This is a retrospective review of a single surgeon's experience over a 20-year period, and covers the presentation, investigation, histology, management and complications of the surgical treatment of chronic parotid disease. There were 46 superficial parotidectomies (23 with ductal ligation); 3 required removal of calculi and there was one ductoplasty and one total parotidectomy. There were 28 cases of temporary palsy of the VIIth cranial nerve (55%, mean duration 4 months) and this was predominantly panfacial (79%). There were no cases of permanent palsy. Five patients who initially had a superficial parotidectomy required subsequent total parotidectomy for recurrent disease (11%). We have now adopted a policy of near total parotidectomy for the surgical treatment of chronic parotid disease.