Thyroid surgery is typically recommended when:

• A thyroid nodule is suspicious or confirmed to be cancerous
• You have a goiter (enlarged thyroid) causing symptoms like difficulty in swallowing or breathing
• You have Hyperthyroidism not responding to medication
• There’s a confirmed diagnosis of thyroid cancer

Surgery is often the most effective and long-term solution in these cases.

Types of Thyroid Surgery

There are different types of thyroid surgeries, depending on the condition being treated and how much of the thyroid needs to be removed.

• Total Thyroidectomy: This involves removing the entire thyroid gland. It is most often used for thyroid cancer or large goiters affecting both lobes.
• Partial (Hemi) Thyroidectomy: Only one lobe of the thyroid is removed. This is common when nodules or any abnormality are limited to one side.
• Subtotal Thyroidectomy: Most of the thyroid is removed, but a small portion is left intact. This procedure is less common today but still used in selective hyperthyroid cases.

Step-By-Step Procedure of Thyroidectomy

Thyroid surgery is typically done under general anesthesia and takes 1–2 hours.

1. General anesthesia is given
2. A small incision is made at the base of the neck
3. The thyroid or part of it is carefully removed, while preserving nerves and glands
4. The incision is closed with sutures or surgical glue
5. A drain may be placed to prevent fluid build-up (removed within a day or two)

Recovery Period

Recovery from thyroid surgery is usually varies to an individual experience. Most patients stay in the hospital for one night or are discharged the same day.

• Sore throat and mild neck pain for a few days
• Light activity within 2–3 days
• Return to work within 1–2 weeks
• Full recovery in about 3–4 weeks

Risks and Side Effects of Thyroid Surgery

Like any surgery, thyroidectomy has risks too, though serious complications are rare when performed by an experienced thyroid or ENT surgeon.

Potential risks include:

• Bleeding or infection
• Temporary or permanent hoarseness (due to nerve injury)
• Low calcium levels (if parathyroid glands are affected)
• Neck stiffness or scarring

Benefits of Thyroid Surgery

• Removes cancerous or suspicious nodules
• Relieves symptoms like difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Long-term solution for certain thyroid disorders
• High success rate with low recurrence in benign conditions

Why not laparoscopic?

Laparoscopic surgery is mainly used for operations inside the abdomen or pelvis. So practically this procedure is not used for thyroid related surgeries.