Thyroid surgery is a common procedure done by most surgeons .The history of similar surgery dates back to more than 100 years and conventionally it is done by a horizontal neck incision. Thyroid diseases are more common in younger females. Though conventional these procedures often leave prominent and visible scars on the neck. Some patients also report varying degrees of neck stiffness after the operation. With the advent of minimally invasive surgery of late, thyroid surgery has also benefited from this advancement. The principle behind the success of minimally invasive thyroid surgery is that it avoids a neck scar which is cosmetically appealing and also does not interfere with the functional aspect of the neck following surgery. Many routes of access other than the neck to the thyroid gland have been described but the best results over the years have been achieved with an axilliary route. By this method, three small incisions are made in the region of the axilla and the outer chest wall and the thyroid is approached through this. The biggest boon of this type of surgery is that there are no visible scars in the neck. The small scars are totally hidden. In our hands this procedure has given very good results and excellent patient acceptance. Our most recent advancement in this field is to approach the thyroid through the oral cavity .There is zero scarring with this procedure leaving virtually no sign of a surgical procedure being done. We would also like to state that all thyroid surgeries cannot be done by the above mentioned techniques and this has to be planned on a patient to patient basis.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Modern thyroid surgery now focuses on precision, minimal scarring, and faster recovery. Techniques include:
- Endoscopic and robotic thyroidectomy – tiny incisions through the armpit or chest, leaving no neck scar.
- Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) – protects vocal cords.
- Energy devices – reduce bleeding and shorten surgery time.
These advances make surgery safer and cosmetically superior.
Alternatives depend on the thyroid condition:
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) – shrinks benign thyroid nodules without surgery.
- Radioactive iodine therapy – treats overactive thyroid or certain cancers.
- Medications – like anti-thyroid drugs (methimazole, propylthiouracil) help manage hyperthyroidism.
These options are ideal for patients unfit or unwilling to undergo surgery.
After partial or total thyroid removal, patients require thyroid hormone replacement therapy, usually levothyroxine. It replaces the natural hormone (T4) that the thyroid would produce, maintaining normal metabolism, energy levels, and organ function. Lifelong monitoring and dose adjustments are often needed to keep thyroid hormone levels balanced.
Thyroid tissue can be treated or reduced without traditional surgery using:
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): A minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to shrink benign thyroid nodules through a needle-like probe under local anesthesia.
- Radioactive Iodine (RAI) Therapy: Swallowed capsules or liquid target and destroy overactive or cancerous thyroid cells.
- Ethanol (Alcohol) Ablation: Injects alcohol directly into cystic thyroid nodules to shrink them.
These methods are effective alternatives for patients who want to avoid surgical scars or anesthesia.
There are four main types of thyroid surgery:
- Total Thyroidectomy: Removes the entire thyroid gland—used for cancer or severe hyperthyroidism.
- Subtotal (Near-Total) Thyroidectomy: Leaves a small thyroid portion to preserve some function.
- Lobectomy (Hemi-Thyroidectomy): Removes one thyroid lobe—common for nodules or small tumors.
- Isthmusectomy: Removes only the thyroid isthmus—the bridge connecting both lobes.
Newer methods like endoscopic and robotic thyroidectomy also exist, offering scarless, precise results with quicker recovery.
Modern thyroid surgery now focuses on precision, minimal scarring, and faster recovery. Techniques include:
- Endoscopic and robotic thyroidectomy – tiny incisions through the armpit or chest, leaving no neck scar.
- Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) – protects vocal cords.
- Energy devices – reduce bleeding and shorten surgery time.
These advances make surgery safer and cosmetically superior.
Alternatives depend on the thyroid condition:
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) – shrinks benign thyroid nodules without surgery.
- Radioactive iodine therapy – treats overactive thyroid or certain cancers.
- Medications – like anti-thyroid drugs (methimazole, propylthiouracil) help manage hyperthyroidism.
These options are ideal for patients unfit or unwilling to undergo surgery.
After partial or total thyroid removal, patients require thyroid hormone replacement therapy, usually levothyroxine. It replaces the natural hormone (T4) that the thyroid would produce, maintaining normal metabolism, energy levels, and organ function. Lifelong monitoring and dose adjustments are often needed to keep thyroid hormone levels balanced.
Thyroid tissue can be treated or reduced without traditional surgery using:
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): A minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to shrink benign thyroid nodules through a needle-like probe under local anesthesia.
- Radioactive Iodine (RAI) Therapy: Swallowed capsules or liquid target and destroy overactive or cancerous thyroid cells.
- Ethanol (Alcohol) Ablation: Injects alcohol directly into cystic thyroid nodules to shrink them.
These methods are effective alternatives for patients who want to avoid surgical scars or anesthesia.
There are four main types of thyroid surgery:
- Total Thyroidectomy: Removes the entire thyroid gland—used for cancer or severe hyperthyroidism.
- Subtotal (Near-Total) Thyroidectomy: Leaves a small thyroid portion to preserve some function.
- Lobectomy (Hemi-Thyroidectomy): Removes one thyroid lobe—common for nodules or small tumors.
- Isthmusectomy: Removes only the thyroid isthmus—the bridge connecting both lobes.
Newer methods like endoscopic and robotic thyroidectomy also exist, offering scarless, precise results with quicker recovery.
