It's possible to have a headache following any type of surgery.

However, they are more common with surgeries that involve the head or face. This is because the nerves there are sensitive and can be damaged during surgery. Surgery can exacerbate an existing headache disorder or cause a post-traumatic headache.

The most common surgery types that cause headaches include:

Craniotomy (opening the skull) for brain surgery4 Dental surgery or tooth extraction5

Sinus surgery Surgery involving head lacerations or head trauma