Capital Plastic Surgery, specialist plastic surgeon. Head and Neck Cancer Surgery. Includes salivary gland, mouth and lip, neck lumps, advanced skin cancer. Clinics in Lower Hutt, Porirua and Palmerston North. Wellington region.

Head & neck cancer surgery
Specialist plastic surgeon

Lower Hutt · Porirua · Palmerston North
Capital Plastic Surgery, specialist plastic surgeon. Head and Neck Cancer Surgery. Includes salivary gland, mouth and lip, neck lumps, advanced skin cancer. Clinics in Lower Hutt, Porirua and Palmerston North. Wellington region.

Head & neck cancer surgery
Specialist plastic surgeon

Lower Hutt · Porirua · Palmerston North
Capital Plastic Surgery - Head and Neck Cancer Surgery. Includes salivary gland, mouth and lip, neck lumps, advanced skin cancer. Clinics in Lower Hutt, Porirua and Palmerston North. Wellington region.

Head and neck cancer surgeries

Head and neck cancer is used to describe cancers that arise in a person’s mouth, throat, nasal cavity and salivary glands. It includes large skin cancers of the head and neck as well as cancers that have spread to the lymph nodes of the neck.

Management of head and neck cancers involves a thorough examination, often including:

  • Use of telescopes to look inside the nose and throat
  • CT scans and/or ultrasound scans
  • Biopsies – in clinic or with a radiologist using an Ultrasound scan
  • Followed by a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Surgery is the main treatment for many head and neck cancers.

Salivary gland
Mouth and lip
Neck lump
Advanced skin cancer

Salivary gland surgery

Overview of the condition

The Parotid gland is the largest salivary gland and is found in front of the ears and behind the jaw. This gland has the facial nerve running through the middle and this nerve controls the muscles of the face. The gland also contains lymph nodes.

Most salivary gland tumours occur here and the majority of these are benign, although they do present a small risk of becoming cancerous. The gland is also an area where skin cancers from the scalp and ear can spread to.

A parotidectomy is a procedure performed to remove all or part of the parotid gland with the goal of preserving the facial nerve.

Other salivary glands include:

  • The Submandibular gland, which is the second biggest of the salivary glands and is found in the upper neck just under the jaw line.
  • The Sublingual gland, which is located in the floor of the mouth on either side of the tongue.
  • Tumours in these two glands are less common but are more likely to be cancerous.

Most salivary gland tumours are non-cancerous and are usually found in the parotid glands. Cancerous tumours of the salivary glands are either primary (originating in the gland) or secondary (having spread there from another part of the head and neck, usually the scalp). Cancerous tumours require an additional procedure to remove the lymph nodes from the neck.

Types of salivary gland surgery include:

  • Partial parotidectomy – where only part of the gland is removed, preserving the facial nerve.
  • Total parotidectomy – where all of the gland is removed and the facial nerve is preserved
  • Radical parotidectomy – where all of the gland and the facial nerve are removed together. This is performed when the cancer has surrounded the facial nerve and this cannot be safely preserved.
  • Neck dissection – where lymph nodes are removed from the side of the neck where cancer is at risk of spreading.
  • Facial Reanimation – where part of the function of the facial muscles is reconstructed when the facial nerve has been removed.
  • Submandibular gland and sublingual gland surgery – where these glands are removed either through the neck or the mouth

Your initial consultation

  • Length of initial consultation: 30 mins
  • If imaging/x-rays required: You are likely to require an MRI scan to evaluate a lump in a salivary gland. You may also need a needle biopsy of the lump

Key facts about the operation

  • Length of surgery on the day: 2 -3 hours
  • Anaesthesia: General anaesthetic
  • Length of stay in hospital: 1 -2 nights in hospital
  • Discharged home, sometimes with a plastic drain to remove excess fluid from under the skin

Post surgery recovery

  • Return to light work and use: Usually 2 weeks
  • First follow up appointment: 7 days after surgery
  • Sutures removed: 1 – 2 weeks after surgery

Referral required

  • If you have private medical insurance and wish to claim through your insurance provider, you will need a referral from your GP or another appropriate medical practitioner.

Mouth and lip cancer surgery

Overview of the condition

Cancers occurring in the mouth are also called Oral Cavity Cancers. A majority of these cancers arise from the cells lining the surface of the mouth (Squamous cell carcinoma or SCC) while some arise from minor salivary glands. These cancers have a high risk of spreading to the lymph nodes and surgery is the main form of treatment for these.

Structures of the mouth have specialised anatomy and function so surgical removal of many mouth and lip cancers requires reconstructive surgery. This will be explained to you in more detail if it is required.

Your initial consultation

  • Length of initial consultation: 30 mins
  • If imaging/x-rays required: A CT scan is required to assess the lymph nodes in the neck and chest. You may also require an MRI scan to look at the deeper soft tissues in the head and neck

Key facts about the operation

  • Length of surgery on the day: 1 to 8 hours depending on the complexity of operation
  • Anaesthesia: General anaesthetic
  • Length of stay in hospital: Overnight for smaller procedures and up to 7 days if complex reconstruction is required
  • You may be discharged with a small plastic drain to remove excess fluid from under the skin. District nurses will check this every day until it is ready to be removed.

Post surgery recovery

  • Return to light work and use: Usually 2 weeks but may be longer if major head and neck reconstruction is required
  • First follow up appointment: 7 – 10 days after surgery
  • Sutures removed:  2 weeks after surgery

Referral required

  • If you have private medical insurance and wish to claim through your insurance provider, you will need a referral from your GP or another appropriate medical practitioner.

Neck lumps and neck cancer surgery

Overview of the condition

A lump in the neck that has been present for more than 4 weeks is usually associated with a swollen lymph node. These need to be carefully assessed as they can sometimes represent cancer of the lymph nodes or possibly spread from another part of the body. Treatment is determined by the underlying cause of the neck lump and this may require surgery.

Your initial consultation

  • Length of initial consultation: 30 mins
  • If imaging/x-rays required: You will likely need a CT scan to evaluate the rest of the lymph nodes in the head and neck as well as a biopsy of the lump with ultrasound scan guidance

Key facts about the operation

  • Length of surgery on the day: 1 – 2 hours depending on the type of surgery
  • Anaesthesia: General anaesthetic
  • Length of stay in hospital: Day procedure (you go home the same day) for a lymph node biopsy, or 2-3 nights for neck dissection surgery
  • You may be discharged with a small plastic drain to remove excess fluid from under the skin. District nurses will check this every day until it is ready to be removed.

Post surgery recovery

  • Return to light work and use: Usually 2 weeks
  • First follow up appointment: 1 week after surgery
  • Sutures removed: 1 – 2 weeks after surgery

Referral required

  • If you have private medical insurance and wish to claim through your insurance provider, you will need a referral from your GP or another appropriate medical practitioner.

Advanced skin cancer surgery

Overview of the condition

Skin cancer can range from more less aggressive lesions such as basal cell carcinoma through to high risk cancers such as melanoma. Specialised surgical treatment is provided for of all types of skin cancer, including all aspects of reconstructive surgery. This includes skin cancers that have spread to lymph nodes in the neck.

Your initial consultation

  • Length of initial consultation: 20 mins
  • If imaging/x-rays required: None required

Key facts about the operation

  • Length of surgery on the day: 30 – 45 mins
  • Anaesthesia: Local anaesthetic
  • Length of stay in hospital: Day procedure (you go home the same day)
  • Discharged with bandages

Post surgery recovery

  • Return to light work and use: Usually the next day
  • First follow up appointment: 1 – 2 weeks after surgery
  • Sutures removed: 1 week after surgery

Referral required

  • If you have private medical insurance and wish to claim through your insurance provider, you will need a referral from your GP or another appropriate medical practitioner.

Head & neck cancer surgery | Our clinic locations

Greater Wellington Region & Palmerston North

Lower Hutt   ·   Porirua   ·   Palmerston North