Recovery & Support for Head & Neck Masses in Children

Doctors at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone understand that treatment for a head or neck mass can be stressful for children and their families. Our experts offer ongoing support and education for your family. These child and family support services and resilience programs are provided by Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care.

Psychological Support

Even if a head or neck mass is not cancerous, surgery to remove a growth can be stressful for parents and children. Our child life experts and psychotherapists provide emotional support during treatment. They offer counseling for children and parents and can answer any questions to help put families at ease, from the moment of diagnosis through the healing process.

Our team of doctors, nurses, and social workers ensures that there is open communication between doctors and families. They encourage parents to ask questions and play an active role in their child’s care.

Wound Care and Scarring

Surgery to remove a head or neck mass may cause scarring. This is a typical part of the healing process and does not pose any health risk. However, scars are permanent and can be cosmetically unappealing.

Our doctors recommend simple wound care practices in the days and weeks after surgery that may minimize scarring, such as keeping the incision clean, applying fresh bandages as directed, and avoiding sun exposure, which may cause skin discoloration where the wound is healing.

If the wound starts to ooze, swell, or turn red, tell your child’s doctor. These may be signs of infection, which can become a serious medical problem and increase the risk of a large or raised scar.

Most scars flatten and fade over time on their own. To help prevent the incision site from becoming puffy or raised, your child’s doctor may recommend gently massaging the scar daily after it has healed—about two or three weeks after surgery. Our doctors can demonstrate how to rub the scar with two fingers in small circular motions.