B

The main trunk and branches of the facial nerve leave the parotid gland deep to the parotidomassetric fascia and course in a plane deep to (i.e., below) the superficial musculo-aponeurotic system (SMAS) before piercing the fascia further anteriorly [Campiglio & Candiani, 1997, PMID 9143418; Ammirati et al., 1993, PMID 8133989].