How long does it take for thyroidectomy scar to heal?
You may feel a firm ridge directly over the incision. This is normal and will soften and go away when healing is complete usually in 3-6 months. All incisions are sensitive to sunlight. The ultraviolet light of the sun and tanning booths will darken the scar area in the first year.
How long is a thyroid scar?
This is largely dependent on how big your thyroid is and how extensive a surgery is required for removal. You may ask your surgeon how long they expect your incision to be. In general, most incisions will be between 1.5 to 3 inches long.
How soon can I put vitamin E on my incision?
Pure Vitamin E oil can be moisturizing and soothing to the surgical area once the incision has closed. Some research even suggests that it improves the appearance of scars. Simply apply the oil to the scar at least once a day for the first eight weeks.
Is it normal to feel like something is stuck in your throat after thyroid surgery?
Many patients will feel that there is something stuck in their throat or that they need to frequently clear their throat after surgery. All of these are normal, expected symptoms following surgery. Ice chips, cool drinks, throat lozenges (Cepacol) or throat spray (Chloraseptic) can be beneficial for sore throat.
Do scars look worse before they get better?
Scars seem to get worse before they get better. For about six weeks after surgery the scar becomes red, firm and hard. This is the body’s way of making a very strong and solid scar. Over the next four months the scar will soften and lose the redness.
How long does it take for incision to flatten?
Most surgical incisions will take approximately 2 weeks to heal and be considered closed. However, the overall length of time for the scar to heal is 9-12 months. This is the time it takes for any scar to mature into a pale and flat scar.
How long does it take to get scar tissue after thyroidectomy?
Scar in 2 weeks after the competition of total thyroidectomy with central neck lymph nodes dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma in 15 years old girl. This is the scar in one month after her second surgery.
What is the recovery time for a minimally invasive thyroidectomy?
Scar 2 weeks after minimally invasive total thyroidectomy. Scar 3 weeks after minimally invasive total thyroidectomy. Scar 6 weeks after minimally invasive total thyroidectomy. Scar 6 months after minimally invasive thyroid lobectomy (1/2 of the thyroid removed).
What is a scarless thyroidectomy?
Traditional thyroidectomies leave a visible scar in the middle of the neck but advancements in endocrine surgery at Johns Hopkins allow our surgeons to provide a scarless alternative to this procedure. In scarless thyroidectomy the surgeon accesses the thyroid gland through the patient’s mouth (called a “transoral” approach.)
How long does it take for scar tissue to form after lobectomy?
Scar 6 months after minimally invasive thyroid lobectomy (1/2 of the thyroid removed). Scar. Patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma who has had the first surgery 5 weeks prior (1/2 of the thyroid was removed).