OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on postparotidectomy complications (facial nerve paralysis, Frey syndrome, "wound complications", and recurrence) and to obtain meaningful data on their incidence, physiopathology, and favoring factors. To analyze the incidence of postparotidectomy complications in a prospective trial. To develop new objective evaluation methods for facial motor function and Frey syndrome. METHODS: Seventy patients underwent parotidectomy between April 1994 and 1998. Several improvements of standard parotidectomy were introduced in order to decrease postparotidectomy complications.