Is thyroid surgery a major surgery?

A thyroidectomy is a common but major surgery with serious risks and potential complications. There may be less invasive treatment options available to you.

How serious is thyroid surgery?

Thyroidectomy is generally a safe procedure. But as with any surgery, thyroidectomy carries a risk of complications. Potential complications include: Bleeding.

How long does it take for a thyroid surgery?

Thyroid surgery is done through an incision (surgical cut) in the lower part of the front of your neck. It takes about 2 to 3 hours. During your surgery, your surgeon will examine your whole thyroid gland and remove the parts that have cancer.

How long does it take to recover from thyroid surgery?

Most people are ready to return home within one day of surgery, but take off about two weeks from work to recover. You'll need to refrain from heavy lifting or other tasks that can strain your neck for up to three weeks after your surgery.

Is thyroid surgery painful?

Pain at the incision is minimal (most liken it to a sore throat), and patients generally require only mild pain medication (for example, acetaminophen) by the first day after the operation. It may be more comfortable to eat soft foods for a few days.

Thyroid Surgery (Thyroidectomy)

Can you talk after thyroid surgery?

Your voice probably will be hoarse, and you may have trouble talking. For most people, these problems get better within 3 to 4 months, but it can take as long as a year. In some cases, this surgery causes permanent problems with chewing, speaking, or swallowing.

Will I gain weight after thyroid removal?

Patients with hyperthyroidism commonly experience weight gain after thyroidectomy. This occurs due to the reduction in circulating thyroid hormone, thus ameliorating the weight-lowering effects of elevated thyroid hormones (4,5).

How long do you have to stay in hospital after thyroid surgery?

After thyroid surgery, you will probably stay in hospital for one or two nights to recover from surgery. Your neck wound will be closed with stitches, adhesive strips or small clips. Your nursing team will talk to you about how to care for your surgical wound site once you go home to prevent it becoming infected.

Is it hard to swallow after thyroid surgery?

Abstract: Common complaints of patients who have received thyroidectomy include dysphonia (voice dysfunction) and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). One cause of these surgical outcomes is recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis.

Can you eat after thyroid surgery?

You can eat whatever you like after surgery. Try to eat healthy foods. You may find it hard to swallow at first. If so, it may be easier to drink liquids and eat soft foods such as pudding, gelatin, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, or yogurt.

How do I prepare for thyroid surgery?

As a general rule, do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before, and arrive at least two hours before your scheduled surgery. Most often you can take your routine medications with a sip of water. Medication guidelines prior to surgery will be discussed at your pre-operative visit.

Do you have a catheter during thyroid surgery?

If you're having an endoscopic or robotic thyroidectomy, the surgeon will use small instruments and a video camera to perform the procedure through tiny incisions. A catheter may be placed in the area to help drain blood and fluids.

How long will my neck hurt after thyroidectomy?

Neck Stiffness

You may experience stiffness/soreness in your neck, shoulder, or back and may experience tension headaches. These may take a few days or weeks to go away completely.

Should I be worried about thyroid surgery?

All surgery brings risks for complications like bleeding and infection. Thyroid surgery can also involve risks for impairment to vocal cord nerves, which could cause hoarseness, and impairment to your parathyroid glands, which are located behind and very close to your thyroid and regulate your body's calcium levels.

When does voice come back after thyroid surgery?

Temporary hoarseness, voice tiring, and weakness can occur when one or more of the nerves are irritated during the operation or because of inflammation that occurs after the surgery. This usually gets better within a few weeks, but can take up to 6 months to resolve.

Does thyroid removal shorten life expectancy?

We have also shown that treatment per se (thyroidectomy, high-dose radioactive iodine and thyroid hormone medication) is safe and does not shorten life expectancy.

How should I sleep after thyroid surgery?

Head of Bed: Please elevate the head of your bed 30-45 degrees or sleep in a recliner at 30-45 degrees for the first 3-4 days to decrease swelling. The skin above the incision may look swollen after lying down for a few hours.

What are the side effects of thyroid surgery?

Side effects of thyroid surgery are common and often include neck pain, a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness. You may be given calcium and vitamin D supplements, and hormone replacement therapy is needed in some cases.

Is thyroid surgery outpatient?

Regardless of the type, thyroid surgery is typically a scheduled inpatient procedure performed in a hospital. Less commonly, it may be performed on an outpatient basis in a surgical center.

Is thyroid surgery Same day surgery?

Ambulatory thyroid surgery, defined as patient discharge to home on the same day as surgery, has become more common in the past decade. For highly selected patients, ambulatory thyroid surgery is believed to be safe when the risk of complications is low and the patient can obtain additional medical care when necessary.

How do you wash your hair after thyroid surgery?

Your incision is covered with a waterproof protective dressing. You can shower and wash your hair as usual, but do not soak or scrub the dressing. After showering, pat dry. A visible dark line is expected, and will come off with the dressing.

Do you go home the same day after thyroid surgery?

If only part of the thyroid gland is removed, you may be allowed to go home the same day. If the entire thyroid gland is removed, you will stay in the hospital overnight and most likely will go home the following morning. If a drain is placed, it is typically removed in 48-72 hours after surgery.

Is it hard to lose weight after thyroid removal?

Losing weight can be a challenging process for many people who are living with an underactive thyroid. Whether you have hypothyroidism or no thyroid after thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the thyroid) or radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, thyroid function affects metabolism and can make weight loss an uphill battle.

What type of surgeon removes the thyroid?

Thyroid surgery is performed by otolaryngologists or general surgeons.