About the thyroid gland

The thyroid gland is in the front of your neck just below the Adam's apple. It makes two hormones: thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

These hormones regulate the speed that your body's cells work. An overactive thyroid causes too much of these hormones. This is called hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of high thyroid hormones levels can include weight loss, anxiety, sensitivity to heat and difficulty sleeping.

Surgery can be done to remove some or all of the thyroid. This is done so that it produces less, or no, hormones.

More information on thyroid surgery

Types of surgery

To remove the thryoid gland, there are two types of operation that you can choose from:

  • open surgery - done through a cut at the front of the throat
  • 'scarless' keyhole surgery - done through the mouth, via a cut behind the lower lip. This is a new way of removing the thyroid. At Kingston, this is done with the assistance of a robot.

Your surgeon thinks you are suitable for the keyhole or open surgery. Here is a comparison of the options to help you choose what is best for you.

  'Scarless' keyhole surgery Open surgery
Anaesthetic General anaesthetic. You will be completely asleep during surgery. General anaesthetic. You will be completely asleep during surgery.
Scar

No visible scar.

Three small cuts behind the lower lip.

4 to 5 cm cut at the front of the neck. If possible, this will be along a natural skin crease to make the scar less obvious.

After 6 to 12 months, the scar should be hardly noticeable. In some people, the scar can become tender, red or thickened.
Stitches Absorbable stitches. A pressure dressing stays on the chin and neck for 48 to 72 hours to reduce swelling. Usually absorbable stitches under the skin. Sometimes a non-absorbable stitch is used which is removed 7 days later.
Going home If there are no problems, you would usually go home the next day. If there are no problems, you would usually go home the next day.
Possible complications
  • Small risk of skin damage - this can affect up to 2 in 100 people.
  • Mild numbness over the chin or lip - this usually gets better within 2 to 3 months. Permanent numbness in the lip affects fewer than 1 in 100 people.
  • Most patients have some numbness around the neck scar.
  • Abnormal scarring.
 

Both options also have the same risk of:

  • low calcium - usually resolves after a few weeks or months. Up to 5 in 100 patients need to take calcium tablets long-term
  • neck stiffness
  • bleeding - if necessary, this may need another operation via the front of the neck to stop the bleeding
  • infection - fewer than 1 in 100 people are affected
  • voice changes - due to temporary or permanent nerve damage. Most people recover within a few days or weeks but around 1 in 100 people have permanent damage
  • swallowing difficulties - this is usually only mild and resolves over a few weeks
  • pain - simple pain killers will help
  • low thyroid hormone meaning you need to take thyroid tablets for the rest of their life. This is because what is left of the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. This is the case for up to 1 in 3 patients who have half the thyroid removed, and all patients who have the whole thyroid removed.
Follow-up Appointment about 2 weeks later to discuss the results of tests on the thyroid gland, and to check your wounds and vocal cords.

More information

Go to the British Thyroid Foundation for more information and support.

If you have any questions about your surgery, contact Tracy Lewin, our Patient Pathway Navigator, on the number below.

Contact information

ENT department

Telephone:

020 8934 6406 (9am to 4pm)