I want to share my experience as it may help others.
I 33F noticed a bump on my left side under my cheek bone and adjacent to my ear opening on in Sep 2025. It happened by chance. I was touching my face while thinking. At first I thought it was a knot and I tried to get it out. After sitting on it for a month, I made an appt for ENT for December 2025.
In Dec 25, ent reassured me that due to its location, it’s unlikely a tumor. Parotid tumors are typically by the ear lobe, not the cheek. She ordered an ultrasound, and it showed up as just under 1 cm hypoechoic lesion that the radiologist interpreted as cyst with internal debris, or possibly a hypoechoic tumor mass. To me it looked like a circle with black center on the ultrasound screen. The ent recommended I wait and do a repeat ultrasound at 2-3 months.
In Mar 26, I did a repeat ultrasound, and it was the same result as last time except it had maybe grown 1-2 mm. My ENT recommended I wait or for peace of mind, do a biopsy (FNA).
Couple of weeks later, I got a biopsy done, which was a fine needle asp guided by an ultrasound. I was super nervous about getting this done. I’ll detail the experience in a separate area below. Results came back as Pleomorphic Adenoma, which is benign tumor. Doctor referred me to a surgeon, and recommended removal. After having done my research since October, I requested to be referred to Stanford.
The following Friday, Stanford called me to tell me what to expect. On Monday, they called to schedule a meeting with dr. Davud Sirjani, and a contrast MRI. I got the contrast MRI that same day and met with the doctor later that week. The doctor appt was incredible. He explained everything to me, and took really good care, answered all of my questions easily, confidently, and with data. I felt I was in good hands given how the appointment went but more importantly knowing that he performs high volume of this type of surgery.
My main concern was nerve damage. Given the unusual location of my tumor, I was incredibly worried about nerve damage (not having a symmetrical smile, not being able to scrunch my nose, not being able to close my eyelid). My surgery was scheduled in a week and a half for a partial parotidectomy.
Leading up to the surgery, I was up and down with my emotions. I ultimately came to terms with it. Waiting meant that the tumor would grow (bigger size = potentially bigger surgery). It come become cancerous (cancer may attack the nearby nerves = nerve impact). The longer I wait, the harder the removal might be (more of the parotid may need to be taken out). Additionally, doctor said I should get it done before having more kids as hormones can have unpredictable impact. Still, I was nervous even on the day of surgery. Something that made me feel good was everyone I spoke to said Dr Sirjani is an excellent doctor.
The day before surgery, something happened and it reaffirmed the need to get the surgery done. I woke up with tenderness around the tumor. It was suddenly painful to touch. It also grew in size throughout the day, and I could now visibly see a bump sticking out from my face.
Had my surgery today. Arrived for checkin at 9:30. Was prepped and ready for surgery by 10;40. Surgery was a total of 3 hours. I woke up around 2 pm. They put me under general anesthesia through an IV. They also used a mask, and intubated me during surgery. (A cool fact, they use a band on my forehead to monitor my brain activity to determine if I’m still asleep or not). The surgical site was around where my ear meets my cheek. The incision does not go far below my earlobe. Behind my earlobe they sutured a drain. I also have a 3 inch stitch near my bikini line as they did a fat graph from there to place in the surgical site. I have some swelling but not too bad for day 1. It will likely go up over the next few days. I’m told to eat bland food. When I ate a cold yogurt post opp, I had pain in my salivary gland. Pain is manageable. I took one oxycodone since post opp, and then nothing else. I have right nostril bleeding from the intubation but it’s not too bad.
Forgot to mention the best news! I have full facial movement! Doctor told me I’d know right away, and any latent weakening would be due to swelling and temporary. So hooray!
More to come soon!
Edits:
-age
-biopsy experience at the bottom
-post op expectations from doctor
Biopsy experience
They injected me with lidocaine (pain medication), and then took 4 samples. The lidocaine part was the most painful but doable. It felt most like getting shots before dental work. During the final sample, I felt what I could only describe as quick nerve type shooting pain, also similar to teeth nerve pain. Maybe they went farther than the numbed area for the last one. Not sure.
Post op expectations
Doctor told me the drain would stay in for 10 days. The stitches should dissolve except the suture for the drain. They need to take that out at post op. Swelling is expected to peak around 3rd day. Sometimes he prescribes antibiotics, and he did for me. I am told to eat bland food. For me when I eat flavorful food, and when salvia is produced, I feel a temporary stabbing pain. We’ll see if this improves in the next couple of days. I’m directed to use stool softener.
Post surgery updates
Day 1, my symptoms consisted of nose bleed, sore throat, and pain when eating. Took Tylenol to help with the pain when eating. They put tape over my stitches so I can’t see the stitch fully. Instructed to shower daily, and run soapy water over the stitched area.
Day 2, my swelling progressed quickly and it became uncomfortable but no bruising. I could only open my mouth about an inch. Eating was a challenge due to swelling and pain. I blended my soups and drank them through a straw. My stitches on my bikini line were burning but they weren’t red. Cold compress on and off during the day and slept upright. Neosporin on the stitches for first 3 days. The toughest day for me.
Day 3, mostly the same symptoms as the day before but the swelling decreased slightly and the pain when eating improved slightly. I can open my mouth a little more. I was able to eat eggs. Cold compress during the day on and off and slept upright. Neosporin on stitches.
Day 4, swelling is continuing to improve. The bikini stitch pain is almost gone. Pain while eating has improved significantly. I can open my mouth more. No bruising. Pink liquid (probably saliva) is leaking out on to my neck when I eat. Not sure why it’s not going into the drain. Also noticing some numbness on my cheek, part of my neck, and part of my earlobe. It feels like pins and needles.
Day 5, swelling is getting better but I still have about 1/3” swelling that’s mostly on my cheek. I can open my mouth more. My left jaw feels tight. The numbness near the incision is still there. The tape is still on the incisions. My drain has not had any output since 24 hours ago. When I had breakfast, I did not have liquid leaking outside of the drain today. I had some liquid leaking in the evening but nurse said it can be expected.
Day 6, things are settling in more. Still have some swelling. Minimal pain while eating but I feel that the surgery area gets tight when I eat. I can open my mouth about 2 inches and can chew better but sticking to soft foods for now. When saliva is generated while eating, liquid is still leaking outside of drain. I haven’t had more than about 1-2 mL in my drain for the last three days. My cheek that was operated on is noticeably bigger than other side. Still feeling numbness over surgery area. The surgery area feels firm/hard under the skin. Wonder how long the firmness lasts. I can move my neck pretty well as the stitches end behind my ear lobe. The bikini stitches are starting to itch. I haven’t had any sensations along the stitches on my ear/cheek. Not sure if there weren’t any sensations or if the area is numb.