Thyroidectomy

About the organ. It is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits in your neck, draped across the windpipe (trachea). It produces thyroid hormones that control your metabolism, including heart rate, temperature, weight, digestive function as well as cognitive abilities.

What’s the procedure? Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all (total thyroidectomy) or part (hemithyroidectomy) of the thyroid gland. 

When is it needed? You may need surgery to treat thyroid cancer, noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goitre) and also overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

How it’s done. The most common approach for thyroidectomy is the conventional open approach through an incision in the center of your neck. Dr Sze Ling Wong is an expert thyroid surgeon who also offers the option of ‘scarless’ transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy which avoids a neck incision by using incision inside the mouth.