Paraumbilical fat graft for the correction of contour deformity following parotidectomy and prevention of Frey syndrome.

Following parotidectomy, patients develop retromandibular hollowing. A case series of patients for whom a free paraumbilical graft was used to reconstruct the parotid bed defect is presented here. This graft is harvested through a supra/sub-umbilical or suprapubic incision. Over-correction of approximately 50% is required due to atrophy and resorption with time. The graft is harvested with the overlying dermis and the graft should not be filleted, as this can cause necrosis. An antibiotic membrane is placed between the graft and the underlying bed and the graft is secured with Vicryl sutures. Since 1997, 130 patients have been treated successfully with this method. Regarding complications, nine patients developed a seroma, four developed a haematoma, two suffered graft liquefaction, and one suffered an infection with frank suppuration and loss of the graft. However, no complications have been noted in the most recent 70 patients. The incidence of Frey syndrome also appeared to be reduced. The paraumbilical fat graft appears to be a successful and reliable method of correcting facial defects after a superficial or total parotidectomy. The graft can also be used to correct temporal defects and has the added advantage of reducing Frey syndrome.