Best Head and Neck Surgery Doctor in Dubai – Dr. Jabbr

You have a date for your neck operation, and the questions are piling up. Will there be a tube in my neck? How many nights will I stay? Will my voice sound the same? When can I eat properly again?

This page answers those questions in plain words. If you are looking for a head and neck surgery doctor in Dubai, it shows what usually happens before and after the operation. Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, Consultant ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, can take you through each step.

Every operation differs, so check the details with your own surgeon.

Which operations fall under head and neck surgery?

Head and neck surgery covers operations on the glands and soft tissues of the neck, face, mouth and throat. Typical examples include:

• Thyroid operations – taking out one lobe or the whole gland for nodules, goitre or an overactive thyroid. Details are on our thyroid surgery page.
• Parotid operations – removing a lump from the large salivary gland in front of the ear, explained on the parotid gland surgery page.
• Submandibular gland removal – taking out the salivary gland under the jaw, often for stones, repeated infection or a lump. See submandibular gland surgery.
• Neck lump removal or lymph node biopsy – removing a lump or gland for checking under a microscope, usually after assessment by a neck lump specialist.
• Cyst removal – such as a thyroglossal duct cyst in the middle of the neck or a branchial cyst at the side.
• Larger cancer operations – including neck dissection, where groups of lymph nodes are removed. A specialist team plans these; see our head and neck cancer surgery page.

Getting ready: the weeks and days before your operation

Before the day, you will usually have:

• Checks and tests such as blood tests, an ECG for some patients, and a review of your scans or biopsy results.
• A look at your vocal cords before thyroid and some other neck operations. A thin camera shows how your voice box moves, giving a starting point if your voice changes later.
• An anaesthetic review of your heart, lungs and long-term conditions.

Some simple steps help too:

• Bring a list of your medicines. Blood thinners and some herbal remedies may need pausing, but never stop one without asking.
• If you smoke or use shisha, try to stop a few weeks before. Smoking slows healing.
• Stick to the eating and drinking cut-off times on your hospital letter.
• Ask someone to drive you home and stay with you the first night.
• Pack button-front tops so you do not pull clothes over your head.

On the ward: how many nights after neck surgery?

Most of these operations are done while you are fully asleep. A breathing tube is used, so a scratchy throat for a day or two afterwards is normal.

The length of your stay depends on the operation:

• Small lump or lymph node removal – often a day case, so you go home the same day.
• Thyroid, parotid or submandibular surgery – usually one night, sometimes two.
• Neck dissection or larger cancer surgery – often several days, sometimes longer if a reconstruction was needed.

Nurses will check your breathing and the wound regularly. If your whole thyroid was removed, a blood test checks your calcium level before you go home. Sitting up, drinking and walking early help prevent chest problems and clots.

Drains and wound care: what to expect

After some neck operations, a thin tube called a drain is placed under the skin. It carries fluid into a small bottle so it does not build up under the wound.

Not every patient needs one. When used, it usually comes out after a day or two, or a little later after bigger operations.

At home, wound care is simple:

• Keep the dressing dry for the time advised, often one to two days.
• After that, you can usually shower and pat the wound dry. Avoid soaking it in a bath.
• The skin may be closed with stitches that melt away, skin glue or small clips. Your nurse will tell you if anything needs removing, often at around one week.
• Some swelling, firmness or bruising near the scar is normal.
• Avoid heavy lifting and hard exercise for about two weeks, or as advised.

Neck scars: where they sit and how they fade

An open operation leaves a scar. Where possible, the cut follows a natural skin crease, so it is harder to see once healed.

A new scar may look pink and raised at first. Most slowly fade and flatten over about a year. To help it heal well:

• Protect it from strong sun for the first year. Use sunscreen or cover it, as Dubai sun can darken scars.
• Once fully healed, gentle massage or silicone gel may help soften it. Ask before using any product.

Voice and swallowing after neck surgery

Important nerves run through the neck. They are carefully protected, but they can be stretched or bruised, causing short-term changes.

• Voice: After thyroid surgery, your voice may sound weak or hoarse, or tire easily. This usually improves over days to weeks, though it can take a few months.
• Swallowing: Mild discomfort when swallowing is common for a short time. Soft, cool foods help.
• Face and lip movement: After parotid or submandibular surgery, part of the face or the corner of the lower lip may be weak for a while. When the nerve was kept intact, this usually improves over weeks to months.
• Numbness: The skin around the scar, and the ear lobe after parotid surgery, may feel numb. Feeling often returns slowly, though a small numb patch can remain.
• Shoulder stiffness: After a neck dissection, the shoulder may feel weak or stiff. Physiotherapy exercises can help.

After larger operations, a speech and swallowing therapist may help.

Follow-up visits and getting your results

Your first follow-up is usually one to two weeks after surgery. At this visit your surgeon will:

• Check the wound and remove any stitches or clips if needed.
• Explain the laboratory report on the tissue that was removed.

If your whole thyroid was taken out, you will need a thyroid hormone tablet every day for life. Blood tests guide the dose. Some people need it after half the gland is removed, too.

Many lumps turn out to be harmless. If more treatment is needed, your surgeon will explain the next steps.

After smaller operations, many people are back at a desk job within one to two weeks. Larger operations need longer. Wait to drive until turning your head feels easy and you no longer need strong pain tablets.

Warning signs after neck surgery that need fast help

Problems are not common, but know the signs. Call the hospital or go to emergency at once if you have:

• Fast swelling in the neck, especially with tightness or difficulty breathing. This can be a sign of bleeding under the wound and needs urgent care.
• Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure.
• Tingling around the lips or in the fingers, or muscle cramps, after thyroid surgery. This can mean low calcium.
• Fever, or a wound that becomes red, hot, more painful or leaks pus.

Where to see a head and neck surgery doctor in Dubai

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon, and one of the best head and neck surgeons in Dubai. His qualifications are MD, MS, DOHNS (England), European Board ORL-HNS and Arab Board ORL-HNS. Over more than 20 years in practice, he has performed more than 3,000 ENT procedures.

He sees both adults and children in the ENT Department at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa. At your visit, you can go through the plan and the risks, and ask any question on this page. If you are still comparing surgeons, our guide on choosing a head and neck surgeon in Dubai may help.

Book an appointment

Has neck surgery been suggested to you, or would you like a second opinion first? Dr. Muhammad Jabbr's clinic is on Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai.

Choose a time online, or phone the clinic on +971 52 751 7811.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before and after: the key points

Knowing what comes next takes away much of the fear. Smaller operations often mean a short stay and a steady return to normal life; larger ones take longer. Prepare well, keep your follow-up visits, and call early if something worries you.