Specialized treatment approaches customized for your condition, delivering expert care for structural disorders, functional improvement, and enhanced quality of life.
Dr. Nguyen specializes in a wide range of advanced head and neck procedures tailored to address specific structural and functional disorders. Each surgical approach is designed to preserve critical functions, minimize visible scarring, and effectively treat conditions affecting the thyroid, parathyroid, salivary glands, and other vital structures.
Explore our head and neck procedure options below to learn which specialized approach might be most appropriate for your specific condition and personal health goals.
This precise diagnostic procedure removes a lymph node from the neck for laboratory examination, providing crucial information about the cause of enlargement and guiding appropriate treatment decisions.
What happens during surgery?
Using a small incision (typically 2-3 cm) in the neck, your surgeon carefully accesses and removes either a portion or the entire lymph node of concern. Special attention is paid to preserving surrounding structures like nerves and blood vessels. The tissue is sent for comprehensive pathological evaluation. The entire procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes under local or general anesthesia.
Benefits:
Definitive diagnosis of various conditions including infections, cancer, and immune disorders
Minimal scarring with incisions often placed in natural neck creases
Quick recovery with minimal post-operative discomfort
Same-day discharge for most patients
Essential information for developing appropriate treatment plans
More complete and reliable results than needle biopsies in many cases
Cervical node biopsy provides critical diagnostic information through a minimally invasive approach, allowing physicians to confidently determine the appropriate course of treatment while minimizing patient discomfort and recovery time.
This precise procedure removes one or more overactive parathyroid glands to normalize calcium levels in the blood, effectively treating hyperparathyroidism and its associated symptoms.
What happens during surgery?
Using a small incision (typically 2-4 cm) at the base of the neck, your surgeon carefully locates and identifies the abnormal parathyroid gland(s). Advanced techniques like intraoperative PTH monitoring help confirm that the correct gland has been removed. Minimally invasive approaches are often possible for single-gland disease. The entire procedure typically takes 1-2 hours under general anesthesia.
Benefits:
Immediate normalization of calcium and parathyroid hormone levels
Relief from symptoms like fatigue, bone pain, and kidney stones
Prevention of long-term complications such as osteoporosis
Minimal scarring with incisions often placed in natural neck creases
Quick recovery with most patients returning home the same day
Durable results with very low recurrence rates in most cases
Parathyroidectomy offers a definitive solution for hyperparathyroidism, resolving both the biochemical imbalance and its wide-ranging symptoms while improving long-term health outcomes and quality of life.
This procedure removes part or all of the parotid gland to address tumors or other conditions while carefully preserving the facial nerve that runs through this salivary gland.
What happens during surgery?
Using an incision that begins in front of the ear and curves behind and below the earlobe, your surgeon carefully separates the parotid tissue from the facial nerve branches using specialized microscopic techniques. The affected portion of the gland is removed while meticulously preserving facial nerve function. The entire procedure typically takes 2-4 hours under general anesthesia.
Benefits:
Effective removal of tumors with appropriate margins for safety
Preservation of facial movement and expression in most cases
Definitive diagnosis through complete pathological examination
Reduced risk of recurrence compared to less complete approaches
Improved cosmetic outcomes with incisions hidden in natural contours
Resolution of symptoms like pain, swelling, or facial asymmetry
Parotidectomy provides both diagnostic clarity and therapeutic benefit for parotid tumors and other conditions, balancing the complete removal of diseased tissue with the preservation of the critical facial nerve for optimal functional and aesthetic results.
This precise procedure removes the submandibular salivary gland to address chronic inflammation, stones, tumors, or recurrent infections that affect this gland beneath the jawline.
What happens during surgery?Using a carefully placed incision (typically 4-5 cm) in a natural crease beneath the jawline, your surgeon identifies and protects vital structures including the marginal mandibular nerve and lingual nerve. The gland is then carefully separated from surrounding tissues and completely removed. The entire procedure typically takes 1-2 hours under general anesthesia.
Benefits:
Permanent resolution of chronic submandibular gland problems
Relief from symptoms like pain, swelling, and recurrent infections
Definitive treatment for stones that cannot be managed with less invasive approaches
Minimal visible scarring with incisions placed in natural neck contours
Preservation of important nerve functions affecting facial expression and tongue sensation
Same-day discharge or overnight stay for most patients
Submandibular gland resection offers a definitive solution for chronic or recurrent problems affecting this salivary gland, eliminating the source of symptoms while carefully preserving surrounding critical structures for optimal function and appearance.
This life-sustaining procedure creates a direct opening into the windpipe through the neck, bypassing upper airway obstructions and providing a reliable pathway for breathing and secretion clearance.
What happens during surgery?
Using a horizontal incision (typically 2-3 cm) in the lower neck, your surgeon carefully exposes the trachea between muscle layers. A precise opening is created in the tracheal wall, and a specialized tube is inserted to maintain the airway. The tube is then secured in place with sutures and specialized holders. The entire procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes under local or general anesthesia.
Benefits:
Immediate and reliable airway access for patients with breathing difficulties
Reduced work of breathing compared to prolonged intubation
Enhanced patient comfort and ability to communicate in long-term cases
Easier removal of secretions to prevent pneumonia and lung complications
Potential for speaking with specialized valve attachments
Preservation of upper airway structures when long-term ventilation is needed
Tracheostomy provides a critical alternative airway that can be life-saving in emergency situations and life-enhancing for patients requiring long-term breathing support, offering improved comfort and reduced complications compared to extended endotracheal intubation.
This focused diagnostic procedure removes a small segment of the temporal artery for laboratory examination, enabling definitive diagnosis of giant cell arteritis to guide urgent treatment decisions.
What happens during surgery?
Using a small incision (typically 2-4 cm) along the temple hairline or within the scalp, your surgeon carefully locates and exposes the temporal artery. A 1-2 cm segment of the artery is removed, and the ends are sealed. The tissue is sent for pathological examination under a microscope. The entire procedure typically takes 30-45 minutes under local anesthesia with sedation.
Benefits:
Definitive diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, preventing serious complications like blindness
Minimal discomfort with procedures performed under local anesthesia
Same-day procedure with immediate return home for most patients
Small, easily concealed incision often hidden within the hairline
Critical information to guide appropriate steroid therapy and treatment duration
Rapid results allowing for prompt treatment decisions
Temporal artery biopsy provides essential diagnostic confirmation for suspected giant cell arteritis, allowing physicians to confidently initiate or adjust treatment to prevent vision loss and other serious complications of this inflammatory condition.
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All our head and neck procedures are performed by our highly trained surgical team using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. We're committed to providing you with the most effective, specialized care for head and neck conditions because we believe you deserve:
Precise diagnosis and targeted treatment of head and neck disorders
Preservation of critical functions like speaking, swallowing, and breathing
Minimized visible scarring and optimal cosmetic outcomes
Expert management of both benign and malignant conditions
Comprehensive care from diagnosis through rehabilitation
Improved quality of life and symptom relief
Coordinated multidisciplinary approach for complex cases
Dr. Richard Nguyen is a board-certified General Surgeon with over 20 years of surgical expertise and fellowship training in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery from Vanderbilt University. Since establishing his practice in San Jose in 2007, he has pioneered innovative surgical techniques, including single-incision laparoscopic procedures and mastery of the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Beyond his acclaimed bariatric surgery practice, he has earned national recognition for his specialized expertise in both non-mesh and advanced mesh hernia repairs, while also serving as a critical approach surgeon for anterior spine access procedures. Dr. Nguyen combines technical precision with personalized care across multiple premier facilities throughout the South Bay Area.
I would refer Doctor Nguyen to anyone, in fact I have and they have all had the same experience as me. He is truly great. I owe all my success to Doctor Nguyen and I thank him for all the work he has done for me and continues to do so. He is extremely amazing, and I am very grateful to him.
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At 50, I now have a life I had only dreamed of a year before. My body tells me if I am done eating. This surgery is a tool that I have used to the fullest. It is not an easy way out. It still took work. But I honestly know that I would not be living this amazing new life if I didn’t step forward to embrace this life-saving surgery.
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Dr. Nguyen has changed my life completely. I feel so much better and I also feel like I’ve got control of my life again…I had high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. I took at least 5 different medications for the past 30 years. NOW, after surgery I take no medications only vitamins!
Wondering which surgical procedure might be right for your condition? We're here to help you understand your treatment options and develop a personalized surgical plan. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation.
Your path to improved health may be more achievable than you think—with advanced surgical techniques leading to faster recovery, reduced complications, and a significantly enhanced quality of life.