Parotid Reconstruction Surgery

At the Puerto Rico Voice and Swallowing Center, we are committed to providing modern, efficient, and patient-centered care. Therefore, reconstruction is a crucial step in parotid surgery, focused on restoring aesthetics and preventing complications.

This video explains the importance of reconstruction after parotid surgery. The main purpose is to fill the defect or “void” left after removing a tumor (benign or malignant) from the gland. We use two main methods: upward rotation of the neck muscle and the use of fat grafts.

Reconstruction helps prevent two main problems:

• Cosmetic Problem: It prevents the facial skin from sagging in the area where the tumor was removed, maintaining facial symmetry.
• Frey’s Syndrome (Gustatory Sweating): It reduces the possibility of this syndrome, in which the patient may sweat while chewing. This occurs when the nerves that previously innervated the parotid gland attach to the nerves in the skin, causing a sweating response to eating.

Integrating parotid gland bed reconstruction into our procedures allows us not only to resolve the oncological or tumorous problem, but also to prevent long-term aesthetic and functional issues.