Thyroid Surgery Scar: What to Expect and How to Care for It

For many people, the scar is one of the first questions about thyroid surgery. Here is what you can usually expect, and what you can do to help it heal well.

Where will the scar be?

In conventional (open) thyroid surgery the surgeon makes one incision in a natural skin fold at the front of the neck. In endoscopic thyroid surgery a few small incisions are used and, depending on the technique, they may be placed away from the neck, so that the neck itself has no visible scar. Which option is possible for you depends on your diagnosis, the size of the thyroid and your general health.

How the scar changes with time

• First 2 to 4 weeks: the wound closes and the scar looks pink or red. Some firmness or tightness is common.
• Next few months: the scar may look slightly raised before it settles. It slowly becomes flatter and lighter.
• After about a year: most scars are thin, pale and much less noticeable. Every person heals differently.

Simple wound-care tips

1. Keep the wound clean and dry exactly as your surgeon has advised, and do not pick at stitches or crusts.
2. Protect the healing scar from direct sun, with clothing or a sunscreen once the wound has fully healed.
3. Use a scar cream, silicone gel or gentle massage only when your surgeon says the wound is ready for it.
4. Eat a balanced diet, do not smoke, and attend your follow-up visits.

When to contact your doctor

Please contact your surgeon if you notice increasing redness, swelling, pus or a bad smell from the wound, fever, a fast-growing swelling in the neck, difficulty in breathing or tingling around the mouth or fingers.

Can a thyroid scar be avoided?

A thyroid operation always leaves some mark, but it can be small, and in suitable patients it can be placed away from the neck. The most important thing is that the operation is safe and complete for your condition. Read about thyroid surgery without a visible neck scar, or book a consultation with Dr. Om Prakash Prajapati at Delta Clinic & Hospital, Varanasi.