Scars after Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery: Video

Hi, I'm Masha Livhits, an Endocrine Surgeon at the UCLA Endocrine Center. Today, let's talk about scars after thyroid and parathyroid surgery. The surgery is done in a very visible area in the neck, so of course, we really want to try to minimize the appearance of the scar as much as we can.

The first step is to keep the scar as small as possible. Typically, for parathyroid surgery, the scar measures just one inch, while for thyroid surgery, it ranges from one to two inches. Our goal is to adeptly conceal the incision within a natural skin crease that is often present for most patients, resulting in a discreet and unobtrusive healing process.

After the incision is made, you'll notice small white bandages placed over it, which typically remain for approximately one to two weeks until they naturally come off. These bandages will resist water, allowing you to shower without any concerns, though we advise avoiding immersion and directly spraying water at the wound. Following the removal of the bandages, we can discuss strategies to help reduce the visibility of the scar during the healing process.

One of the key aspects to consider post-surgery is safeguarding the incision from sun exposure for the first 1-2 months. It is crucial to either cover the wound or diligently apply sunscreen whenever your neck region is uncovered and to reapply if prolonged sun exposure is expected. This will help to prevent any unsightly darkening of the scar. Furthermore, utilizing moisturizers or vitamin E ointments can be beneficial in reducing the visibility of the scar. Most people have an excellent cosmetic outcome with just those things alone.

But for patients who want to do something a little bit more to try to minimize the appearance of the scar, we recommend using silicone gel sheets, which can be obtained over the counter. Those can be started two weeks after the surgery and used for up to two months after the surgery. Those can also help to minimize the appearance of the scar.

In addition, starting about two weeks after the surgery, we recommend performing scar massage. Check out our post and video about Scar Massage. This is done in a circular fashion with two fingers pushing in all around the area of the scar. Scar massage should be performed for a few minutes twice a day for several months. That helps not only to minimize the appearance of the scar but also to help loosen up the scar tissue deeper on the inside, which can help when you swallow for everything to feel and look more natural. It also has been shown to improve voice outcomes after the surgery.

Signs of infection following thyroid and parathyroid surgery may manifest as redness or drainage from the incision, typically within the first-week post-operation. If you observe these symptoms, it is advisable to promptly inform your physician. We offer a variety of scar photos post-surgery for thyroid and parathyroid procedures.

Key Insights:

Scar size
Scar size is minimized by keeping the incision small and hidden in natural skin creases. This helps reduce the visibility of the scar on the neck.
Sun protection
Sun protection is crucial to optimize scar appearance by preventing unsightly darkening of the scar. Applying sunscreen when the neck is exposed to the sun and reapplying it regularly can prevent sun damage to the incision site.
Moisturizers and vitamin E ointment
Moisturizers and vitamin E ointment can be used to minimize the appearance of the scar. These products can help keep the skin hydrated and promote scar healing.
Silicone gel sheets
Silicone gel sheets are recommended for patients who want further scar reduction. These sheets can be obtained over the counter and should be used starting two weeks after surgery for up to two months.
Scar massage
Scar massage is beneficial for both scar appearance and deeper scar tissue healing. Circular massage with two fingers should be done twice a day for a few months, helping the scar and surrounding tissues feel and look more natural. Check out our post and video about Scar Massage.
Infection
Monitoring for signs of infection is essential. Redness or drainage from the incision within one week of surgery should be reported to a physician.