To analyze the effect of modified cosmetic parotidectomy in the treatment of patients with benign parotid tumors and its influence on aesthetics. Methods A total of 70 patients with benign parotid tumors admitted to Mengyin County People's Hospital from May 2021 to May 2023 were selected as the research objects. According to the random number table method, they were divided into control group and study group, with 35 patients in each group. The control group was treated with traditional parotidectomy, and the study group was treated with modified cosmetic parotidectomy. The clinical efficacy, surgical indicators, recurrence, aesthetics and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate of treatment in the study group was 97.14%, which was higher than 82.86% in the control group (P <0.05). The operation time, drainage volume on the day after operation, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization time and incision length of the study group were better than those of the control group (P <0.05). The aesthetic score of the study group was higher than that of the control group (P <0.05). The recurrence rate of the study group was 2.86%, which was lower than 17.14% of the control group (P <0.05). After treatment, the scores of quality of life in the study group were higher than those in the control group (P <0.05). Conclusion Modified cosmetic parotidectomy is effective in patients with benign parotid tumors, which can improve the therapeutic effect, optimize the surgical indicators, reduce the recurrence rate, improve the aesthetics of the surgical area, and is worthy of clinical application.