Plastic surgery after oral cancer

Reconstructive surgery may use tissue from another part of your body, a graft, an implant, or a combination of approaches. The plan depends on which structures were removed, whether the jaw or tongue is involved, previous radiotherapy, and your general health. Some reconstruction happens during tumour removal; another operation may be planned later.

The aim is functional as well as cosmetic. A reconstruction team may consider mouth opening, chewing, swallowing, speech, facial balance, saliva flow, and dental rehabilitation. Healing can be slower in tissue affected by radiotherapy, so follow-up may include surgeons, dentists, speech and swallowing specialists, and dietitians.

Ask which area will provide donor tissue, how the reconstruction will affect eating and speaking, and whether a temporary feeding tube or dental support may be needed. Bring a complete medication list and mention smoking, diabetes, blood-thinning medicines, and previous radiotherapy because these can affect planning.

After surgery, follow wound, mouth-care, nutrition, and activity instructions. Keep scheduled reviews even when the wound looks settled: the team checks healing, function, infection, and the need for rehabilitation or further procedures. A second opinion can help when the operation is complex or several reconstructive approaches are possible.

Contact your surgical team promptly for increasing swelling, spreading redness, worsening pain, fever, pus, wound separation, or a new change in the reconstructed area. Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, rapidly increasing neck or mouth swelling, heavy bleeding, or inability to swallow fluids.

Which tissues need reconstruction, and what result is realistic for speech, swallowing, chewing, and appearance? What are the stages of treatment, what support will I need at home, and which warning signs should trigger an urgent call?