About Glossectomy
Key Highlights
-
Primary treatment for removing cancerous or precancerous lesions of the tongue.Can prevent the spread of oral cancers to other parts of the body.May alleviate severe pain or functional impairment caused by tongue disease or trauma.Often performed with advanced techniques to maximize preservation of speech and swallowing function.Part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may include radiation or chemotherapy.
Who is this surgery for?
- Squamous cell carcinoma or other malignant tumors of the tongue.
- Severe, treatment-resistant oral lichen planus or leukoplakia (precancerous conditions).
- Significant tongue trauma that cannot be repaired by other means.
- Obstructive sleep apnea caused by macroglossia (enlarged tongue) when other treatments fail.
- Advanced infection or gangrene of the tongue tissue.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive medical evaluation, including imaging (CT/MRI) to determine the extent of disease.
- Consultations with an oncologist, speech-language pathologist, and dietitian.
- Pre-operative dental cleaning and assessment.
- Fasting for 8-12 hours prior to surgery as instructed.
- Discontinuation of certain medications (e.g., blood thinners) as advised by the surgeon.
- Arranging for post-operative support and transportation.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding, infection, or adverse reaction to anesthesia.
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and potential need for a temporary feeding tube.
- Impaired speech articulation.
- Changes in taste sensation or chronic pain.
- Nerve damage leading to numbness or weakness in the tongue or lower lip.
- Need for additional reconstructive surgeries.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial hospital stay for monitoring airway, pain control, and nutrition.
- Wound care and oral hygiene instructions to prevent infection.
- Initiation of speech and swallowing therapy soon after surgery.
- Diet progression from liquids to soft foods as healing permits.
- Regular follow-up appointments to monitor healing and for cancer surveillance if applicable.
- Long-term rehabilitation to adapt to functional changes.
-
Typical hospital stay: 5-10 days
-
Expected recovery time: 3-6 weeks for initial healing; several months for full functional adaptation
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering glossectomy in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with dental surgery departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform glossectomy. MediFyr helps you compare dental surgeons and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for glossectomy compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | INR 150 Thousand – 500 Thousand | 5-10 days | ~ 3-6 weeks for initial healing; several months for full functional adaptation | Know More |
| Turkey | TRY 525 Thousand – 1.75 Million | 5-10 days | ~ 3-6 weeks for initial healing; several months for full functional adaptation | Know More |
Sarah Malhotra, 42, David's daughter, is...
Sarah Malhotra, 42, David's daughter, is a graphic designer. Unlike her father, she never smoked. However, she had a small, firm lump under her tongue for over a year, initially dismissed as a canker sore. It began to ulcerate and became painful. An MRI revealed a rare, slow-growing but invasive salivary gland tumor. Her maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Sharma, recommended a hemiglossectomy (removal of half the tongue) followed by reconstructive surgery using tissue from her forearm to prevent significant functional loss and stop the tumor's local invasion. The 10-hour surgery was successful but grueling. Sarah faced a long recovery with two surgical sites, relearning to speak and swallow, and coping with altered sensation in her tongue and forearm. After six months of dedicated therapy, she has regained about 80% of her speech clarity and can eat most foods, though with some caution. Emotionally, she grappled with anger and injustice at her diagnosis, followed by anxiety about her career and identity. Post-recovery, she feels a strong sense of triumph and has started a blog about her journey, finding a new creative outlet in advocacy.
Dental surgeons for Glossectomy
Explore experienced dental surgeons who regularly perform glossectomy and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 31 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 24 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 24 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 15 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 11 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 8 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
- 4 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 4 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 13 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 10 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 8 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
KMC Hospital Mangalore, Mangalore
- 9 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune
- 23 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 20 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospitals Broadway, Kolkata
- 9 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 21 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 26 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 22 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Siliguri, Siliguri
- 7 Years Experience
- Dental surgeon
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata