Robotic Thyroid Surgery:
Decreased Pain and Faster Recovery
Many patients have less pain following robotic thyroid surgery and scarless thyroid surgery than patients who have traditional thyroid surgey through a large neck incision.
Smaller Operation / Less Pain / Faster Recovery
Scarless Thyroid surgery is a minimally invasive way of treating your thyroid disease. Scarless thyroid surgery can be performed two ways: Robotic thyroidectomy and Transoral thyroidectomy. But both methods do not give an incision or scar in the neck, and instead have a much smaller incision placed somewhere else.A smaller scar means quicker healing and recovery. All wounds go through healing phases, inflammatory (swelling), and granulation (new tissue formation) phases. The smaller the incision, there is less trauma to the skin, and, therefore, the acute inflammatory process is minimal. Furthermore, smaller incisions can be closed more precisely meaning that the wound edges can be lined up more easily. When skin edges are closed perfectly, minimal granulation tissue will form, and the scars will not be thickened. Lastly, all scars remodel and contract (shrink) over time. The smaller the incision, the scars will shrink more readily and cosmetically more satisfying.
Smaller incisions generally result in less pain as well. This is a well-known concept of minimally invasive surgery. Less invasive approach and less invasive tools result in quicker recovery and less pain. With the advancement of the minimally invasive endoscopic and robotic instruments, the visualization and tissue dissection are enhanced leading to a more precise and focused surgery.
Although the concept of scarless thyroid surgery in transoral or robotic thyroidectomy may seem invasive or extensive, the incisions are small, strategically located, and the steps of the surgery maintains the principles of minimally invasive surgery. Patients tolerate the surgery very well and go home the same day with minimal pain. No scar or swelling in the neck offers more freedom for neck movement and range of motion.
We have an entire page that discusses how to travel to Tampa to have Dr Suh perform your scarless thyroid operation.