Tyler Plastic Surgery

When located in the head and neck, cancerous tumors can cause both functional and cosmetic problems for patients. Head and neck cancer treatment and reconstruction is the best way to prevent disfigurement from head and neck tumors.

About Head And Neck Cancer Reconstruction

• Areas Affected By Head And Neck Cancer
• Head And Neck Cancer Treatment
• Recovery After Head And Neck Cancer Treatment

Areas Affected By Head And Neck Cancer

What areas can be disfigured by head and neck cancer?

When cancer is found in the head and neck region, tumors and the removal of tumors can result in disfigurement of the affected areas, causing cosmetic and functional problems for patients.

The areas commonly affected in this way by head and neck cancer include the:

• Lips
• Floor of the mouth
• Lower jaw
• Oral cavity soft tissue
• Tongue
• Back of the throat
• Any area of skin

Tumor growth and the removal of tumors from any of the above areas may result in a number of functional problems that can affect the voice, speech, swallowing and chewing, as well as cause unsightly facial deformity.

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Head And Neck Cancer Treatment

Surgery to remove tumors and reconstruct head and neck areas

Skin-sparing techniques, such as Mohs skin cancer removal surgery, are typically used to remove cancer from the head and neck area while preserving the most possible healthy tissue in the area.

It is important, of course, that all cancerous tissue be removed to prevent tumor recurrence, however current surgical techniques allow surgeons to thoroughly remove all cancerous tissue from an area without taking a large amount of surrounding healthy tissue. This reduces the severity of disfigurement caused by head and neck cancer treatment.

Any number of flap reconstructive surgery techniques may then be used to restore healthy tissue in areas from which tumors have been removed, further reducing scarring and deformity following excision of cancerous tumors. This may involve microsurgery as well.

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Recovery After Head And Neck Cancer Treatment

Healing after cancer removal and reconstruction

After your cancer removal and head and neck reconstruction procedure, discomfort may be managed with pain medication. If flap reconstruction is performed, it will be important to keep your surgical site elevated, keep your body warm and refrain from smoking or using other products containing nicotine.

Rehabilitation and speech therapy may be an important part of your recovery process folliwng head and neck cancer treatment, so be sure to commit to following the advice of physical and speech therapists during your recovery period.

Removing a cancerous tumor and reconstructing the affected area will not, in any way, prevent cancer from recurring, so it is imperative that you remain vigilant in checking for cancer recurrence after head and neck cancer treatment and reconstruction.

It is also important to follow all pre- and post-operative care instructions provided by Dr. Motlagh and continue to visit Tyler Plastic Surgery for follow-up appointments. Dr. Motlagh will monitor your healing progress during the recovery period to help ensure optimal head and neck cancer reconstruction results are achieved.

The Tyler Plastic Surgery office, located in Tyler, Texas, provides a convenient central location for head and neck cancer reconstruction patients from Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano and Shreveport.

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