When medical interventions fail to improve your thyroid condition or you have thyroid cancer, you may need thyroid surgery. At Surgical Clinic, PC in Auburn & Opelika, Alabama, the team of board-certified general surgeons performs thyroid surgery to treat a spectrum of needs. The skilled surgeons use minimally invasive tools and techniques so you get the best outcomes. For a thyroid surgery consultation, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck, and it produces thyroid hormones. These hormones control your metabolism, which is how your body uses energy from the food you eat.
Thyroid problems may affect the production of these hormones, causing an increase or decrease in hormone levels.
Though there are many diseases that affect the thyroid, not all require surgery. Your primary care provider or surgeon at Surgical Clinic, PC may recommend thyroid surgery if you have:
Your provider may perform imaging studies and blood tests to assess the thyroid and determine the best course of treatment.
The type of thyroid surgery you need depends on your diagnosis. The Surgical Clinic, PC team customizes your surgical plan and reviews the details with you at your pre-op visit so you know what to expect.
Types of thyroid surgeries include:
Though not a common procedure, if you have a suspicious thyroid nodule, the team at Surgical Clinic, PC may perform an open thyroid biopsy to take a sample of tissue and send it out for analysis.
During a thyroidectomy, your surgeon removes the entire thyroid gland. The team performs this procedure to treat thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, and multinodular goiters.
For a hemithyroidectomy, your surgeon only removes one thyroid lobe. They may perform this procedure if you have a suspicious or toxic nodule that affects only one lobe.
If you have a small tumor that affects only the bridge — the isthmus — that connects the two lobes of your thyroid, the team performs an isthmusectomy.
When performing thyroid surgery, the skilled team at Surgical Clinic, PC uses minimally invasive techniques whenever possible to minimize scarring and recovery time.
What happens after your thyroid surgery depends on the type of surgery performed and your need for surgery. If you had a thyroidectomy, you need to take thyroid hormone medication to maintain hormone balance.
If you had a hemithyroidectomy or isthmusectomy, your thyroid gland may produce enough hormones so there’s no need for supplemental hormone medication. However, you may need routine follow-ups to monitor your thyroid and hormone levels.
To find out more about thyroid surgery at Surgical Clinic, PC, call the office or schedule a consultation online today.