Abstract: Objective: To compare conventional parotidectomy with modified parotidectomy for benign parotid tumors. Methods: From 2001 to 2004, data from 100 patients with benign parotid tumor were collected. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the treatment they received: con-ventional parotidectomy or modified parotidectomy. Postoperative deformity, facial paralysis and Frey's syndrome in each group were observed and analyzed. Results: All of the patients were followed up for at least 1 year. The incidence of facial paralysis in the modified parotidectomy group was significantly lower than that in the conventional parotidectomy group at 3.5 months after the surgery (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the incidence of paralysis between the two groups 1 year after the surgery (P>0.05). The patients in the modified parotidectomy group appeared to have good aesthetic contour, without obvious scars and with a lower incidence of Frey's syndrome. Conclusion: Modified parotidectomy can effectively reduce postoperative complications and it has advantages over conven-tional parotidectomy.