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Experts Offer Tips, Insights on Common Head and Neck Surgical Procedures

by Thomas R. Collins •

“Over the last decade, I’ve found that by mobilizing remnant tissues in the area,” either by raising the sternocleidomastoid muscle forward or using the remaining areas of the parotid,“I’m usually able to mask the defect very nicely.”

Thomas R. Collins is a freelance medical writer based in Florida.

Take-Home Points

  • Using sutures to demarcate the margin in a partial glossectomy can be a useful technique.
  • Consider using blunt dissection when looking for blood vessels.
  • Maintaining tension is critical when dissecting over the internal jugular vein.
  • After the first parotid incision, retracting the tissue toward (rather than away from) the surgeon can offer better access.