Thyroid surgery is usually performed under a general anaesthetic and takes one to two hours depending on complexity. Most patients will only require a small (2 to 4 cm) central incision in the lower part of the neck. The thyroid gland is carefully dissected from the surrounding structures such as the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands.

The recurrent laryngeal nerve controls the movement of the vocal cords, whose function is important for speaking, swallowing, and breathing. The rate of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is very low (less than 1%), but if it does occur you may experience short or long-term voice change, and less commonly, swallowing or breathing problems. Thyroid surgery at the New Victoria Hospital is performed using the latest nerve monitoring equipment that aids identification and preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, with the aim of reducing the risk of nerve damage.

Due to the potential impact of thyroid surgery on vocal cord function, it is recommended that your surgeon confirms mobility of the vocal cords prior to the operation, by examining the larynx with a small flexible endoscope. This quick and painless procedure is usually performed at the time of your initial outpatient consultation.

The parathyroid glands are four tiny structures, normally about the size of a grain of rice, closely positioned to the back of the thyroid gland. The parathyroid glands make a hormone (parathyroid hormone) that controls calcium levels in the blood. There are usually two parathyroid glands on each side of the neck and close attention is paid by New Victoria Hospital's thyroid surgeons during surgery to prevent the parathyroid glands from inadvertently being removed.

The neck incision is usually closed with absorbable stitches that do not require removal, and a small drain is placed in the neck at the end of surgery to collect any excess tissue fluid or blood.