I had brain surgery after a car accident about 5 weeks ago. I still a swelling on the right side of my head near the incision it is a very soft lump and isn't painful. Does anyone know when it will go away?

If it's a soft lump, and the bone is still intact under the lump, then it should go away.

It sounds like it's either a hematoma (old blood as in a bruise), or tissue flooded with fluid.

Any swelling after injury (accidental or planned... as in surgery), is normal and is the result of a natural inflammatory process.

When damage occurs to the small blood vessels in the body, for example when they're cut during surgery, leakage of a thin yellowish serum occurs into the surrounding tissue. This is the fluid you've probably seen when you've had a blister at some stage.

If the swelling has not started to subside after (say) 3 months, I suggest that you contact your surgeon.

We do have a Traumatic Brain Injury Forum here, and maybe you might get some information there.
Here's the link : http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html

sir/madam
i got to a case in a patient got accident and doctor reported that a nerve near his forehead has cut off in accident .
he underwent an operation of costing 2 lacs of indian currency. the operation went good . he was shifted from icu to general ward after 3 days .he could recognise his wife and was in conscious. but a day after his condition went worse and pulse went down very low aboy 4 -6. doctors scanned and reported his brain was swelling. so they gave up .he died after 2 days .what could have been the possible reason .... please make me aware........