Thyroidectomy in Turkey

About Thyroidectomy in Turkey

In Turkey, thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck. It makes hormones that control every part of the metabolism, from the heart rate to how quickly people burn calories. Doctors perform a thyroidectomy in Turkey to treat thyroid disorders. These disorders can include cancer, a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goiter), and overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

How much of your thyroid gland is removed during thyroidectomy depends on the cause of the surgery. If need only part of the thyroid is removed (partial thyroidectomy), the thyroid may work normally after surgery. If need the entire thyroid is removed (total thyroidectomy), patients need daily treatment with thyroid hormone to replace their thyroid’s natural function.

At Healthy Türkiye, we offer convenient appointments without waiting and offer virtual consultations and support whenever appropriate. You will receive the highest standard of care with attention to patient safety at all times. Our surgeons and ENT consultants are highly skilled in thyroidectomy surgery in Turkey. They will discuss with you whether to partially or fully remove your thyroid gland and the best method to do so.

Thyroid Surgery in Turkey

A thyroidectomy in Turkey is the main treatment for most people with thyroid tumors which is the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid. The thyroid surgery options may include the partial removal of the thyroid (also called a thyroid lobectomy or hemithyroidectomy), a total thyroidectomy, or a total thyroidectomy with lymph node removal. Which approach is correct for you depends on such factors as the size, stage, location, and type of thyroid tumor you have.

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck under your skin. It’s a part of your endocrine system and controls many of your body’s important functions by producing and releasing certain hormones, which are usually referred to as thyroid hormones. The thyroid’s main job is to control the speed of your metabolism, which is the process of how your body transforms the food you consume into energy. All of the cells in the body need the energy to function. There are two main parts of the thyroid: the two halves (lobes) and the middle of the thyroid that connects the two lobes (thyroid isthmus)

Healthy Türkiye expert teams are available to answer all of your queries before, during, and after your stay to support your thyroidectomy in Turkey. You can also rest assured that your thyroidectomy treatment cost will not escalate as it includes unlimited aftercare.

When is Thyroidectomy Necessary?

A thyroidectomy can be recommended for conditions such as:

Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, is an effect of the thyroid not producing enough hormones. Common signs of hypothyroidism are fatigue, weight gain, feeling depressed or dry skin, nails and hair.

Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid, also called hyperthyroidism, is where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. An overactive thyroid can affect anyone but is more likely to be experienced in women between the ages of 20 and 45. Common signs of hyperthyroidism include feeling irritable, unexplained weight loss, increased heart rate, and fatigue.

Nodules: Thyroid nodules are solid or fluid-filled lumps that form within the thyroid. Mostly, nodules are not serious and the thyroid continues to work normally. The majority of nodules are not cancerous; however, the doctor might take a sample of the cells in the nodule to be sure. Even benign nodules can cause complications if they become large enough to block the throat.

Noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid (Goiter): Abnormal swelling or enlargement, referred to as a goiter may be uncomfortable but painless. It can cause difficulty breathing or swallowing. Like larger nodules, they can obstruct the throat and affect eating, speaking, and even breathing.

Thyroid cancer: This rare type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland is the most frequent cause of thyroidectomy. The most common sign is a painless lump developing in your neck with other symptoms, such as hoarseness or a sore throat, developing as the condition advances.

Graves’ disease: Graves’ disease is an immune disorder that causes an overproduction of thyroid hormones. The disease causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland resulting in inflammation in the thyroid causing it to make more thyroid hormone than the body needs.

Types of Thyroidectomy in Turkey

There are several methods for thyroidectomy in Turkey, including:

Conventional Thyroidectomy: This method involves making an incision in the center of your neck to directly access your thyroid gland. This approach is the most commonly used for thyroidectomy.

Thyroid Lobectomy: In some cases, a nodule, or inflammation may only affect half of the thyroid gland. In this situation, around half of the gland is removed, typically through a small incision about an inch in length at the base of the neck. The part left behind is retain most or all of its function.

Subtotal Thyroidectomy: Subtotal thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure where the surgeon removes the thyroid gland but leaves a small amount of thyroid tissue. This method preserves some thyroid function. In many cases, people who undergo this type of surgery occur hypothyroidism (where the thyroid does not produce enough hormones). If this develops, you should take hormone supplements.

Total Thyroidectomy: A total thyroidectomy is a method that removes the entire thyroid gland and the thyroid tissue. This surgical method is commonly used when nodules, swelling, or inflammation affects the entire thyroid gland, or when cancer is present.

The thyroidectomy type you need depends on the reason for the surgery. For instance, if you have a nodule on one side of your thyroid, you may need a hemithyroidectomy to remove the affected lobe. If you have a large goiter or a large cancerous tumor, you should likely need a total thyroidectomy.

Prepare for Thyroidectomy in Turkey

If you need to have a thyroidectomy, doctors can first order scans such as an ultrasound or CT scan. If you have a growth on your thyroid, the doctor may take a small sample with a fine needle to diagnose what it is, this is known as a biopsy. Also, they will work out the positioning of the vocal cords before the surgery since these are very close to the thyroid gland.

Thyroidectomies are often performed under general anesthetic. You will be asked not to eat or take medicines the day before, besides, you should talk to your doctor before you stop taking any medicines.

If you have hyperthyroidism, however, the doctor may ask you for a special diet or take medicine before the surgery to help the thyroid to function better and reduce the risk of bleeding.

How Is Thyroidectomy Performed in Turkey?

You can have your thyroid surgery in the hospital or at an outpatient facility. During thyroidectomy, the surgeons will make a 4 cm incision in your skin and separate the neck muscles, this allows for a better view of the thyroid gland. They’ll locate the parathyroid glands and nerves in the site to avoid damaging them. The surgeons will then cut out the necessary amount of thyroid tissue to treat your condition.

If required, they’ll also remove any lymph nodes that look suspicious or enlarged. Sometimes the surgeons will send sections of tissue to the lab during the operation. A pathologist will look under a microscope to check for any warnings of cancer. Your surgeon will then make sure to remove all the cancerous tissue present and finally, they’ll close your wound and apply bandages.

After Thyroidectomy in Turkey

Wound care: Your wound is covered with sterile strips. You should keep this dry for the first 24 hours; then you may gently cleanse the area daily with mild soap and water. You should avoid scrubbing or scratching the incision area. Leave them in place until they fall off on their own or your doctor tells you to remove them. They will often fall off the skin within 10 to 14 days. You should try to keep them dry as much as possible to prevent infection.

Activity: You may resume most of your daily activities, although you should refrain from heavy lifting or strenuous activity.

Diet: You may resume a regular diet, although at first many patients prefer a clear liquid diet like apple juice. After this surgery, there are no dietary restrictions.

Thyroid hormone supplementation: You can be given a prescription for thyroid hormone supplementation. This supplementation should be taken on an empty stomach, 1 hour before your meal or 2 hours after your meal. You should not take this medication at the same time as an anti-acid or calcium supplementation, take your anti-acid or calcium supplementation 1 hour before or 2 hours after your thyroid hormone supplementation.

Calcium supplementation with Vitamin D: You may be given a prescription to keep your calcium levels in your body adequately supported like calcium carbonate with Calcitriol, calcium citrate with Calcitriol, and Caltrate+D. The thyroid hormone and your calcium supplementation may be adjusted during your postoperative visit depending on your postoperative laboratory evaluations.

Pain: For at least 12 days after surgery you should refrain from taking any ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Aleve, or aspirin because these medications can cause bleeding. For pain, you should take Tylenol or the pain medication provided by your doctor.

Thyroid Hormone Therapy After Thyroidectomy

Thyroidectomy usually has an effect on the body’s production of hormones. Normal hormone levels are important for your health, including your metabolism, and for preventing certain thyroid cancers.

If a total thyroidectomy is part of your care, you’ll have to take thyroid medications to ensure that your body maintains normal levels of hormones. Your thyroid may be able to function normally after a thyroid lobectomy, however, there’s still a strong chance that you will need to take thyroid hormone replacement medications. This is particularly valid for people whose level of thyroid hormone is low before the lobectomy procedure.

Morbidity and Mortality Rates for Thyroidectomy in Turkey

The mortality of thyroidectomy is normally zero. Hypothyroidism is thought to develop in 15–50% of persons in the first year after a thyroidectomy. Late-onset hypothyroidism develops among an additional 2–3% of persons each year. Although hypothyroidism may recur many years after a partial thyroidectomy, 44% of recurrences occur within five years.

Mortality from thyroid storm, an uncommon complication of thyroidectomy, is in the range of 25-30%. A thyroid storm is characterized by fever, weakness, wasting of the muscles, enlargement of the liver, restlessness, mood swings, change in mental status, and in some cases, coma. A thyroid storm is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. After a partial thyroidectomy, thyroid function returns to normal in 92–98% of persons.

2024 Cost of Thyroidectomy in Turkey

All types of medical attention like thyroidectomy are very affordable in Turkey. Many factors are also included in determining the cost of thyroidectomy in Turkey. Your process with Healthy Türkiye will last from the time you decide to have a thyroidectomy in Turkey until the time you are fully recovered even if you are back home. The exact thyroid surgery procedure cost in Turkey depends on the type of operation involved.

The cost of thyroidectomy in Turkey does not demonstrate many variations in 2024. Compared to costs in developed countries like the United States or the UK, thyroidectomy costs in Turkey are relatively low. So, it’s no wonder patients from across the world visit Turkey for thyroidectomy procedures. However, the price is not the only factor affecting choices. We suggest looking for hospitals that are safe and have thyroid surgery reviews on Google. When people decide to seek medical help for thyroidectomy, they will not only have low-cost procedures in Turkey, but also the safest and best treatment.

At clinics or hospitals contracted with Healthy Türkiye, patients will receive the best thyroidectomy from specialist doctors in Turkey at affordable rates. Healthy Türkiye teams to provide medical attention thyroidectomy procedures and high-quality treatment to patients at a minimum cost. When you contact Healthy Türkiye assistants, you can get free information about the cost of thyroidectomy in Turkey and what this cost covers.

The prices may vary based on specific procedure requirements. Contact us for exact price information.

Why Is Thyroidectomy Cheaper in Turkey?

One of the main considerations before traveling abroad for thyroidectomy is the cost-effectiveness of the whole process. Many patients think that when they add flight tickets and hotel expenses to their thyroid surgery costs, it will become very expensive to travel, which is not true. Contrary to popular belief, round-trip flight tickets to Turkey for thyroidectomy can be booked very affordably.

In this case, assuming you are staying in Turkey for your thyroidectomy, your total travel expense of flight tickets and accommodation will only cost less than any other developed country, which is nothing compared to the amount that you are saving. The question “why is thyroidectomy cheaper in Turkey?” is so common between patients or people simply curious about getting their medical treatment in Turkey. When it comes to thyroid surgery prices in Turkey, there are 3 factors allowing cheaper prices:

The currency exchange is favorable for whoever looking for thyroidectomy has a euro, dollar, or pound;

The lower cost of living and cheaper overall medical expenses such as thyroidectomy;

For thyroidectomy, incentives are given by the Turkish Government to medical clinics working with international clients;

All these factors allow for cheaper thyroid surgery prices, but let’s be clear, these prices are cheaper for people with strong currencies (as we said, euro, dollar, Canadian dollar, pound, etc).

Every year, thousands of patients from all over the world come to Turkey to get thyroidectomies. The success of the healthcare system has increased in recent years, especially for thyroidectomy. It’s easy to find well-educated and English-speaking medical professionals in Turkey for all kinds of medical treatment such as thyroid surgery

Why Choose Turkey for Thyroidectomy?

Turkey is a common choice among international patients seeking advanced thyroidectomy. Turkey’s health procedures are safe and effective operations with a high success rate like thyroidectomy. The increasing demand for high-quality thyroidectomies at affordable prices has made Turkey a popular medical travel destination. In Turkey, thyroid surgery is performed by highly experienced and trained doctors with the most advanced technology in the world. thyroidectomy is done in Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, and other major cities. The reasons for choosing thyroid surgery in Turkey are as follows:

High-quality hospitals: Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited hospitals have dedicated thyroidectomy units that are specially designed for patients. International and national strict protocols provide effective and successful thyroid surgery for patients in Turkey.

Qualified experts: The expert teams include nurses and specialist doctors, together to carry out thyroidectomy according to the patient’s needs. All the included doctors are highly experienced in performing thyroidectomy.

Affordable price: The cost of thyroidectomy in Turkey is affordable compared to Europe, the USA, the UK, Singapore, Australia, etc.

The high success rate: Highly experienced specialists, the best available technology, and stringently followed safety guidelines for post-operative care of the patient, resulting in a high success rate for thyroidectomy in Turkey.

Is Thyroidectomy Safe in Turkey?

Did you know Turkey is one of the most visited destinations for thyroidectomy in the world? It is ranked one of the most visited tourist destinations for thyroidectomy. Over the years it has also come to be a very popular medical tourism destination too with many tourists coming in for thyroid surgery. There are so many reasons why Turkey stands out as a leading destination for thyroidectomy. Because Turkey is both safe and easy to travel to too with a regional airport hub and flight connections to pretty much everywhere, it is preferred for thyroidectomy.

The best hospitals in Turkey have experienced medical staff and specialists who have performed thousands of medical services such as thyroidectomy. All procedures and coordination related to thyroid surgery are controlled by the Ministry of Health in accordance with the law. Over many years, the greatest progress in medicine has been observed in the field of thyroidectomy. Turkey is known among foreign patients for its great opportunities in the area of thyroid surgery.

To emphasize, besides the price itself, the key factor in selecting a destination for thyroidectomy is certainly the standard of medical services, the hospital staff’s high expertise, hospitality, and the safety of the country.

All-Inclusive Package for Hydrocephalus Treatment in Turkey

Healthy Türkiye offers all-inclusive packages for thyroidectomy in Turkey at much lower prices. Extremely professional and experienced doctors and technicians carry out high-quality thyroidectomies. The cost of thyroidectomy in European countries can be quite expensive, especially in the UK. Healthy Türkiye provides cheap all-inclusive packages for long and short stays of thyroidectomy in Turkey. Because of many factors, we can provide you with many opportunities for your thyroid surgery in Turkey.

The price of thyroidectomy differs from other countries due to medical fees, staff labor prices, exchange rates, and market competition. You can save much more on thyroidectomy compared to other countries in Turkey. When you purchase a thyroid surgery all-inclusive package with Healthy Türkiye our healthcare team will present hotels for you to choose from. In thyroidectomy travel, you will have the price of your stay included in the all-inclusive package cost.

In Turkey, when you purchase thyroidectomy all-inclusive packages through Healthy Türkiye, you will always receive VIP transfers. These are provided by Healthy Türkiye, which is contracted with highly qualified hospitals for thyroidectomy in Turkey. Healthy Türkiye teams will organize everything about thyroid surgery for you and have you picked up from the airport and safely brought to your accommodation.

Once settled in the hotel, you will be transferred to and from the clinic or hospital for a thyroidectomy. After your thyroidectomy has been successfully completed, the transfer team will return you to the airport in time for your flight home. In Turkey, all packages of thyroidectomy can be arranged upon request, which relaxes the minds of our patients. You can reach out Healthy Türkiye for everything you need to know about thyroidectomy in Turkey.