🗣️ ENT Aftercare
Parotidectomy Aftercare Instructions
A day-by-day recovery guide for parotidectomy: what to expect, how to care for yourself, and when to call. Free to read and print.
Typical recovery: about 21 daysENT
What to expect
Facial Nerve Awareness
- •The facial nerve runs through the parotid gland. Temporary weakness is common and usually improves.
- •Permanent facial nerve injury is rare (less than 5%) with experienced surgeons
- •If eye closure is incomplete, protect the eye aggressively with drops and ointment to prevent corneal damage
Parotidectomy recovery, day by day
Day 0 (Surgery Day)
Immediate Post-Op
- A surgical drain will be in place near the incision (typically removed in 1 to 3 days)
- Keep head elevated at 30 to 45 degrees to reduce swelling
- Apply ice to the side of the face: 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for the first 48 hours
- Take prescribed pain medication and antibiotics on schedule
Diet and Activity
- Start with clear liquids, advance to soft foods as tolerated
- Chewing may cause discomfort; cut food into small pieces and chew on the opposite side
- No heavy lifting (over 10 lbs), bending, or straining for 2 weeks
- No driving while on prescription pain medication or while drain is in place
Day 1-7
Drain and Wound Care
- Keep the drain site clean; empty the drain bulb as instructed (record output)
- Drain is typically removed at 1 to 3 days when output drops below 20mL per 24 hours
- After drain removal, keep incision clean and dry for 48 hours
- Steri-strips or sutures will be removed at your follow-up (7 to 10 days)
Facial Nerve Monitoring
- Temporary facial weakness on the surgical side occurs in up to 20% of cases and usually resolves in weeks to months
- Practice facial expressions in a mirror: smile, raise eyebrows, close eyes tightly
- If you cannot fully close your eye, use artificial tears during the day and eye ointment at night to prevent corneal dryness
- Report any complete inability to move one side of the face to your surgeon immediately
Day 8-14
Healing Progress
- Swelling and numbness around the ear and jaw are normal and resolve over weeks to months
- You may notice sweating on the cheek while eating (Frey syndrome); report this at follow-up
- Resume a normal diet as tolerated; start with soft foods and progress as chewing comfort improves
- Light activity (walking, desk work) is typically fine; avoid strenuous exercise until day 21
Day 15-21
Recovery wraps up
- Numbness around the ear and lower face gradually improves over 3 to 6 months
- Facial nerve function should continue to improve; full recovery may take up to 12 months
- Resume all normal activities including exercise after surgeon clearance
- Attend follow-up for pathology results and long-term monitoring plan
When to call your provider or 911
- •Fever above 101.5°F (38.6°C) that doesn't respond to medication
- •Uncontrolled bleeding that doesn't stop with pressure
- •Severe pain not managed by prescribed medication
- •Signs of allergic reaction: hives, swelling of face/throat, difficulty breathing
- •Chest pain, shortness of breath, or rapid heartbeat
- •Redness, warmth, or pus at the incision site (signs of infection)
- •Sudden increase in swelling or pain after initial improvement
- •Numbness or tingling that worsens
- •Complete inability to move one side of the face (forehead, eye, or mouth)
- •Rapid swelling under the skin near the incision (possible hematoma)
- •Drainage that becomes cloudy, foul-smelling, or increases after initially decreasing
- •Fever above 101.5 degrees F (38.6 degrees C)
- •Inability to close the eye fully with dryness, redness, or pain in the eye
When in doubt, call your clinic. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Recovery milestones
- Day 2
Drain removed
Surgical drain removed when output is minimal
- Day 10
Sutures removed
Incision check and suture or staple removal
- Day 21
Expected return to full activity
Return to exercise and normal routine
- Day 21
Expected recovery
Numbness resolving, facial nerve function assessed
For clinics
Stop photocopying aftercare sheets.
QR Rx sends this exact parotidectomy recovery plan to every patient, branded to your practice, opened by a QR code. It checks in automatically, answers post-op questions, asks for a review at the right moment, and brings patients back for their next visit. The aftercare you already owe every patient, doing the work of keeping them.
HIPAA compliant. No credit card. Cancel anytime.