The retroauricular hairline incision (RAHI) approach for head and neck surgery

Incisions in head and neck surgery are usually made along natural skin creases or esthetic units of the face and neck. Retroauricular hairline incisions have been reported to have cosmetic benefits for the removal of upper neck masses. Incisions were made along the postauricular sulcus and inside the hairline, and masses were removed after subcutaneous tunneling. This approach can be used for excision of most benign masses of the upper neck and for biopsy of malignant lesions. This postauricular approach, using a potentially invisible area, has clear cosmetic benefits compared with conventional cervical incisions. This approach will be helpful for patients with surgically indicated upper neck masses who would like to have invisible incision scars.