Scarless Thyroid Surgery

If you are considering thyroid surgery, you may be concerned about having a scar on your neck afterward. At Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian, in addition to traditional thyroid surgery, we offer a new scarless option that may be an appealing option for you.

How Scarless Thyroid Surgery Works

Traditional surgery to remove the thyroid gland requires an incision (surgical cut) in the front of the neck. The incision may range from one inch to four inches long. When the incision heals, a scar remains on the neck.

Scarless thyroid surgery uses a different approach. Instead of accessing the thyroid through an incision in the neck, the surgeon accesses the gland through a small cut in the armpit. The surgery is performed using robotic technology called DaVinci Xi.

Robotic instruments work like the surgeon’s hands and are controlled by the surgeon. This technique allows the surgeon to operate with greater precision and reduces the risk of complications.

Candidates for Scarless Thyroid Surgery

Scarless surgery is a great option for some patients. The big advantage of this approach is no visible scar remains on the neck after surgery. Scarless thyroid surgery is not for everyone.

Patients may be eligible for scarless surgery if they:

●      Are not overweight

●      Have small thyroid nodules not associated with Grave’s disease

The robotic surgical technique can be used to remove thyroid nodules smaller than two inches or to tumors smaller than two centimeters (about ¾ inch) that have not spread beyond the thyroid.

Recovery from scarless robotic thyroid surgery is similar to traditional thyroid surgery. Most patients go home the day after surgery and return to daily activities after two to three weeks.

Specialized Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine

Our specialized surgery team, led by Dr. Rasa Zarneger, performs over 150 robotic surgeries every year. 

We provide personalized surgical solutions based on your individual needs and will work with you to ensure you receive the best care possible.

Request an Appointment

To request an appointment, please fill out our form. Our staff will help you find the physician who best fits your individual medical needs.