Background: Significant morbidity is caused by facial asymmetry and Frey's syndrome, which are long-term consequences of parotid surgery resulting from the removal of parotid tissue. The free dermal-fat-facial graft (DFFG) is one of these techniques, though its use is seldom recorded in medical literature.
Objective: The aim of the current study is to investigate the effectiveness of free DFFG in rebuilding parotidectomy deficits at the Damanhur Medical National Institute (DMNI) in Elbehiera, Egypt.
Patients and methods: A total of 15 patients at DMNI in Elbehiera, Egypt, had primary parotidectomy and rapid repair with autologous belly DFFG by the same surgeon. Between 2020 and 2021, prospective data collection was done. Patients completed two postoperative outcomes surveys.
Results: Of the studied patients, 14 had benign lesions and 1 malignant lesion. Up to 13 (86.6 %) patients reported perfect facial symmetry, 1 (6.7%) shows slight hollowness, and 1 (6.7%) had mild fullness; none reported notable hollowness or fullness. Only 2 (13.3%) had minor symptoms, 1 (6.7%) had devastating symptoms, and 12 (80%) did not have Frey's syndrome, All patients answered a second questionnaire on the transplant donor site. Up to 12 (80%) were happy or extremely satisfied with the donor site's aesthetic appearance, and 14 (93.3%) reported no pain at the donor site. Donor site symptoms were not reported.