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Complex Head & Neck Skin Cancer

When skin cancer of the head and neck is left untreated or recurs, it can invade surrounding structures — the lymph nodes of the neck, the parotid gland, the ear, the facial nerve, the skull, and in advanced cases the orbital and skull base.
Managing these cases requires more than a single surgeon.

Mr Matthew Potter works within a specialist multidisciplinary team alongside ENT surgeons, neurosurgeons, and skull base specialists. He performs approximately 30 complex head and neck skin cancer cases per year. His outcome data across 158 neck dissections and 144 skull base cases reflects a safety record that includes 0% nerve injury, 0% stroke, and 0% mortality.
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Why Mr Potter

158 neck dissections performed for metastatic skin cancer

144 skull base cases performed

0% nerve injury across neck dissections

0% stroke

0% mortality (30-day and 3-month)

0% PE/DVT

0% chyle leak

0.6% haematoma rate (1/158)

0% free flap loss in skull base reconstruction

Average hospital stay: 8 days (neck dissection); 10 days (skull base)

PHIN patient satisfaction score: 99%

PHIN is an independent government audit of consultant patient outcomes, randomly sampling post-operative patients. A 99% satisfaction score places Mr Potter among the highest-rated plastic surgeons in the country.

Our Technique

When skin cancer of the head and neck spreads to the regional lymph nodes, those nodes lie within the parotid gland — the gland in front of the ear — and within the neck from the jaw to the collarbone. Removing these nodes (lymphadenectomy) is performed to prevent further tumour spread and reduce the risk of recurrence in the neck.

Mr Potter has performed over 150 head and neck lymph node dissections for metastatic skin cancer, performing on average one every other week.

Neck Dissection & Parotidectomy

Minimising deformity — Mr Potter's technique

After a standard parotidectomy and neck dissection, patients are typically left with a visible hollow in the cheek and a condition called Frey’s Syndrome — where the skin sweats noticeably when eating or feeling hungry.

Mr Potter developed a technique that uses a flap of local tissue to fill the defect at the time of dissection — minimising the cosmetic deformity and aiming to prevent the sweating that patients commonly experience after this procedure.

For scarring, standard neck dissections produce vertical scars that are noticeable. Mr Potter uses horizontal parallel scars placed within natural skin folds wherever possible, which markedly reduces visible scarring after the procedure.
When skin cancers invade the skull or skull base — often after previous surgery and radiotherapy — reconstruction requires a combined approach involving ENT surgeons and neurosurgeons alongside Mr Potter.

The involved cranium is excised and reconstructed using either a custom-made cranial implant or titanium. Skin defects are reconstructed with local tissue or, for larger defects, a muscle transplanted from elsewhere in the body and covered with a skin graft at the time of the procedure. The functional impact of removing the donor muscle has been shown to be minimal in patients undertaking normal daily activities.

Mr Potter works specifically with Mr Priyamal Silva, a consultant ENT and skull base surgeon, for tumours involving the lateral skull. These cases are among the most complex in head and neck surgery — often requiring a full day in theatre.

Skull Base Surgery

Multidisciplinary Review

All complex head and neck skin cancer cases are discussed at a Skin Cancer MDT, a Head and Neck MDT, and where appropriate a Skull Base MDT. Patients have the opportunity to discuss all available treatment options — surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and combinations — with all relevant specialities before any decision is made.

When tumours encase or involve the facial nerve, the nerve sometimes has to be sacrificed. This results in facial palsy on the affected side — no smile, potential oral drooling, and risk of a red eye from incomplete eyelid closure.

Mr Potter has several techniques available to minimise and reverse facial palsy, from static slings to dynamic reanimation procedures that restore the smile.

His preferred approach for appropriate patients is free flap reanimation — transplanting tissue from the leg to the head along with its own blood supply, then microsurgically connecting that blood supply to vessels at the reconstruction site. This tissue provides the bulk to minimise cosmetic deformity, and Mr Potter then rewires the facial nerve using a nerve taken with the leg tissue — connecting it so that within an average of 14 weeks the affected side learns to smile using nerves that normally clench the teeth.

Mr Potter’s reanimation series — the largest published series using this technique, presented at the British Skull Base Society — records 66% return of facial movement at three months and 100% return at six months, across all ages. The oldest patient in his series was 82 years old.

Facial Nerve Involvement & Reanimation

Patient Imagery

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Superficial-Parotidectomy-Neck-Dissection-Scars-02

What Patients Say

Mr Potter reconstructed my left nostril using a graft from my left ear. I would recommend him highly. He gave me clear advice about the procedure he was going to perform, the risks associated with this procedure and the recovery plan I needed to follow to secure a good outcome. I had confidence in Mr Potter and a good rapport with him. He was very pleasant, listened and saw me daily after the operation. I am delighted with the result. My six days at The Manor Hospital were very comfortable. The nurses and staff were so nice.
Mr potter informed me fully of my options to treating the cancer in my limp nodes in my head and neck. The decision to operate in February took all day long. I spent 6 days in Blenheim ward under the fantastic care of the whole staff, who made my stay very comfortable. Another 6 weeks of daily radio therapy in Churchill centre ,has left me now clear of cancer.I cannot thank the whole team enough for the care and attention shown to me.I would recommend anyone to have complete confidence in there ability to care for them.
Matthew Potter has been excellent in every way. He is clear in his explanations of the processes and procedures being undertaken and has exhibited a high level of holistic care concerning the wellbeing of his patient that has been very much appreciated. He has delivered in every way.

Forgive the bullet points but they help to make my views clear:

  • Technically brilliant – I had 2 successful cancer operations, one significant, but was left with minimal scarring and and physical changes and am cancer free at this time.
  • Bedside manner – brilliant. Caring, clearly explains things, never in a rush, I felt like the most important thing on Matt’s mind when we were together and he was prompt to respond to queries when I was not.
  • Mental well-being – Matt was careful to ensure that this part of my cancer and surgery recovery was not overlooked and his referral to a phsyco-therapist was important.
  • Lissie Mead PA – also brilliant at her job.
  • Future – I will be under Matt’s care for at least another 5 years and feel safe and happy to be so.

Thank you Matt and team.

Mr Potter has been carrying out annual examinations to be certain my melanoma has not returned – he performed the lymphadectomy following its excision. He has made me happy, comfortable — and unworried!
John DoeCEO
We are writing to thank you a million times for the miracle you performed on R’s head and neck last month.
John DoeCEO

Frequently Asked Questions

When does skin cancer require neck dissection?

When skin cancer of the head and neck spreads to the regional lymph nodes — which lie within the parotid gland and the neck — those nodes need to be surgically removed. This prevents further spread and reduces the risk of recurrence in the neck.

Frey’s Syndrome is a condition where the skin sweats noticeably when eating or feeling hungry — a common side effect of standard parotidectomy. Mr Potter uses a tissue flap to fill the operative defect at the time of surgery, specifically to minimise this and reduce the cosmetic hollow that standard procedures leave behind.

When skin cancer invades the skull or skull base, the involved bone is excised and reconstructed using a custom cranial implant or titanium. The overlying skin defect is reconstructed using local tissue or, for larger defects, a muscle transplant from elsewhere in the body. These cases are managed by Mr Potter working alongside ENT and neurosurgical colleagues.

In many cases, yes. Mr Potter performs dynamic facial reanimation using a free flap technique — transplanting tissue and rewiring the facial nerve so that the affected side learns to smile. His series records 100% return of facial movement at six months, across all ages including patients in their 80s.

Yes. All complex head and neck skin cancer cases are discussed at a Skin Cancer MDT, a Head and Neck MDT, and where appropriate a Skull Base MDT. All available treatment options are considered before a plan is agreed.

Complex head and neck cases are performed at specialist hospital facilities alongside ENT, neurosurgical and skull base colleagues. Mr Potter will advise on the relevant location during consultation.

Book a Consultation

Contact us if you have any health concerns or are looking to get a consultation. You can contact Matthew Potter by using the form below or contact him through one of the available telephone numbers or email addresses listed on this page.

Private Secretary & All Correspondence

T. 07917 965717

Swindon - Ridgeway Hospital

T. 01793 814848

Cheltenham - ProDerm, Festival House

T. 0800 0489230

Oxfordshire - Stratum Clinic,
Wootton Business Park

T. 01865 320790

Wiltshire - Interface Business Park, Royal Wootton Bassett

T: 0808 2803560

Oxford - The Manor Hospital

T. 01865 307777

Contact Lissie on 07917 965717 or use the form below.