Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect and complications of modified surgical treatment for parotid benign tumors. Methods Forty-nine patients with parotid tumors treated between February 2007 and February 2013 were randomly divided improved surgery group (trial group,n=24) and traditional surgery group (control group,n=25). Follow-up lasted from two months to two years after surgery. Postoperative complications (facial paralysis, Fery’s syndrome, local deformity, and salivary fistula) and recurrence were observed and compared between the two groups. Results All the 49 patients were followed up from two months to one year after surgery. Two years after surgery, three patients in the trial group and four in the control group were missing during the follow-up. No recurrence occurred in all the patients. There were no permanent facial paralysis cases in both groups. No temporary facial paralysis occurred in the trial group, while there were five such cases in the control group with an incidence rate of 20.0%. The trial group had one case of Fery’s syndrome with an incidence rate of 4.2%, and the control group had 4 such cases with an incidence rate of 16.0%. After surgery, the 24 patients in the trail group achieved general facial symmetry without any facial depression deformity, while there were 3 cases of mild facial depression and 1 obvious facial depression in the control group with an incidence rate of 16.0%. Five patients in the control group had saliva fistula with an incidence rate of 24.0% while one in the trail group (4.2%). The differences in the total rate of complications occurrence between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The improved surgical treatment can effectively reduce complications after surgery for parotid benign tumors, which is worthy of clinical promotion.