Dr. Blaylock practiced neurosurgery for 24 years, after which he retired to devote full time to writing, lecturing and research. He attended Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed his surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. He trained with the esteemed neurosurgeon Dr. Ludwig Kempe, world famous teacher and neurosurgeon.

Together with Dr. Kempe they developed the transcollosal removal of intraventricular tumors, which is still used today. Dr. Blaylock presented their cases utilizing this technique to the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. They also developed the ventriculolymphatic shunt in the treatment of hydrocephalus. In addition, they conducted neuroanatomical studies together with the aim of developing improved approaches in vascular intracranial surgery.

It was during his residency that Dr. Blaylock did much of the primary work on intraventricular monitoring of craniocerebral trauma patients, which was reported in scientific literature. He also worked closely with Dr. Peter Jannetta during Dr. Jennetta's early research on vascular compression of the cranial nerves as a cause of trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm.