Head and Neck Surgery

Head and neck surgery is a specialty within the field of ear, nose and throat medicine (otolaryngology) that focuses on surgically treating head and neck disorders.

At Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, our head and neck surgeons are nationally recognized as leaders in their fields, with specialized expertise in a wide range of surgical procedures. Our patients value our compassionate and personalized approach to treatment. By tailoring treatment to each person’s specific condition, medical history and lifestyle goals, we achieve outstanding results.

We know that head and neck illnesses and the head and neck surgery process can significantly impact your life. Our top priority is helping you achieve the highest quality of life and optimum health. We help patients from around the world achieve this by diagnosing the disorder accurately, customizing treatment for your condition and lifestyle goals, ensuring the surgical process is as comfortable as possible and helping each patient live fully after surgery.

Why Choose Weill Cornell Medicine? 

Multidisciplinary care from leading experts: Head and neck surgery can be highly complex, so it is important to receive care from highly trained experts who can collaborate with other specialists as needed.

The multidisciplinary team at Weill Cornell Medicine provides a collaborative approach to treating head and neck conditions. When you choose Weill Cornell Medicine, you have access to a network of doctors and specialists, which may include audiologists, neurologists, facial nerve physical therapists, oncologists, facial plastic surgeons or speech therapists.

Weill Cornell Medicine partners with NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the top hospital systems in New York City and the U.S.

Compassionate care founded on cutting-edge research: We understand that head and neck illnesses and head and neck surgery can negatively impact your physical and emotional lives. As our patient, we work closely with you to make the process as comfortable and successful as possible.

Our head and neck surgeons are nationally recognized leaders in their fields. All patient care is based on the latest research and knowledge about head and neck surgical treatments — including research being conducted by our own physicians.

We also offer a Head & Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic Program where multiple care team members and physicians are available to see you via video conference on the same day in a coordinated appointment. The multidisciplinary program will allow for formulation of a comprehensive treatment plan to maximize your care through all of the cancer services important for your malignancy. The program's designated Access Physician Assistant will help you navigate your care. You may ask your provider about this program during your initial appointment.

Conditions We Treat

Our head and neck surgeons treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors of the:

●      Mouth (oral cancer)
●      Throat (pharynx cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer)
●      Salivary gland (salivary gland cancer)
●      Sinus (paranasal and sinus cavity cancer)
●      Thyroid (thyroid cancer)
●      Nasopharyngeal
●      Voice box (laryngeal or larynx cancer)
●      Ear and temporal lobe
●      Neck
●      Skull base
●      Sarcomas of the head or neck

When deemed appropriate, our team also provides surgical treatment for:

●      Pinched nerves
●      Intense dizziness
●      Head and neck injuries
●      Sinus pain
●      Chronic ear infections
●      Tonsil, jaw or thyroid issues
●      Human papillomavirus (HPV)
●      Acoustic neuroma

What to Expect from Head and Neck Surgical Treatment at Weill Cornell Medicine

As a patient at Weill Cornell Medicine, our team focuses on getting to know your specific condition and lifestyle goals. After a thorough evaluation and testing, your surgeon will determine the best surgical treatment options for you.

There are many different head and neck surgery options, including minimally invasive. You and your surgeon will discuss the chosen surgery process in detail, and you will have many opportunities to ask questions and discuss any concerns about the surgery and recovery.

Scarless Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy

Weill Cornell Medicine is one of the few Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Departments in the region that specializes in innovative scarless techniques for thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy. These procedures treat thyroid nodules, thyroid cancers and hyperthyroidism.

Scarless thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy were first developed in 2016. Since then, the head and neck surgeons at Weill Cornell Medicine have been at the forefront of providing patients with this minimally invasive, robotic surgical option that does not leave a scar on the neck.

During a scarless thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy, a highly trained head and neck surgeon accesses and removes the gland(s) through small incisions in the lower lip. Our patients benefit from the leading expertise of our surgeons, our focus on patient comfort, as well as the scarless result.