These options will be discussed by your surgeon with you preoperatively. This is removed after the fluid accumulation is minimal. Most patients are discharged two to three days after surgery is performed. Complications after thyroid surgery are rare. They include bleeding, a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, numbness of the skin on the neck, and low blood calcium.
Most complications go away after a few weeks.
Patients who have all of the thyroid gland removed have a higher risk of low blood calcium post-operatively. Patients who have thyroid surgery may be reguired to take thyroid medication to replace thyroid hormones after surgery. Some patients may need to take calcium replacement if their blood calcium is low. This will depend on how much thyroid gland remains, and what was found during surgery. Inc. This leaflet is published as a public service.