Does a Thyroid Scar Matter?

When you learn that you need thyroid or parathyroid surgery, the appearance of your neck is usually the last thing that you are thinking about. Over time, however, it might start to sink in: the scar will be obvious for anyone who talks to you. While that is not the most important thing, it is still relevant. After all, do you really want to have to explain to random co-workers all about your neck scar? Much less, the intrusive guy in the checkout line? The answer is usually... no.

So let's consider a few reasons that a scar might matter to you, and how scarless thyroid or parathyroid surgery might be the right choice for you. All trying to answer the question, "Does a thyroid scar really matter?"

1- Health privacy. If you have a thyroid scar, you will have to explain your health information to well-intentioned strangers who will ask. While some people can sometimes wear a shirt and tie that covers the incision, others with different clothing choices will have fewer options if they want to avoid unwanted attention.

2- Your neck is beautiful! Having a scar makes most patients at least somewhat self conscious. Even if people are mostly satisfied with their scar, having a scar does have an impact.

3- Having a thyroid scar may distract others when you speak to them. While this may tend to improve over time, it will be something that will require explanations in the short term.

4- Scarless thyroid surgery might help to improve your long term quality of life. When compared to traditional surgery, the quality of life is slightly better in most metrics among patients without a scar.

5- Having surgery without a visible scar might cause less pain. Multiple studies have demonstrated that some forms of "scarless" thyroid surgery (specifically transoral thyroid and parathyroid surgery) are associated with less pain.

And, it's important to point out that risks of surgery with or without a scar are statistically identical. So why would someone want to avoid a neck scar when they have thyroid or parathyroid surgery? In addition to improving the appearance of their neck, they might also want to maintain their health privacy, avoid distracting others, decreasing pain during recovery, or even just maintain a better quality of life. Whatever your reason might be, please reach out if you need thyroid or parathyroid surgery and want to avoid a neck scar or have the best outcome.