Modified facelift approach combined with a superficial musculoaponeurotic system flap in the treatment of benign parotid tumors

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the adequacy of a modified facelift incision combined with an SMAS flap for the resection of benign parotid lesions in terms of cosmesis and incidence of Frey's syndrome.Materials and methodsA hundred patients who underwent superficial parotidectomy were divided into 2 groups according to approach: Blair incision (57 cases) and modified facelift incision (43 cases). In the latter group, 36 patients were reconstructed with a superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) flap. During follow-up, patients were asked to rate their satisfaction with their postoperative appearance using a 1 to 3 scale.ResultsClinical Frey's syndrome was present in 8.5% of patients with SMAS flap, and in 19% patients without SMAS flap (p = 0.16). The average cosmetic outcome score for patients who underwent a modified facelift approach combined with an SMAS flap was 2.87, whereas patients whose tumors were approached through a Blair incision reported a lower score of 2.1 (p < 0.005).ConclusionA modified facelift incision combined with an SMAS flap improved the cosmetic appearance of patients who underwent extrafacial or superficial parotidectomy. In addition, this flap seems to reduce the occurrence of Frey's syndrome.