Procedure · General Surgery
ThyroidSurgery
Lobectomy and total thyroidectomy for nodules, cancer, hyperthyroidism, and goiter.
Thyroid surgery requires careful technique to protect the nerves that control your voice and the parathyroid glands that regulate calcium. At Sulphur Surgical Clinic we perform the full range of thyroid operations and coordinate closely with endocrinology to make sure your care is connected from diagnosis through recovery.
What we treat.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones regulating metabolism. Conditions that may require surgery include:
- Thyroid nodules — particularly those that are large, growing, suspicious on ultrasound, or biopsied as cancerous or indeterminate
- Thyroid cancer — papillary, follicular, medullary, and (rarely) anaplastic
- Goiter — diffuse or multinodular thyroid enlargement, especially when it causes compressive symptoms
- Hyperthyroidism — particularly Graves' disease or toxic nodular goiter that has not responded to medical or radioactive iodine therapy
The operations.
Lobectomy (hemithyroidectomy)
Removal of one thyroid lobe. Appropriate for many isolated benign nodules, certain small low-risk thyroid cancers, and indeterminate nodules where surgical pathology is needed to confirm or rule out cancer.
Total thyroidectomy
Removal of the entire thyroid. Used for thyroid cancer (most types), large multinodular goiters causing symptoms, and certain cases of hyperthyroidism. After total thyroidectomy, daily hormone replacement is required for life — a small once-daily pill that fully replaces the thyroid's function.
Central or lateral neck dissection
For thyroid cancers that have spread to neck lymph nodes, additional lymph node removal may be part of the operation. Your surgeon will explain whether this applies to your case based on preoperative imaging and biopsy results.
Recovery and what to expect.
Most patients spend one night in the hospital after total thyroidectomy and go home the same day or the following morning after lobectomy. Light activity within a few days; full activity within about 2 weeks. The incision is a small horizontal line at the base of the neck that fades significantly over time.
Mild hoarseness for a few days or weeks is common and almost always resolves. We'll check your thyroid hormone and calcium levels after surgery and adjust medications as needed.
About thyroid nodules: the majority are benign. The purpose of evaluation (ultrasound, FNA biopsy) is to identify the small number that need treatment and reassure the rest. Most nodules can be watched without surgery.
Why Sulphur Surgical Clinic
Care close to home, by surgeons who have practiced here for decades.
i.
Three board-certified surgeons
Drs. Devin Seale, Stephen Castleberry, and Matthew Ayo — all MD, FACS, board-certified in General Surgery, in active full-time clinical practice and accepting new patients.
ii.
Two locations across Southwest Louisiana
Main office on Cypress Street in Sulphur; vein center satellite on West Sale Road in Lake Charles. Procedures performed in partnership with West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital and Imperial Calcasieu Surgical Center.
iii.
50 years caring for Calcasieu Parish
Founded in 1975, locally owned, family-run. Faster scheduling than hospital-based centers and a personal, surgeon-led experience — not a corporate system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions patients ask about this procedure.
When is thyroid surgery necessary?
Thyroid surgery is typically recommended for a suspicious or biopsied-cancer thyroid nodule, for a large nodule or goiter causing compressive symptoms (difficulty swallowing or breathing, voice changes), for hyperthyroidism that hasn't responded to medical or radioactive iodine therapy, or for an indeterminate nodule where surgical pathology is needed to confirm or rule out cancer.
What types of thyroid surgery do you perform?
Two main operations. Lobectomy (hemithyroidectomy) removes one of the two thyroid lobes — appropriate for many isolated nodules and small cancers. Total thyroidectomy removes the entire thyroid — used for thyroid cancer, large multinodular goiters, and certain cases of hyperthyroidism. The right choice depends on the specific diagnosis, nodule size, and your overall risk profile.
What is a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy?
FNA is the standard first step to evaluate a thyroid nodule. A very thin needle is used to sample cells from the nodule under ultrasound guidance — typically an in-office procedure with no sedation, taking about 15 minutes. Results help determine whether the nodule is benign, suspicious, or cancerous, and whether surgery is needed. See our blog post on Thyroid FNA for more detail.
Will I need hormone replacement after surgery?
It depends on how much thyroid tissue is removed. After total thyroidectomy, you will need daily thyroid hormone replacement (typically levothyroxine) for life — it's a small once-daily pill that fully replaces the thyroid's hormone function. After lobectomy, about half of patients need replacement and half don't; we'll check your levels after surgery and prescribe if needed.
What about my voice after surgery?
The nerves that control the voice run right next to the thyroid, and protecting them is one of the most important parts of the operation. Some patients have mild hoarseness for a few days to a few weeks after surgery — this almost always resolves. Permanent voice changes are uncommon but possible; your surgeon will discuss the risks during consultation.
What is recovery like?
Most patients spend one night in the hospital after total thyroidectomy and go home the same day or the following morning after lobectomy. Light activity resumes within a few days; full activity within about 2 weeks. You'll have a small horizontal incision at the base of the neck that fades significantly over time. Most people return to desk work within a week.
Why choose Sulphur Surgical Clinic?
Thyroid surgery requires careful technique to protect the recurrent laryngeal nerves (voice) and parathyroid glands (calcium regulation). We perform thyroid operations regularly, coordinate closely with endocrinology when needed, and stay in close contact with you through the post-operative period and any hormone-replacement adjustments.
Ready to schedule?
Most patients are seen within two weeks.
Sulphur main office: (337) 527-6363
Lake Charles vein center: (337) 425-9300