MODIFIED FACELIFT INCISION FOR PAROTIDECTOMY

The most commonly used incision for parotidectomies is the modified Bl air incision. We have successfully used an alternative incision which allows good exposure, and leaves no neck scar. Between 1 March 1989 an d 1 August 1991, 18 parotidectomies were performed using a modified fa celift incision. Fifteen parotidectomies were done for similar indicat ions during the same period using a modified Blair incision. The mean age in both groups of patients was 40.3 years. The pathology and incid ence of complications was similar in the two groups. The difference in mean (+/- SD) time of surgery between the two groups was not statisti cally significant: 3.14 +/- 0.75 hours in patients with a modified fac elift incision and 3.25 +/- 1.27 hours in patients with a modified Bla ir incision (p>0.1). The modified facelift incision is an alternative approach to parotidectomy for selected patients. It provides adequate exposure, even for a total parotidectomy and mastoidectomy and it resu lts in improved patient satisfaction without additional risk of compli cations.