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Our expert thyroid removal surgeons safely perform your total thyroidectomy to treat a range of thyroid problems.
Telehealth appointments are available.
A total thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of your entire thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that makes hormones to control bodily functions.
Sometimes, your thyroid may grow abnormally or stop working properly. Thyroidectomy can treat a wide range of thyroid conditions, including:
At Keck Medicine of USC, our surgeons are here to safely remove your thyroid using the latest techniques to improve your outcome and help you find relief. We’ll guide you every step, from getting ready for surgery to your recovery, so you can feel confident and comfortable about your procedure.
Your endocrinologist and thyroid removal surgeon will give several instructions to help you prepare for your procedure. You may need tests such as a CT scan to locate the thyroid growth or a biopsy to determine if the growth is cancerous. Your provider may also prescribe medicine to reduce thyroid hormone production before surgery.
Before your procedure begins, you’ll receive anesthesia to relax your muscles, prevent pain and help you fall asleep. Your care team will also place a tube down your throat to help you breathe during the procedure.
To access your thyroid, your surgeon will make a small incision in your neck. During a total thyroidectomy, your surgeon removes your entire thyroid. They may also take a sample of nearby lymph nodes to check for cancer. If cancerous cells are found, your surgeon will remove additional lymph nodes in your neck as part of the procedure.
Typically, a total thyroidectomy lasts about four hours. After your thyroid is removed, your surgeon will close the incision with stitches to support healing.
Once the anesthesia wears off after your procedure, you’ll be able to eat and drink. However, you may experience some throat soreness from the breathing tube.
Your surgeon may place a catheter (small tube) in your incision to drain blood and other fluids. They’ll remove it after one or two days.
Some patients can go home the same day after surgery. Others may need to stay in the hospital overnight and leave in the morning. Before you go home, your doctor will give you instructions on how to care for your incision. They’ll also let you know what complications to look out for.
It will take you about two to three weeks to fully recover. You’ll be able to resume light activities right away but may need to wait a couple of weeks to return to more intense activities.
After a total thyroidectomy, your main side effect will be the loss of thyroid hormone. This hormone helps control important bodily functions like metabolism and digestion. You’ll need to take a lifelong thyroid medication to replace the hormone.
Throughout your recovery, our care team will be by your side. We’ll give you the support, resources and expertise you need to heal quickly and return to everyday life.
Our safe, precise surgery services and individualized treatments can minimize complications and improve outcomes.
Our surgeons work closely with oncologists to give you an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.
