Submandibular gland excision is the surgical removal of one of the paired submandibular glands, located beneath the lower jaw. It is typically performed to treat salivary gland stones, chronic infections, or tumours in the gland. The surgery involves a small incision under the jaw and is done under general anaesthesia.

• Your ENT surgeon will assess you and may arrange an ultrasound, CT or MRI scan, and possibly a fine-needle biopsy if a tumour is suspected.
• You will need to fast for several hours before surgery.
• Let your doctor know about any medications you take, especially blood thinners, which may need to be stopped temporarily.
• Stop smoking if possible, as it improves healing.

• A wound drain is often placed to prevent fluid build-up and is usually removed after 24–48 hours.
• Some swelling, bruising, and numbness around the jaw and neck is common.
• You may experience temporary weakness of the lower lip or numbness of the tongue, which usually improves over time.
• Keep the wound clean and dry; avoid heavy lifting or vigorous jaw movements for 1–2 weeks.
• A follow-up appointment will be arranged to review healing and biopsy results, if applicable.