Head and Neck Reconstruction
Head and neck reconstruction is my subspecialty focus, with over a decade of experience restoring function after cancer and traumatic tissue loss. The goal is always reliable, lasting outcomes.
What Head & Neck Reconstruction Involves
Reconstruction is planned around the specific defect — there is no template approach. What has been removed, where, and what it needs to do informs every decision.
Areas commonly reconstructed include:
Areas commonly reconstructed include:
- Tongue (partial and total glossectomy defects)
- Jaw / mandible — including cases planned for eventual dental implants
- Midface and maxilla
- Pharynx and throat
- Cheek (buccal mucosa and soft tissue)
- Nose
- Composite defects involving bone, lining, and soft tissue together
Simpler defects can often be addressed with local or regional tissue. For larger or more complex defects, microvascular free flap surgery is required.
COMMON CONCERNS
Microvascular Free Flap Surgery: The Right Tissue in the Right Place
Free flap reconstruction involves transferring tissue — skin, muscle, bone, or a combination — from a donor site, along with its blood supply, and reconnecting it under the microscope at the recipient site. It is the most reliable way to address significant defects in the head and neck.
The flap chosen depends on what the defect requires:
The flap chosen depends on what the defect requires:
01
Radial forearm free flap — thin, pliable skin ideal for intraoral lining and tongue reconstruction
02
Anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap — versatile soft tissue for larger volume defects
03
Fibula free flap — the standard for jaw reconstruction; the bone can later accommodate dental implants
04
Local and regional flaps — for selected facial, nasal, and smaller defects
Matching the flap to the defect — not just filling the space, but restoring the right tissue type — is what determines long-term functional outcomes.
CANDIDACY
Who This Surgery Is For
The honest answer is: it depends on more than your health. What makes someone a good candidate for rhinoplasty isn’t just theirMost patients are referred following cancer surgery — oral cancer and head and neck cancers account for the majority. Others have experienced traumatic facial injuries or have complex defects from previous surgery. Each case is assessed individually.
Reconstruction is most straightforward when planned from the outset — before resection, where possible. Early planning means fewer procedures, more predictable outcomes, and a cleaner path through recovery. medical history — it’s the quality of their skin, the strength of their existing nasal framework, and whether what they’re hoping for is genuinely achievable with their anatomy.
Reconstruction is most straightforward when planned from the outset — before resection, where possible. Early planning means fewer procedures, more predictable outcomes, and a cleaner path through recovery. medical history — it’s the quality of their skin, the strength of their existing nasal framework, and whether what they’re hoping for is genuinely achievable with their anatomy.
SURGICAL APPROACH
A Coordinated Approach to Complex Cases
Head and neck reconstruction almost never sits in isolation. In most cases, I am working alongside an ENT surgeon, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, or oncologist — often from the point of initial planning, before surgery has taken place.
That coordination matters. When the reconstructive plan is built into the resection planning — not retrofitted after — it results in fewer complications, less operating time, and better functional outcomes for the patient. I am experienced working within multidisciplinary teams at restructured hospitals in Singapore.
That coordination matters. When the reconstructive plan is built into the resection planning — not retrofitted after — it results in fewer complications, less operating time, and better functional outcomes for the patient. I am experienced working within multidisciplinary teams at restructured hospitals in Singapore.
WHAT TO EXPECT
What to Expect: Before, During, and After Surgery
01
Before Surgery
Assessment defines the defect and the reconstructive strategy. Where surgery is being coordinated with another team, this is discussed jointly. I explain clearly what the procedure involves, what recovery looks like, and what the realistic functional expectations are — not a best-case scenario, but an honest one.
02
During Surgery
Reconstruction is performed immediately following tumour removal where possible. Complex free flap cases take several hours. The goal is to come out of a single operating episode with a reconstruction in place, reducing the need for staged procedures.
03
After Surgery
For microvascular free flap reconstruction, hospital stay is typically one to two weeks. Flap circulation is monitored closely in the early days. Return to oral intake is gradual. Speech and swallowing rehabilitation is part of the recovery plan where indicated.
Further refinement — adjustments to contour, volume, or function — can be performed once healing is established, if needed.
Further refinement — adjustments to contour, volume, or function — can be performed once healing is established, if needed.
Outcomes
Outcomes
The priority is function — the ability to speak, swallow, and maintain a stable airway. Most patients recover meaningful oral function. Facial contour is restored with proportion in mind.
Outcomes depend on the extent of the original defect, the patient’s overall health, and whether adjuvant treatment such as radiotherapy is required. I discuss this clearly at consultation — outcomes vary, and honest expectation-setting is part of good surgical care.
Outcomes depend on the extent of the original defect, the patient’s overall health, and whether adjuvant treatment such as radiotherapy is required. I discuss this clearly at consultation — outcomes vary, and honest expectation-setting is part of good surgical care.
Cost of Head & Neck Reconstruction
Cost of Head & Neck Reconstruction
Cost depends on the complexity of reconstruction — the type of flap, operating time, and length of hospital stay are the main variables. Simpler local reconstructions cost considerably less than complex microvascular free flap cases.
Head and neck reconstruction in Singapore is typically performed in a restructured hospital setting and is generally claimable under MediSave and integrated shield plans, subject to diagnosis and indication. A detailed cost estimate is provided after assessment.
I do not provide cost estimates before a proper assessment — not because the information is withheld, but because a number without context is not useful to anyone.
Head and neck reconstruction in Singapore is typically performed in a restructured hospital setting and is generally claimable under MediSave and integrated shield plans, subject to diagnosis and indication. A detailed cost estimate is provided after assessment.
I do not provide cost estimates before a proper assessment — not because the information is withheld, but because a number without context is not useful to anyone.
GET IN TOUCH
Book a Consultation
If you have been referred for head and neck reconstruction, or are a clinician coordinating care for a patient, I am happy to discuss the case. Consultations are held at Lalanne Plastic Surgery, Singapore.