
What to expect after Partial Glossectomy Surgery How will I feel after surgery? After surgery you will go to the recovery room. You will be watched closely by the nurses until you are fully awake. If you feel pain or have an upset stomach, there is medication that will help.
How long does it take to recover from A glossectomy?
Recovering from a glossectomy may take time, even after the patient has returned home. In general, healing for a partial glossectomy may take several weeks before the pain subsides. Special attention needs to be given to oral hygiene, to reduce the possibility of infection following surgery.
Can I eat after reconstructive glossectomy?
Reconstructive surgery may be needed as part of the procedure, depending on the complexity of the procedure and the amount of tongue removed. When more than half the tongue is removed, the surgery is referred to as a subtotal glossectomy. Eating after a partial glossectomy may not be possible in the first few days following surgery.
What is a partial glossectomy?
Partial Glossectomy. A partial glossectomy is the surgical removal of part of the tongue. The procedure is done to identify suspected or known pathologic tissue and remove it. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Evaluation before the surgery may include some or all of the following: medical history and physical exam, blood work,...
What to expect after gastrostomy surgery?
You will be given an appointment to see your surgeon 1 to 3 weeks after you go home. You will also get any prescriptions for medications before you leave. Most people go home with a gastrostomy feeding tube. You, your family and caregivers will learn how to feed yourself and look after the tube. Some people may have started eating orally as well.

How long does it take for your tongue to heal after a partial glossectomy?
If you have a small portion of your tongue removed you will be able to go home the same day or the morning after surgery. You will need to do good mouth care for 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
How long does pain last after partial glossectomy?
Medications: Pain in the throat and ears may last up to ten to fourteen days. Take pain medication as prescribed to ease discomfort. You will also be prescribed an antibiotic, and please take the antibiotic for the entire course as prescribed.
How long is recovery for glossectomy?
You should be able to tolerate normal diet by 14 days following surgery. During this period of recovery, you should avoid hard and dried foods such as nuts, since these can cause pain and predispose to bleeding.
What can I expect after a glossectomy?
After this surgery your speech and swallowing may be severely affected. Generally, the more tongue that is taken out because of the tumour, the harder it will be to swallow and speak clearly. After a glossectomy, there may be a lot of swelling in your throat. Swelling could block the air passage.
Can you eat after a partial glossectomy?
You may not be allowed to eat and drink for a few days after the operation, so that everything can heal. You may be fed through a tube during this time.
How do you eat after tongue surgery?
your surgery if you feel up to it. For 2 days after surgery, drink liquids and eat soft foods only. Such as milkshakes, eggnog, yo- gurt, cooked cereals, cottage cheese, smooth soups, mashed potatoes, refried beans, ice cream, pudding, fruit smoothies and protein shakes.
Can a person talk after tongue surgery?
When part of the tongue is removed, it can be hard to speak and be understood by others. The Speech-Language Pathologist will assess your ability to speak clearly. Sometimes people need only a few speech therapy sessions, while others may need to learn other methods to communicate such as computers or gestures.
How long does swelling last after tongue surgery?
Swelling is normal following a procedure. It will become apparent the day following surgery, and will reach its maximum 2-3 days after your procedure. You can minimize swelling by placing ice packs to the sides of your face where the surgery was performed. Do this for 24 hours following your procedure.
How much does a partial glossectomy cost?
Most patients underwent glossectomy in their second year of life. The average length of stay in patients who underwent partial glossectomy for macroglossia was 9.59 days (Range 1-211 days, median 3.45 days) and the average cost was $56,602 (median $16,330).
Does the tongue heal fast after surgery?
It can take 4–8 weeks for absorbable suture to dissolve. Children may heal even more quickly. A 2018 study found that it takes around 13 days for tongue wounds with stitches to heal in children.
How do you make your tongue heal faster?
Oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush, flossing, and using a mouthwash can help rid yourself of a sore tongue and prevent infection. ... Aloe vera.Baking soda. ... Milk of magnesia. ... Hydrogen peroxide. ... Salt water. ... Honey. ... Coconut oil.More items...
How painful is tongue surgery?
Will it be painful? There may be some pain at first after surgery. Often this is slight and will be well controlled with painkillers. Different parts of the body heal at different rates and you may need pain- killers on discharge until you feel comfortable.
How long does it take for tongue flap to heal?
Recovery Time Patients have been found to regain mobility of the tongue immediately at 4 to 6 months after surgery, with subsequent improvement in swallow ability.
Can you talk after partial glossectomy?
Some sounds are made using your lips, so you may be able to make sounds such as b, m, p, w after a glossectomy. When part of the tongue is removed, it can be hard to speak and be understood by others. The Speech-Language Pathologist will assess your ability to speak clearly.
How much does a partial glossectomy cost?
Most patients underwent glossectomy in their second year of life. The average length of stay in patients who underwent partial glossectomy for macroglossia was 9.59 days (Range 1-211 days, median 3.45 days) and the average cost was $56,602 (median $16,330).
What is glossectomy?
A partial glossectomy is the surgical removal of part of the tongue. The procedure is done to identify suspected or known pathologic tissue and remove it. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Evaluation before the surgery may include some or all of the following: medical history and physical exam, blood work, biopsy of the tongue, X-ray or CT scan of the chest, and/or CT scan of the mouth and neck.#N#Risks#N#As with any surgical procedure, there are risks and possible complications involved. Some possible complications include: 1 Tongue bleeding 2 Infection 3 Airway blockage from swelling and bleeding 4 Trouble swallowing and aspiration of liquids 5 Being unable to speak 6 Weight loss 7 Lingual Nerve Injury 8 Failure of flap—occurs when transplanted skin or flap does not get enough blood flow 9 Recurrence of the mass.
How long after surgery do you have to have a follow up appointment?
Follow-up Visit: You will have a follow-up appointment scheduled for two weeks after surgery. Our office will notify you of your appointment time and date.
Can you eat before a dental procedure?
Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the evening before the procedure. This includes all food, liquids, water, candy, mints or chewing gum. You may brush your teeth. You will not be able to undergo the surgery if you do not follow these instructions.
What is partial glossectomy?
Partial glossectomy: This is the removal of any part of the tongue, from a small part of the side or tip, an entire half of the tongue or even more.
What is the procedure to remove the tongue?
Glossectomy. Glossectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the tongue. The procedure is performed to treat cancer of the mouth, tongue and throat. When a part of the tongue is removed, it is known as partial glossectomy whereas total glossectomy involves removal of all of the tongue. The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth ...
Can a tongue tumor be removed without cutting the jawbone?
The tongue is pulled down into the neck, and the tumor from the back part of the tongue can be removed without having to cut the jawbone. Risk and Complications. Like every surgical procedure, there is risk of complications with glossectomy. Some of the possible complications include:
Can you sleep with a glossectomy?
Surgical Procedure for Glossectomy. In almost all cases, the patient will be put completely to sleep with general anesthesia. There may be need for tracheotomy and/or a feeding tube, depending on the extent of the glossectomy and reconstruction. There are a few different types of glossectomies, including:
Can you get infection after glossectomy?
Still, as with any surgical procedure, there is always risk of an infection after the surgery, particularly if the glossectomy is associated with additional procedures that might connect the mouth with the neck. This might require antibiotics and/or drainage of the infection.
Can you swallow food after removing your tongue?
Aspiration: After removal of a large part of your tongue, particularly the base of the tongue, it might be difficult to control your swallow mechanism. This can lead to saliva, drinks and food falling into your voice box and into your lungs, which can lead to pneumonia. You should work with a speech and swallowing therapist to improve your function.
Can you go back to the operating room after a hematoma?
Bleeding, including hematoma: If there is severe bleeding after the procedure, your surgeon might need to quickly take you back to the operating room to stop the bleeding.
Post op partial glossectomy & neck dissection advice
So I've just been discharged from hospital after undergoing surgery last Tuesday. They removed part of my tongue and reconstructed it with tissue from my wrist before performing a full neck dissection. Originally they were only going to do part of the neck but the day before surgery they had a meeting and decided it was best to remove everything.
Post op partial glossectomy & neck dissection advice
Goodness, so sorry to hear that you had a panic attack! I hope you are ok now and recovering well?
Post op partial glossectomy & neck dissection advice
You poor luv having a panic attack, I really feel for you but also really glad to hear your out of Hospital and through the surgery. I've also had part of my tongue removed, 9mm tumour and a total neck dissection on my right side. I had chemo and seven weeks of radio therapy which burnt my neck so I scarred quite badly.
Post op partial glossectomy & neck dissection advice
ive been through exactly the same as you and all I can say is things do get easier but it will take time. I had radiotherapy on top of my neck dissection which caused severe burning so I have a very stiff and painful neck all the time.
Post op partial glossectomy & neck dissection advice
I finished my 33 treatments of radiotherapy 3 weeks ago. Thankfully my skin survived ok. It only started to break out the last week and thankfully has recovered now. The worst side effect for me so far is not being able to eat. My mouth has been very swollen inside with ulcers so i havent been able to eat food since about my 4th week of treatment.
Post op partial glossectomy & neck dissection advice
It's lovely to hear from you! Things get better with time, I finished my treatment at the end of May 2014 and was eating soft food by August, loosing my feeding tube in September. I started with scrambled eggs.
Post op partial glossectomy & neck dissection advice
i'm ok. Still on a liquid diet. I've tried to eat soup but it has to be creamy. Anything sort of grainy I struggle to swallow. It just feels like it's getting caught in my throat. I can manage to eat those teddy bear crisps and I've tried some jelly babies and shortbread too! I can manage them ok as long as I have water or something to drink after.
How often do nurses see you after surgery?
For the first few days after surgery, the nurses watch you closely. You may have your blood pressure, pulse and respirations taken every 4 hours and then as needed. Both male and female patients stay in the same large open area so the nurses can see you at all times after surgery. This way, you get the care you need right away. You will be able to maintain your privacy by pulling the curtains around your bed.
What is the IV used for after surgery?
After surgery, you will have the IV in your arm. This is used to give you fluids until you are feeling better. Medication can also be given through the IV. The nurses make sure the IV is working well and giving you enough fluids.
