Thyroidectomy (Total or Partial)

A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure in which all or part of the thyroid gland is removed (partial thyroidectomy or hemithyroidectomy). The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below Adam's apple.

This surgery is typically performed to treat thyroid-related conditions such as cancer, goitres (non-cancerous enlargement of the thyroid), or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

Depending on the reason for the operation, either a portion of the gland or the entire thyroid may be removed. If a total thyroidectomy is required, you will likely need lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy to maintain normal body function.

In the following section, you’ll find everything you need to know about this procedure — from why it’s performed, to how the surgery is carried out, and what to expect during recovery after thyroid surgery.

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located just below the Adam’s apple in the neck. Its main role is to produce thyroid hormones and release them into the bloodstream, where they travel to all parts of the body.

This gland requires iodine to produce its hormones, which help regulate the body’s metabolism — the rate at which energy from food is used. As a result, these hormones play a key role in helping the body burn excess fat and maintain balanced energy levels.

Although it weighs only around 30 grams, the thyroid gland has a major impact on our overall health, playing a role in nearly all of the body’s basic functions:

• Regulates metabolism and body temperature
• Essential for growth
• Crucial for proper development of the nervous system
• Helps the body absorb and process nutrients
• Key to maintaining heart rate and healthy skin

It also helps control body weight, heart rhythm, and blood cholesterol levels, while supporting muscle strength.

Thyroid surgery may be recommended for both benign and malignant conditions. Among the benign conditions, the most common are:

• Symptomatic goitres: when the thyroid gland becomes enlarged. In some cases, the goitre can grow into areas where it shouldn’t, pressing on nearby structures and causing compressive symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, trouble breathing, persistent cough, or changes in voice tone.
  
  
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism): when the thyroid produces too much thyroxine hormone, speeding up the body’s metabolism. This can lead to unintentional weight loss, rapid or irregular heartbeat, and other symptoms related to an overactive metabolism.

Hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland is underactive, is the most common thyroid disorder.

• Thyroid cancer is also a clear indication for performing a total or partial thyroidectomy. The exact treatment will depend on the preoperative diagnosis, which is usually made using a fine needle aspiration biopsy.
• Suspicious thyroid nodules: in some cases, nodules cannot be definitively classified as cancerous or non-cancerous after a biopsy. When there's a moderate risk of malignancy, doctors often recommend a thyroidectomy to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

In general, rapid gland enlargement, compressive symptoms, hyperthyroidism, or any suspicion of cancer are all valid reasons for thyroid surgery.

Operarme offers you a surgical assessment with a Specialist in General and Digestive Surgery to ensure that thyroid surgery is the right treatment option for your specific case.

To request your consultation, simply call at +34 91 141 33 56, fill out the contact form, or click any of the “Request Appointment” buttons on this page.

Are you interested in having parathyroid surgery?

Request a free and immediate appointment with our General Surgery specialists and book your surgery date

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Our Patient Service Team will not only arrange your appointment for the date that suits you best, but will also answer any questions you may have about the process.

On the day of your consultation, you should bring all medical tests and reports related to your thyroid condition. This will help ensure the surgical assessment is as accurate and thorough as possible. It’s also the perfect opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the surgery itself — how it’s performed, how long it takes, what recovery is like, and more.

If you decide to go ahead with the procedure, the Specialist will schedule a series of preoperative tests to assess your overall health and rule out any possible contraindications for surgery.

Once you’ve completed the consultation with the specialist and decide to proceed with the surgery (always based on medical advice), you will be scheduled for a series of routine preoperative tests:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): to assess the condition of your heart.
• Chest X-ray: this allows the doctor to check for any lung conditions and to ensure the trachea is properly aligned.
• Full blood test: includes a complete blood count, basic coagulation study, kidney function tests, and blood glucose levels.

After these tests, you will also need a consultation with the anaesthetist, who will review your medical history — including any allergies, previous surgeries, or other relevant details — to determine the most appropriate type of anaesthesia for your thyroid operation.

Both hemithyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy are procedures carried out under general anaesthesia.

1. First, the anaesthetist will administer general anaesthetic, so you’ll be fully asleep and won’t feel any discomfort during the operation.
2. Next, the specialist makes an incision at the front of the neck. In some cases, the procedure can be performed using endoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery, but here we are referring to the conventional surgical approach.
3. The surgeon will then remove either the entire thyroid gland or just part of it, depending on whether a total or partial thyroidectomy is being performed. During the operation, bleeding is carefully controlled and the parathyroid glands — which are essential for calcium balance — are preserved.
4. Finally, and critically, the surgeon will identify and protect the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which controls the muscles of the larynx and is vital for speaking.

Today, the most advanced technology is available for intraoperative nerve monitoring, which has proven highly effective in preventing major complications.

A thyroid operation typically lasts around three hours.

However, the surgical time may vary depending on thetechnique used and the condition being treated.

Once the surgery is complete, the medical team will take you to your hospital room, where you’ll remain under observation until you are ready to be safely discharged.

After thyroid surgery, you’ll need to stay in hospital until the medical team determines that it’s safe for you to continue your recovery in the comfort of your own home. In most cases, this means staying in hospital forup to three days.

Throat discomfort is a very common but temporary symptom after the operation. 

During the procedure, a breathing tube is placed in the windpipe to administer the anaesthetic, which can cause sore throat, hoarseness or a scratchy sensation when swallowing — all completely normal and not a cause for concern.

You may also experience neck stiffness or mild pain, similar to torticollis, due to the position of the head during surgery. As mentioned, these symptoms are typically short-lived and improve quickly with rest.

Once you’re discharged from hospital, you’ll be able to return to your normal activities gradually, without worrying about doing too much too soon — always following your doctor’s guidance.

It’s quite common to limit neck movements out of fear that the wound might open. However, it’s important to know that the stitches are strong, and excessive immobility can actually lead to stiffness and discomfort in the neck area.

As for the scar, rest assured that the wound is closed using plastic surgery techniques. Initial swelling and redness are completely normal and will gradually fade in the days following surgery.

When you leave the hospital, the medical team will give you clear instructions on how to recover safely and comfortably, including how to care for your scar for the best possible healing.

Although thyroid surgery is generally safe and rarely causes complications, like any surgical procedure, certain risks can occur. 

The most common include:

• Hypoparathyroidism: this condition is caused by reduced activity of the parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium levels in the blood. As these glands are located within the thyroid capsule, they may be affected during gland removal. However, this occurs in only around 1% of cases.
  
  
• Hoarseness or loss of voice: during the procedure, there is a small risk of injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerves, which control the vocal cords. This is very rare, occurring in fewer than 1% of cases.
  
  
• Postoperative bleeding: as with any surgical wound, there is a small risk of bleeding after the operation. After surgery, you will be closely monitored in the recovery room so that, in the unlikely event of bleeding, it can be treated immediately.
  
  
• Wound infection: this is extremely rare, as thyroidectomy is considered a clean surgical procedure.

Thyroid surgery, whether total or partial (hemithyroidectomy), offers the main benefit of directly addressing and resolving conditions associated with thyroid gland dysfunction.

It is also a relatively short procedure, which usually means a quick recovery.

Beyond the benefits of the surgery itself, choosing to have your operation through Operarme includes a number of additional advantages:

• Free surgical assessment consultation with a specialist in General Surgery.
  
  
• All-inclusive fixed price, fully guaranteed. From the outset, you’ll know exactly how much everything will cost — no surprises.
  
  
• Fully personalised support from our Patient Service team, who will guide you through the entire process, answering any questions you may have, so you never feel lost and can focus solely on your recovery.
  
  
• Most importantly, our thyroidectomy service — like the majority of our procedures — includes a medical complications insurance, which covers situations such as an additional hospital night or reoperation, if needed.

To learn more about this, feel free to contact our Patient Service team.

The cost of a thyroidectomy is 6.590 €. This is a fixed, all-inclusive price with no hidden fees.

This price covers everything you need to ensure a successful procedure. Below is a breakdown of what’s included:

• Operating theatre reservation and use
• Private room with a companion bed, meals, and hospitality for the patient
• Full preoperative tests
• Postoperative follow-up visit
• Surgeon's fees
• Anaesthetist’s fees
• Nursing team fees
• All surgical materials required for the procedure
• Anaesthesia and recovery room use
• Medical complications insurance
  

If you already have a confirmed diagnosis and wish to solve the problem through surgery in a safe, fast and expert-led way, you can request a consultation right away by filling out our contact form, calling at +34 91 141 33 56, or clicking the image below:

Are you interested in having parathyroid surgery?

Request a free and immediate appointment with our General Surgery specialists and book your surgery date

Request appointment