Thyroidectomy surgery is a procedure that involves the surgical removal of all or just part of the thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck and is responsible for releasing the thyroid hormone which controls many important functions of the body.
For patients with a thyroid tumor, hyperthyroidism, goiter, or thyroid nodules, thyroidectomy surgery is often the best solution.
In these instances, thyroidectomy surgery allows for the thyroid gland, or part of it to be safely removed.
Post-surgery, replacement thyroid hormone is taken to ensure the body’s functions remain in balance.
Continue reading to learn more about thyroidectomy surgery and why Merida is the perfect destination for your treatment.
What Does the Thyroid Gland Do?
The thyroid plays a crucial role in your body and is important for overall health and wellbeing.
The main purpose of the thyroid is to regulate your metabolism, i.e. to allow your body to correctly break down food and convert it to energy.
To regulate your metabolism, the thyroid gland releases thyroid hormone, which is produced by extracting iodine from your blood and incorporating it into thyroid hormones.
What Problems Can Occur With the Thyroid Gland?
There are a number of common issues that can occur with the thyroid gland that may require thyroidectomy surgery:
- Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid is overactive, producing too much of its hormone.
- Hypothyroidism is the opposite of hyperthyroidism and occurs when the thyroid gland is underactive and not producing enough of its hormones.
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is a common cause of hypothyroidism that affects about 14 million Americans.
- Grave’s Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in North America, affecting one in two hundred Americans.
- Goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is non-cancerous and typically caused by iodine deficiency.
- Thyroid nodules are small growths that form on or in the thyroid gland, which can lead to difficulty with swallowing, and breathing and can cause pain and goiter.
Types of Thyroidectomy Surgery
There are generally two types of thyroid procedures; a full thyroidectomy, which is a total removal of the thyroid gland, and a partial thyroidectomy, where only a portion of the thyroid is removed.
If you require a partial thyroidectomy surgery, the remaining portion of your thyroid gland will usually take over the function that the entire thyroid gland previously did.
As a result, you may not require thyroid hormone therapy.
Patients that undergo a complete thyroidectomy surgery, on the other hand, will typically need to take a pill that contains a synthetic thyroid hormone.
This is because once the entire thyroid gland has been removed, you will no longer be able to produce thyroid hormone naturally.
Why You Should Choose Merida for Your Thyroidectomy Surgery
Merida is home to world-class medical facilities and doctors making it the ideal location for any patient that requires thyroidectomy surgery.
Having your treatment done here in Merida rather than in the United States or Canada could save you up to seventy percent on the overall cost of your surgery compared to back home.
What’s more, before and after your surgery, you can enjoy all that this amazing city has to offer.
To ensure you get the world-class medical treatment you need in a beautiful location, and all for a fraction of the cost back home, get in touch with our team at Merida Medical Tourism today.