Your thyroid is a small gland at the front of your neck, but it produces the hormones that regulate your metabolism and other critical functions. If your thyroid malfunctions, often the best course of action is to remove part or all of the gland. The physicians at Flagstaff Surgical Associates in Flagstaff, Arizona, offer expert thyroid surgeries to restore your health. Call or schedule a consultation online today if you’re looking for expert surgeons in the area.
What is thyroid surgery?
Thyroid surgery is a procedure to remove part or all of your thyroid. For such a small, butterfly-shaped gland, your thyroid is a powerhouse of hormone production. It produces hormones that control your metabolism, sex drive, and temperature regulation.
When your thyroid malfunctions and produces too many of these hormones, your Flagstaff Surgical Associates doctor might suggest thyroid surgery to reduce or eliminate your thyroid hormone production.
There are a few types of thyroid surgery, which are identified by which part of the thyroid your surgeon removes. For example, a total thyroidectomy is the removal of your whole thyroid.
If you have a neck mass due to a problem with your parathyroid glands, surgery is often the best treatment option. Your parathyroid glands are four small glands located on the back of your thyroid. They produce a hormone that helps you regulate your calcium levels.
During a hemithyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy, your surgeon removes one of the lobes of your thyroid. An isthmusectomy is the removal of the small bridge of tissue that connects the lobes of your thyroid. In a parathyroidectomy, your surgeon removes the enlarged parathyroid glands.
Why would I need thyroid surgery?
Flagstaff Surgical Associates performs thyroid surgery to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Thyroid enlargement (goiters)
- Thyroid cancer
- Hyperthyroidism
- Toxic nodular goiters
- Thyroid nodules
- Hyperparathyroidism
The physicians provide comprehensive exams before performing any surgery and collaborate with your endocrinologist, oncologist, and other physicians to ensure you receive the best possible, coordinated care.
What happens during thyroid surgery?
At Flagstaff Surgical Associates, the physicians use state-of-the-art surgical techniques and technology, including the da Vinci® robotic surgery system to perform thyroid and parathyroid surgery.
In most cases, thyroid or parathyroid surgery is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Whenever possible, your surgeon uses minimally invasive surgery techniques to reduce your risk of scarring and infection.
While you’re under anesthesia, your surgeon makes a small incision in your neck to access your glands. Then using small surgical instruments, they excise and extract the necessary part of your thyroid or parathyroid. When your operation is complete, they remove the tools and close the incision.
What should I expect after thyroid surgery?
Your surgeon gives you customized aftercare instructions. In general, you need a day or so to recover and should avoid strenuous activity until you have a follow-up appointment, and your surgeon gives you the all-clear to return to exercise.
You also have follow-up appointments with your endocrinologist to monitor the function of any remaining thyroid or parathyroid tissue.
If you have a thyroid problem and need an expert surgeon to remove part or all of your thyroid, call Flagstaff Surgical Associates or make an appointment online today.