A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure where all or part of the thyroid gland is removed. You may have been told that you need this surgery if you have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer or another thyroid condition.
Being told you need surgery can be scary – NGPG General Surgery is here to help you know what to expect before, during and after your procedure.
Why is a Thyroidectomy Performed?
A thyroidectomy may be performed to treat several different thyroid conditions, including:
- Thyroid cancer
- Thyroid nodules
- Thyroid tumor
- Hyperthyroidism, such as Graves’ Disease
What to Expect Before a Thyroidectomy
Before a thyroid surgery, your surgeon will examine your vocal cords. Vocal cord damage is a rare complication of a thyroidectomy.
You may also have additional testing or scans done to help your surgeon visualize the thyroid and any tumors beforehand. Your surgeon and endocrinologist will provide guidance for your medications before the day of your surgery.
Recovering from a Thyroidectomy
Your care team will give you guidelines for your recovery and when to return to work, school and regular activities.
Your physician will monitor your calcium levels as you recover to ensure your parathyroid glands were not damaged during the thyroidectomy. The thyroid gland neighbors the four parathyroid glands, which are responsible for the calcium production in the body.
You will also receive information about how to care for your incision to promote healing and prevent infection and how to adjust your medications, if necessary.
Why Choose NGPG General Surgery
NGPG General Surgery offers advanced thyroid surgery techniques to fit your personalizedtreatment plan. If you’ve been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, our surgeons work closely with the care team at NGMC Cancer Services to provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to treatment.
Request an Appointment
To request an appointment with NGPG General Surgery, please call us at (770) 219-9200 or use the form on this page.