Planning of the skin incision is one of the most important point for safe removal of the head and neck cancer. The fact that so many types of incisions exist is strong testimony that there is hardly one incision that fits all situation. Factors that influence the choice are adequate exposure, changeability to other types of neck dissection, optimal exposure of the primary site and/or opposite side of the neck, and safety of the neck flap and cosmesis. Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas are the most common tumor of the head and neck, even though there are so many diverse situation exist, there must be an optimal approach to each case. From 1992 to 1994 surgical approaches used for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma at the Severance Hospital were reviewed. Types of surgical approaches, its pitfall, advantage and disadvantages were reviewed.