Where is a thyroid scar located?
Your incision will be located on the front of your neck. It is often possible for your surgeon to place the incision in an existing skin crease.
Where is the incision for a thyroidectomy?
Scarless Thyroidectomy In this procedure, the surgeon accesses the thyroid gland through the patient’s mouth known as a “transoral” approach. UCSF Endocrine Surgery is among the first programs in the world to pioneer this technique.
How long does it take for thyroid incision to heal?
Incision Scar You may feel a firm ridge directly over the incision. This is normal and will soften and go away when healing is complete usually in 3-6 months. All incisions are sensitive to sunlight.
Does thyroid removal leave a scar?
Traditional thyroidectomies and parathyroidectomies leave a visible scar in the middle of the neck. But, advancements in endocrine surgery at Johns Hopkins allow our surgeons to provide a scarless alternative to this procedure.
How long does it take for vocal cords to heal 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.
How big is the incision for a thyroidectomy?
Results Mean length of the incision was 5.5 cm for total thyroidectomy, 4.6 cm for lobectomy, and 3.5 cm for parathyroidectomy (P<. 001).
What are the side effects of having no thyroid?
Side effects of thyroid removal are hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone), low calcium, tremor and spasms. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located below the Adam’s apple in the lower part of the neck and wraps around the windpipe (trachea).
What is a thyroid storm?
Thyroid storm is a very rare, but life-threatening condition of the thyroid gland that develops in cases of untreated thyrotoxicosis (hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid). The thyroid gland is located in the neck, just above where your collarbones meet in the middle.
How long does it take to recover from thyroid surgery?
While around 1 percent of people may have damage to the nerves supplying the vocal cords, around 5 percent to 10 percent of people will have temporary symptoms due to irritation of the nerves during surgery or inflammation around the nerves afterward. Symptoms usually improve in the first few weeks but may persist up to six months after surgery.
How long does it take to get scars from thyroid surgery?
Scar appearance improves with time, and the final result is generally evident 6 months after surgery. Fairer-skinned individuals generally have lighter-colored scars than individuals with darker complexions.
What to do if your neck is red after a thyroidectomy?
After showering, you can lightly pat your neck dry or use a hair dryer set on the “cool” setting. Your incision may appear red and hard at first, and you may notice some slight swelling and bruising around the scar. If you experience itching, applying scar gel or aloe may provide relief, but talk to your surgeon before doing so.
Do you need prescription for thyroid replacement therapy after surgery?
You can ask your surgeon about this prior to your surgery. People who have a total thyroidectomy will require prescription thyroid replacement therapy after their procedure. With a subtotal thyroidectomy, hypothyroidism is less common, affecting roughly 20 percent of people who have the procedure.