Microvascular surgery involves reconstructing complex defects of the head and neck after cancer removal, severe trauma, or facial paralysis. These highly specialized procedures involve using tissue from other sites in the body along with its blood supply to reconstruct missing tissue in the head and neck. Blood vessels from the donor tissue are hooked up to blood vessels in the neck. The Penn State Health Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery team has three fellowship-trained microvascular surgeons, Dr. Jessyka Lighthall, Dr. Neerav Goyal and Dr. Craig Bollig, to improve the patient appearance, optimize function in regards to speech and swallowing and improve the quality of life.

Jessyka Lighthall, MD

It is an amazing experience to be able to return my patients to smiling, speaking, swallowing, and doing many of their usual daily activities after surgical treatment for head and neck cancer. My goal is to help bring back the form and function of the face after these surgeries and help patients return to a full life using microvascular or 'free flap' reconstruction.

Jessyka Lighthall, MD

Conditions

Treatments

Cancer treatments may include resection (removal) of a large cancer in the head and neck.  Many times, due to the size of the defect, tissue needs to be brought in from another source (such as the leg, back, or arm) with its own blood supply to rebuild the resected tissue.  Studies have shown that this improves quality of life for patients and assists in improve swallowing and speech outcomes.  

Experts in Care

Meet our doctors, view their profiles and select the one that’s right for you.

Find a doctor near you

Support Groups

Head and Neck Cancer

This group provides an opportunity for head and neck cancer patients, as well as their family members, to develop connections with and receive support from...

This group provides an opportunity for head and neck cancer patients, as well as their family members, to develop connections with and receive support from other patients and caregivers. The support group meets every fourth Sunday of the month. For more information, call 717-531-8945 or e-mail Head and Neck Support Group.

View All Support Groups

Convenient Locations

Find the care your family needs, close to home, at one of our many locations throughout central Pennsylvania.

Find a location near you