Parotidectomy: A plastic approach

Three disadvantages are frequent after parotidectomy: a scar affecting the neck, a deep hollow between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the mandible (the larger the resection is, the deeper is the hollow), and a sweat secre tion. These disadvantages can be prevented or reduced by using four simple procedures. (1) using a facelift incision; (2) using a very simple and orig inal "trick," by displacing outward the posterior belly of the digastric mu scle; (3) using a flap with an upper pedicle taken from the sternocleidomas toid muscle; and (4) using a double free graft, taken from the superficial and deep temporal fascias. These two grafts lay down on the net constituted by the preceding flaps. They line the skin, thus blocking the wrong innerv ation.