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The scar in front of the ear after parotid surgery | CION Cancer Clinics
A parotidectomy scar starts in the crease in front of the ear, curves under the ear lobe, and runs into a fold of the upper neck or up into the hairline. Once healed it is a fine line hidden in natural creases and hard to see from the front. It is red and firm for the first months, then softens and fades over a year or more. This page explains how it changes and how to care for it. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- What does a parotidectomy scar look like?
- Where exactly will the scar run?
- How does the scar change over the first year?
- How do I look after the scar at home?
- Four things families tell us, and what is actually true
- Words you will see, in plain language
- What this page cannot tell you
- Common questions about the scar after parotid surgery
The short answer
What does a parotidectomy scar look like?
The scar starts in the crease just in front of the ear, curves under the ear lobe, and then runs either into a crease of the upper neck or up behind the ear into the hairline. Once healed it is a fine line that sits in natural folds, and from the front it is usually hard to see. In the first months it is red and firm. Over a year or more it softens and fades.
Why the cut is shaped like that
The parotid gland sits in front of and below the ear, wrapped around the nerve that moves the face. The surgeon needs to lift a flap of skin off the gland to see that nerve clearly. Following the natural creases gives that view while placing the line where skin folds already hide it.
What decides the final look
Three things: where the surgeon chose to run the lower part of the line, how your own skin heals, and whether radiotherapy is given afterwards. The first is a choice your surgeon makes before the operation, and you can ask about it. The second is partly inherited: skin that has formed thick or raised scars before may do so again.
If you have ever had a keloid, a scar that grew beyond the original wound, tell your surgeon before the operation. It changes how the wound is closed and looked after.The line
Where exactly will the scar run?
Surgeons use a few standard patterns. Ask which one is planned for you and why.
The standard curve
In front of the ear, round the lobe, then forward and down into a crease of the upper neck. This is the most common pattern and gives the surgeon the widest view. The neck part is visible when you turn your head.
Usually chosen for
- Larger or deeper tumours
- Operations where the neck may also be explored
The facelift pattern
In front of the ear, round the lobe, then up behind the ear and into the hairline. The neck stays unmarked. It suits smaller tumours in the outer part of the gland and takes slightly longer to do.
Not every tumour can be reached safely this way. Your surgeon decides on the basis of the scan, not the scar.The extended line
The standard curve continued further down the neck. Used when lymph glands in the neck have to be removed at the same time. The lower part follows a skin crease and fades well, but it is a longer scar.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistThe sequence
How does the scar change over the first year?
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The first two weeks
A neat line held by stitches or glue, with bruising and swelling around it. A small drain tube may come out through a separate hole below the ear, which leaves its own tiny mark. Stitches, if used, are removed at the first follow-up.
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The first three months
The line turns pink or red, feels firm and slightly raised, and may itch. This is normal scar tissue forming, not infection. The skin around it is numb, so massage feels odd.
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Three months to a year
The redness fades, the ridge flattens and the line softens. Massage and sun protection matter most in this stretch. If the scar is getting thicker rather than flatter, this is when to say so.
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After a year
What you see now is close to the final result: a pale, fine line in the crease of the ear. Any part that still troubles you can be discussed with your surgeon.
Practical
How do I look after the scar at home?
- Keep the line dry until your surgeon says it has sealed, then wash it gently with plain water
- Do not pick at glue, crusts or loose stitch ends; let them come away on their own
- Once healed, massage the line with a plain moisturiser in small circles, a few minutes at a time
- Keep the sun off it with a scarf, a cap or sunscreen for the first year, because a burnt scar stays dark
- Shave around it slowly and by sight, since the skin is numb
- Ask before using silicone gel or sheets; they must go on healed skin only
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Commonly believed
Four things families tell us, and what is actually true
"A red, raised scar at two months means it is infected."
Red and firm is what a healthy scar looks like at two months. Infection looks different: the redness spreads outward, the area is hot and increasingly painful, there may be pus, and often a fever. Those need a same-day call.
"There is a cream that will make the scar disappear."
No cream removes a scar. Silicone gel, massage and sun protection help it flatten and fade sooner. Creams sold as scar removers mostly do what plain moisturiser and massage do, at a higher price.
"A smaller scar means the surgeon did a better job."
The length of the line is set by what the surgeon needs to see to protect the facial nerve and remove the tumour completely. A scar made short at the cost of a clear view is a poor trade.
"Indian skin always forms a keloid."
Darker skin does have a higher tendency to thick or raised scars, but most people never form a keloid, and the ear crease is a lower-risk site than the chest or shoulder. If a scar does start to thicken, early treatment works well.
On your notes
Words you will see, in plain language
- Modified Blair incision
- The standard curved cut in front of the ear and into the upper neck. Named after the surgeon who described it.
- Facelift or rhytidectomy incision
- The pattern that runs behind the ear and into the hairline instead of the neck.
- Hypertrophic scar
- A scar that is thick and raised but stays within the line of the original wound. Usually settles with time and treatment.
- Keloid
- A scar that grows beyond the wound into normal skin and keeps growing. Less common, harder to treat, and worth mentioning if you have had one before.
- Skin flap
- The sheet of skin the surgeon lifts to reach the gland. It is laid back down and stitched at the end, which is why the skin over the area is numb and slightly puckered at first.
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you how your own scar will heal. Two people with the same cut, closed by the same surgeon, can end up with visibly different lines because their skin behaves differently. What you can control is the care in the first year, and that does make a difference.
What changes if radiotherapy follows
Radiotherapy to the area, which some people need after the operation, makes the skin over the scar drier, darker and slower to soften. Scar massage usually pauses during treatment and restarts afterwards. Ask the radiation oncologist what to use on the skin, because some creams are not allowed during treatment.
When to get the scar looked at
If any part of the line opens, leaks, becomes hot and increasingly painful, or if you develop a fever, call the same day. If the scar is growing thicker or wider after the early months, or is pulling on the ear, ask for a review; early treatment works far better than late.
Send a clear photo in daylight if you are unsure. It is often enough for the team to tell you whether you need to come in.Questions we are asked
Common questions about the scar after parotid surgery
Will people be able to see the scar?
From the front, usually not, once it has faded. The part in front of the ear sits in a natural crease. The part in the neck shows when you turn your head, more so in the first months while it is still red. Hair, a collar or a dupatta cover it easily.
Can I ask for the scar to be hidden behind the ear?
You can ask, and it is a fair question. Whether it is possible depends on the size and position of the tumour and on whether the neck may need to be explored. Your surgeon will tell you if the facelift pattern is safe in your case. The view of the nerve comes first.
When can I wash my hair and face normally?
Usually once the wound has sealed and any drain is out, which your surgeon confirms at the first follow-up. Until then keep the line dry and wash around it. After that, plain water and a mild soap are fine, patted dry rather than rubbed.
Why does the scar itch so much?
Itching is part of normal healing, as nerves regrow and the scar tissue forms. It peaks in the early months and fades. Moisturiser and gentle pressure help; scratching does not, and the skin is numb so you can scratch it raw without feeling it.
Will the drain leave a separate scar?
A small one, usually below or behind the ear where the tube came out. It is a dot rather than a line and fades to almost nothing. Some surgeons bring the drain out through the main cut instead, leaving no separate mark.
Can the scar be made better later if I do not like it?
Yes, but not straight away. Scars keep improving for a year or more, and revision before that often makes little difference. If, after that time, a part is thick, wide or pulling, ask your surgeon about injections, silicone or a small revision.
Is it safe to apply turmeric or home remedies?
Not on an unhealed wound. Anything applied before the line has sealed can carry infection in. Once healed, a plain moisturiser does the job; there is no evidence that turmeric or traditional pastes help a scar, and some stain or irritate the skin.
Will the scar affect how my face moves?
The scar itself does not. It sits in skin, and the muscles of the face are deeper. If the face is moving less on that side, the cause is the facial nerve, not the scar, and that is a separate conversation with your surgeon. A tight scar can feel like it pulls, and massage eases that.
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Sources
- NHS — Scars
- American Cancer Society — Surgery for salivary gland cancer
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for salivary gland cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Salivary gland cancer
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Parotidectomy: what the operation involvesWhy the cut is shaped the way it isNumbness of the ear after parotid surgeryWhy the skin around the scar feels woodenHollowing of the cheek after parotidectomyThe other change in appearance people ask aboutWound, stitches and scarsGeneral wound care after any cancer operationRadiation after parotidectomy: who needs itHow radiotherapy changes the skin over the scar
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Not sure whether the scar is healing as it should?
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