Thyroid Surgery in East Valley, AZ

Who Needs Thyroid Surgery?

Your doctor may recommend thyroid surgery to treat numerous conditions.

• Thyroid nodules or goiters are usually benign, but they may become cancerous. Your doctor will do a thorough workup possibly including a needle biopsy before recommending surgery.
• An enlarged thyroid can cause bothersome or even dangerous symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing or breathing and changes to the voice. Surgery eliminates these problems.
• Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, can be treated in multiple ways. If conservative treatments don’t work, surgery may be recommended. This is uncommon however.
• Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition, can cause hyperthyroidism. Other approaches may be successful at treating Graves’ disease, but surgery is still necessary in some cases.

Types of Thyroid Surgeries

Here are some of the common types of thyroid surgeries we perform:

• Isthmusectomy is a surgery that removes the isthmus, a piece of connective tissue that connects the two lobes of your thyroid. This is effective for treating small tumors located on the isthmus.
• Hemithyroidectomy or lobectomy involves removing one half of the thyroid. This could be right for you if a nodule or low-risk cancer is limited to one lobe of the thyroid.
• Total thyroidectomy is the complete removal of the thyroid gland. Bilateral thyroid nodules, some types of cancer, and Graves’ disease may require this surgery.

How Is Thyroid Surgery Performed?

Partial or complete thyroid removal is performed under general anesthesia, which means you are asleep during the operation. The surgeon makes an incision in the neck to get to the thyroid gland itself.  The delicate procedure takes about two or more hours to complete.  Extreme care will be used to minimize the risks to surrounding structures in your neck.

When you wake up, you will recover from the anesthesia for a few hours at the hospital. Unless complications occur, you can expect to return home the same day. If you have had both sides of your thyroid removed, we will often keep you overnight for monitoring and send you home the following day, in most cases. You may need to limit exercise for a few days or weeks based on your doctor’s instructions. You will not be able to drive until you can fully turn your head without discomfort.

Risks of Thyroid Surgery

The risk of complication is low, but your doctor may warn you of the following risks before you agree to undergo thyroid surgery:

• Postsurgical infection
• Pain, discomfort, and bleeding at the incision site
• Nerve damage, which, in rare cases, can lead to temporary or permanent problems with speech or breathing. This is very rare.
• Injury to the trachea or blood vessels in the area.
• Injury to the parathyroid glands, which can affect your calcium

After surgery, your doctor may monitor your hormone and calcium levels to detect any damage to your parathyroid glands. This is usually done after both lobes of your thyroid have been removed. You should also be prepared to take thyroid hormone replacement medication.

If only a portion of your thyroid is removed, there’s an 80% chance that the remaining gland will produce enough hormone that replacement medication isn’t necessary. For total thyroidectomy or cases of hypothyroidism, you may need medication for the rest of your life. Your primary care physician or endocrinologist will help you manage this.

Schedule Thyroid Surgery in the Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, and Surrounding Areas

If you have problems with your thyroid, and if you think you may need surgery, we would be happy to meet with you. Not all thyroid disorders require surgery and your endocrinologist or primary care doctor can help you treat your condition if this is the case.

If you do need surgery, our surgeons at Surgical Professionals combine advanced surgical care with unwavering compassion. Our team works closely with our patients and primary care colleagues to deliver the best possible results. Care begins with a thorough consultation. We look forward to meeting with you.

Contact Surgical Professionals today at 480-892-2456 to schedule a consultation for thyroid surgery in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, or Queen Creek.

Please note that the above information is provided for general purposes only and may not apply to your specific situation. Our surgical capabilities may also be subject to change. Contact us to discuss your medical condition, determine the most appropriate treatment for your individual case, and confirm that we can address your procedure.