Ok, I made the mistake of looking at an ES external surgery video on YouTube! This doctor kept cutting through layers and it looked like he was cutting through nerves/arteries? What exactly do they cut to get to the styoid?
Different surgeons have different techniques- some go in more behind the ear, some acroos the neck, most seem to go in through a crease in the neck, sort of parallel with the jaw line. Some do cut muscles to gain access, others are able to get inbetween the muscles, but none would cut through blood vessels or nerves, they would carefully go inbetween them- it’s a tricky surgery, which is why lots of doctors don’t want to operate! Most surgeons monitor nerves to make sure that they don’t stress them too much in surgery too.
Best not to watch surgeries online 
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I agree!! Thanks Jules!