Parotidectomy
What is Parotidectomy?
Parotidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the parotid gland, located in front of the ear and over the jaw, typically to treat benign or malignant tumors, chronic infections, or stones causing obstruction. It requires careful handling to avoid damaging the facial nerve, which controls facial movements. In India, parotidectomy is performed in ENT or head and neck surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Parotidectomy?
Parotidectomy is indicated for:
- Parotid tumors:
- Benign: Pleomorphic adenoma (most common, 70–80% of cases), Warthin’s tumor.
- Malignant: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma (10–20% of cases).
- Symptoms: Painless lump in front of the ear, facial asymmetry.
- Chronic infections:
- Recurrent parotitis: Persistent infections not responding to antibiotics.
- Salivary stones (sialolithiasis):
- Stones causing obstruction, swelling, or infection (if not removable via minimally invasive methods).
- Types:
- Superficial parotidectomy: Removes the outer part of the gland (most common).
- Total parotidectomy: Removes the entire gland (for malignancy or extensive disease).
- Partial parotidectomy: Removes only the tumor with a margin of healthy tissue.
The procedure aims to remove the diseased gland or tumor, prevent recurrence, and preserve facial nerve function to maintain facial movement and symmetry.
Why Do Parotidectomy Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹80,000 to ₹2.5 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Superficial parotidectomy (₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh); total parotidectomy (₹1.5–2.5 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹1.5–2.5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹30,000–₹60,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced head and neck surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹10,000–₹20,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), imaging/biopsy (₹5,000–₹15,000), medications (₹2,000–₹5,000).
- Insurance: Covered for medical necessity (e.g., tumors, infections); confirm with your provider.
Parotidectomy Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: Determines tumor type (benign vs. malignant).
- Ultrasound/CT/MRI: Assesses tumor size, location, and relation to facial nerve.
- Blood tests: Blood sugar, clotting profile.
- Facial nerve assessment: Checks for pre-existing facial weakness.
- Consent: Risks, including facial nerve injury, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Parotidectomy:
- Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 2–4 hours.
- Incision: S-shaped or modified Blair incision (in front of and behind the ear, 6–8 cm).
- Facial nerve dissection:
- Facial nerve identified and preserved using a nerve monitor.
- Nerve branches carefully dissected to avoid injury (runs through the gland).
- Gland removal:
- Superficial parotidectomy: Removes the superficial lobe (lateral to the nerve).
- Total parotidectomy: Removes both superficial and deep lobes (for malignancy).
- Tumor excised with a margin of healthy tissue to prevent recurrence.
- Drain: A small drain is placed to prevent fluid buildup (removed in 1–3 days).
- Incision closed with sutures; a dressing is applied.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Facial nerve monitor: Detects nerve activity to prevent injury.
- Harmonic scalpel: Minimizes bleeding.
- Microscope: Enhances precision during nerve dissection.
- Parotidectomy:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: 2–4 days.
- Care: Keep incision dry; drain care until removed (1–3 days).
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days; managed with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Instructions: Avoid heavy lifting for 2–3 weeks; facial exercises if nerve weakness occurs.
Recovery After Parotidectomy
- Hospital Stay: 2–4 days.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Mild to moderate pain at incision site for 3–7 days; swelling resolves in 2–3 weeks.
- Drain: Removed in 1–3 days once fluid output is minimal.
- Facial function: Temporary weakness common (20–40%); resolves in 1–3 months for most; permanent weakness rare (2–5%).
- Activity: Rest for 3–5 days; avoid strenuous activity for 2–3 weeks.
- Incision care: Keep dry for 7–10 days; sutures removed at 1 week.
- Diet: Normal diet unless swallowing affected (rare); chew on opposite side for 1–2 weeks.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (suture/drain removal), 1 month, and 3 months.
- Pathology report: Confirms tumor type and margins (1–2 weeks post-op).
- Facial nerve assessment: At 1 month if weakness persists.
Most resume normal activities in 1–2 weeks; full recovery takes 4–6 weeks. Success rate: 90–95% achieve tumor removal without recurrence (benign tumors); malignancy outcomes vary (5-year survival 50–80% depending on stage).
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Facial nerve injury (2–5% permanent): Weakness or paralysis of facial muscles; temporary weakness (20–40%) resolves in weeks.
- Bleeding (1–3%): Hematoma at surgical site; may need drainage.
- Infection (2–5%): Wound infection; treated with antibiotics.
- Post-Surgery:
- Frey’s syndrome (10–20%): Sweating/flushing on cheek while eating (due to nerve crossover); managed with Botox if severe.
- Salivary fistula (2–5%): Saliva leakage from incision; usually resolves spontaneously.
- Numbness (5–10%): Around ear due to nerve sacrifice (great auricular nerve); improves over months.
- Recurrence (5–10%): Pleomorphic adenoma may recur if not fully excised; malignancy recurrence depends on stage.
- Long-Term:
- Cosmetic deformity (2–5%): Hollowing at surgical site; may need fillers or flap reconstruction.
- Dry mouth (1–3%): If significant gland removal; usually mild.
Report facial weakness, fever, swelling, or saliva leakage promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes parotid gland issues?
Tumors (benign or malignant), chronic infections, or salivary stones; risk factors include radiation exposure or smoking (for malignancy).
Can I avoid parotidectomy?
Yes, for small stones: Sialendoscopy or conservative management; surgery is for tumors or persistent infections.
Is parotidectomy painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days, managed with medication; discomfort reduces in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume activities?
Normal activities: 1–2 weeks; full recovery: 4–6 weeks; avoid heavy lifting for 2–3 weeks.
Is parotidectomy covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for medical necessity; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Facial weakness, fever, swelling, or saliva leakage.
Will I have facial paralysis after surgery?
Temporary weakness common (20–40%), resolves in 1–3 months; permanent paralysis rare (2–5%).
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Avoid chewing on surgical side initially, facial exercises if weakness occurs, and attend follow-ups for recurrence checks.
Conclusion
Parotidectomy is an effective procedure to treat parotid gland tumors or chronic conditions, with a high success rate for tumor removal while prioritizing facial nerve preservation. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult an ENT or head and neck surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Parotidectomy
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ahmedabad |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Ajmer |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Aligarh |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Allahabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Amritsar |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Aurangabad |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Bangalore |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Bareilly |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Belgaum |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Bhopal |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Bikaner |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Chandigarh |
1,20,000 |
3,00,000 |
Chennai |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Dehradun |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Delhi |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Durgapur |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Faridabad |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Guntur |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Gurgaon |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Guwahati |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Gwalior |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Hyderabad |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Indore |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Jabalpur |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jaipur |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Jamshedpur |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Jodhpur |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kanpur |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kochi |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Kolkata |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Kollam |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Lucknow |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Ludhiana |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Madurai |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Mangalore |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Meerut |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Moradabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Mumbai |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Mysore |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Nagpur |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Nashik |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Noida |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Patna |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Pune |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Raipur |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Rajkot |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Ranchi |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Surat |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Thane |
1,20,000 |
3,50,000 |
Vadodara |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Varanasi |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
1,00,000 |
3,00,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.