With local anesthesia your neck area is numbed, mild sedatives may be given to reduce anxiety, and you are awake during the operation. Since you will be awake, you will be in close communication with your surgeon throughout the operation. All surgery causes scarring, and how the patient scars is dependent on the individual. However, there are some techniques that surgeons use to minimize scarring. As a general rule, it is unusual for adults to have a noticeable scar after six months.
All operations involve some pain and discomfort.
Our goal is to minimize this discomfort. At the time of operation, your surgeon will give you some numbing medicine which usually lasts about eight hours. Although you should be able to eat and drink normally, the main complaint is pain with swallowing. During the operation, your surgeon will consult with the pathologist who will provide a preliminary diagnosis. However, the final pathology report requires careful study of the surgical specimen.