In order for the surgeon to choose the ideal incision, knowledge of neurovascular anatomy of the skin and underlying muscles, patient's body habitus, and respect to natural skin creases and Langer's lines is essential. In addition, in planning the incision, the possibility of extension of the incision to embark upon unanticipated additional or more extensive operative procedures must be taken into account. The need for future surgery must be kept in mind, such as the possibility of a neck dissection after an open biopsy of a neck node, where the biopsy incision should be able to be incorporated in the eventual incision for neck dissection.

Dr Mohammad Akheel is to be congratulated for putting together an outstanding compendium on the incisions, both old and new, applicable in various procedures in the head and neck region. This comprehensive treatise of a large variety of incisions employed by surgeons of the past era and present times offers the reader a menu of the surgical approaches for congenital conditions, trauma and tumor surgery as well as reconstructive surgery.

The surgeon has an opportunity to select the appropriate incision to employ in a given setting from this large list of approaches described, keeping in mind the pros and cons of each incision for the procedure at hand. This book would be of great value to the students and trainees of maxillofacial surgery, dental surgery, otolaryngology, general surgery, head and neck surgery and plastic surgery.

It would also be a tremendous resource in the libraries of dental and medical schools, as well as clinical departments where surgery in the head and neck region is being practiced.

I have tried to cover all the incisions of particular region starting from the historical ones and till date with references. The understanding of the face as a compact dynamic emotional structure has been changed more during the last 30 years than during the last 20,000 years. The surgeon's task is not only to incise the facial structures but also to rejuvenate it, and also to harmonize, enhance and symmetrize it. In order to achieve this, the very first step of placing a knife to make an incision needs a meticulous planning. This book shall help the young surgeon/resident to know about various incisions, practice a safe and ethical surgery to avoid inadvertent complications. Planning an incision in the facial region is an art and needs a proper knowledge about facial architecture. A wrong incision can make you land in legal problems.

Hence, this book will help you to know all the incisions under one roof, and I hope there is no book other than by Sir Edward Ellis III which summarizes all these incisions together. I wish you good luck in all your future endeavors and enjoy reading this atlas.

I am very thankful and obliged to my father, Mohammad Hameed, my mother Tahera Sultana and my brother Mohammad Afroz who are always there as my support, and whatever I am today is due to their prayers, love and affection.

I am very thankful to my Co-author, my inspiration and my beloved life partner Dr Ashmi Wadhwania, a gorgeous maxillofacial surgeon with beauty and brain, without whose help and contribution this book might have not been possible.

I sincerely thank my fellowship guides Dr Raj Nagarkar (Chairman and Surgical Oncologist) and Dr Sirshendu Roy (Surgical Oncologist) of HCG Curie Manavata Cancer Center, Nashik, Maharashtra, for giving me an opportunity to learn oncology and thereby making my dream to come true.

I sincerely thank my postgraduate and undergraduate teachers who have taught me that academics and discipline are two important things in life which makes a man successful in his career.

I thank my mentor, my guide and my friend Dr Suryapratap Singh Tomar, a young and dynamic neuro and spine surgeon from India who has shaped me and made me realize my potential.

I am sincerely thankful to Dr Niyaz Wadhwania, a third year student of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), MA Rangoonwala Dental College, Pune, Maharashtra, who has volunteered for the photographs of incisions for this book.

In the end, I would like to thank all my friends who have always motivated me in all my academic works.

According to me, the face is now considered as 3-dimensional dynamic mosaic work. Numerous techniques are now available to improve the arrangement of these facial pieces in the mosaic. Now we can achieve more sustainable harmonic results while reducing the potential risks and complications to get a good harmony when performing any elective facial procedure. It is of utmost importance that the surgeon listens carefully to his/her patient's wishes and expectations. Hence, in this way, we can make a plan for the placement of our incision mostly in the inconspicuous area of head and neck and also the length of incision to have an adequate exposure of area to be operated. Any artificial/iatrogenic mark on the face of the patient will lower their social self-esteem. Hence, a surgeon must keep this in mind and rejuvenate the face near to the original architecture to satisfy the patient's social and psychological appeal.

Here, again I stress on this point that the biggest risk in any type of head and neck surgery lies in the surgeon himself/herself. If he/she has not received excellent education and exposure of the various types of incisions/approaches to the facial structures, if he/she lacks sufficient experience, then the patient is exposed to an enormous risk of facial disharmony. There is also a global phenomenon that surgically untrained physicians and even nonphysicians, maxillofacial surgeons, and cosmeticians are offering aesthetic surgeries. Aesthetic or cosmetic surgery is enjoying ever-increasing popularity and social acceptance but only when it is done by appropriate planning. Hence, my humble request to all the budding head and neck surgeons—PLAN YOUR INCISION EVEN BEFORE YOU HAVE A KNIFE IN YOUR HAND!!!