Living with facial disfigurement following treatment for head and neck cancer causes significant difficulties in the everyday life’s of patients; physically, emotionally, psychologically and psychosocially. This structured literature review explores the lived experience of people affected by altered appearance. It highlights the importance of open dialogue with health professionals, access to information, social support and acceptance in enabling people to adjust to their changed appearance and reintegrating into society. In addition, given the improvement in survival it is important that healthcare professionals are educated to deal with the issues that affect the everyday lives of patients.