I belong to several forums, this is the one I much prefer. We all have something in common, by either going through it, about to, or having loved ones and friends who have.
With the Technology available today almost anything is possible. I will not say that it is a walk in the park, but it is not near so bad as one might suppose. If it is any consolation to anyone about to experience this procedure.
Let me just say this. I had two open surgeries, in both cases I had a bad case of the shingles. They were far worse, as far as pain was concerned, than the operations.