation. A thin needle is used to place the sphenoidal wire. The needle is removed but the wire stays in place. A small amount of antibiotic ointment is placed at the entry site, and the area is covered with a plastic bandage. For 4 to 6 hours, your face will feel numb and you may have some difficulty chewing.
Some patients feel an ache in their cheek after the anesthetic wears off.
Tylenol helps to relieve this discomfort. The wires are left in place for your entire stay in the hospital. The removal is simple and virtually painless. At the end of your Long Term Monitoring, we gently pull out the wires. The sphenoidal electrodes leave no permanent marks.