Thyroidectomy (thyroid removal surgery) in Turkey | Prices & Reviews 2024

Thyroid gland: What is it?

The thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, plays an essential role in the functioning of our bodies. It produces hormones that regulate many vital functions, including metabolism (the way our body converts food into energy),growth, and development.

Although it's usually invisible and not felt, the thyroid gland can sometimes swell, forming a condition called a goiter. This swelling can be caused by a simple infection, which can be treated with medication, or by more serious conditions such as cancer. In the most severe cases, surgery (thyroidectomy) may be needed to remove all or part of the gland.

Thyroidectomy: Removal of the thyroid gland

Thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. It is recommended in cases where medical treatments for thyroid pathologies have not produced effective results.

Thyroidectomy is indicated for a number of reasons, including the presence of :

• Thyroid cancer.
• Large thyroid nodules.
• Overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Enlarged thyroid goiter.

Preoperative phase of thyroidectomy

The endocrinologist begins to consider thyroidectomy when symptoms become too severe and worrying. Specifically, when the lumps detected are suspicious, such as cancerous or toxic cells.

Before undergoing a thyroidectomy in Turkey, patients may undergo various tests to assess thyroid function, such as :

• Blood tests to measure thyroid hormone levels and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.
• Imaging tests such as ultrasound or thyroid scans.
• If the thyroidectomy is suspected of being cancerous, a biopsy may be taken to determine whether further treatment is required.

Thyroid removal procedure in Turkey

After placing the patient under general anesthesia, the endocrinologist surgeon will make a few centimeters of incision in the neck to access the thyroid gland. Depending on the reason for the surgery, the thyroid gland may be completely or partially removed. In some cases, nearby lymph nodes may also be removed if they are suspected of being cancerous.

If the surgeon is performing a simple nodule removal, the nodule will be examined during the procedure to determine its nature. Depending on the nature of the findings, the doctor may or may not remove more of the thyroid gland.

Once the surgery is complete, the surgeon will place a drain and close the incision. Staples are usually used to close the stitches in this type of surgery for a better aesthetic result.

Thyroid removal surgery post-operative consequences

After thyroid removal, patients may need hormone replacement therapy to compensate for the lack of thyroid hormone produced by the gland. This usually involves taking a synthetic thyroid hormone, such as levothyroxine, to maintain normal hormone levels and prevent the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

After surgery, the patient will need to take pain medication. You can also resume a normal diet the day after surgery.

The first part of the staples will be removed the same day, the second part before the patient is discharged from the hospital. The scar is not protected by a bandage and should not be wet for about ten days.

In addition to the surgery, which lasts between 40 minutes and 1 hour and 30 minutes, and the hospital stay, which lasts 2 to 3 days, the patient will be out of work for 3 weeks.

Risks and complications of thyroidectomy

Although thyroid removal surgery is considered a simple and safe procedure, there are some complications and side effects, including:

• Bruising.
• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Breathing difficulties.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Voice changes and difficulty swallowing due to damage to the parathyroid glands (responsible for regulating calcium levels in the body) or damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which controls the vocal cords.
• Swelling of the throat and surgical area.