What to Expect After a Parotid Surgery Like Parotidectomy

A parotid surgery like parotidectomy may require several days or weeks of recovery. Parotidectomy, in simple terms, is the removal of the parotid glands (or the glands that are located below the ear region. The said glands are essential because they make saliva, which gains entry to the mouth by means of a duct or tube that is located near the back teeth.

A vast majority of tumors that develop in the parotid glands are benign. This means that they don’t lead to cancer. Regardless, your head and neck doctor may require you to undergo a  parotid surgery so as to ensure that your health and welfare won’t be compromised in any way. 

If you’re undergoing parotidectomy or any kind of parotid surgery, it’s best to familiarize yourself with what to expect after surgery and during the recovery stage. Read on for details. 

You’re going to have couple of stitches

After surgery, you’re going to be left with a couple of stitches. Your head and neck specialist may tell you when to come back to have them removed. In addition to this, you may still have a tube on your neck, but your doctor is going to take it out days after your parotid surgery.

You may experience difficulty swallowing 

For a few days after you return home, you could experience some difficulty swallowing and chewing. You can feel weak in your face and get numbness in your earlobe. Most people experience a 3–4 month recovery from these issues. However, it can take a whole year. Face-movement issues can occasionally be lifelong issues.

You need to be mindful of your activities

• Take a breather if you feel fatigued or exhausted. Also, your recovery period can be cut down if you get adequate sleep. 
• Try to walk for a couple of minutes on a daily basis. Start slowly and add a couple of distances gradually. This is important because walking increases blood flow, which reduces the risk of pneumonia and constipation.
• Don’t engage in strenuous physical activities for about three weeks or wait until your doctor allows you to do so. 

You may need to tweak your diet 

• Avoid consuming hard food such as raw chips or vegetables and avoid acidic food like tomatoes, lemons, oranges, etc., since they can irritate your throat. 
• Immediately following surgery, you could notice that your bowel movements are irregular. This is not a cause of concern. However, eating more fiber-rich foods can help if you want to improve your bowel movements and ask your doctor about using a mild laxative if you haven't had a bowel movement in a few days.

You need to practice proper incision care

• Wash the area around the incision with clean water twice a day after the first 24 to 48 hours. Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide can impede healing; avoid using them.

Summing up

These are only some of the things that you may experience after your parotidectomy or any kind of parotid surgery. In line with this, make sure to follow the advice of your head and neck specialist. By doing so, you may speed up the recovery process and reduce the chances of encountering complications.