This advanced procedure repairs areas of damaged or missing vocal fold tissue. It is often performed in cases where previous surgery, trauma, or disease has caused scarring or tissue loss, leading to a stiff, breathy, or hoarse voice. The goal is to restore the smooth mucosal surface of the vocal fold to vibrate properly for sound production.

Under general anesthesia, the surgeon uses a microscope and delicate instruments to remove scarred or damaged areas. A small graft — often taken from the patient’s own mouth lining (buccal mucosa) — is then precisely placed over the area to replace the lost tissue. After surgery, patients are usually asked to rest their voice for at least a week. Recovery also involves follow-up with laryngoscopy to check healing, and often voice therapy to retrain the voice. Results can be excellent but may take time to fully develop.