Breakthrough daVinci Endoscopic Thyroid Surgery Eliminates Neck Scars

[MikeTheGreatOne99]

Some people are so ungrateful. I need this surgery right today, and If there is a chance I can have Dr. Kuppersmith preform it without leaving a scar-great! But even If I am force to have the surgery that leaves a scar, I think it would be better than having an abnormal thyroid gland still inside my neck, dealing with all the problems that this thyroid is causing me now.

People like Dr. Kuppersmith are extentions of the hands of God.

[joaoflavioce]

Congratulations Dr. Kuppersmith for the surgeries videos. I am also an ENT doctor in Brazil and we are starting here robotic surgery. Congratulations once again.

[0ViewTube0]

Not meaning to pick on you, really. In fact, it's nice of you to have taken the time to share. I guess I was just taken aback at first.

Lucky for me, post-surgery pathology showed my multi-nodular goiter turned out to be pre-cancer and not cancer; so was the parathyroid tumor. But the worry was there.

Anyway, I do wish more (apparently authentic) doctors would share items about thyroid disease and surgery on the internet. As it is right now things seem to be dominated by a bunch of vermin.

[DrKuppersmith]

I am glad your pathology did not show cancer.

Like any topic on the Internet, there is good and bad information out there. Sometimes, it can be difficult to distinguish between them.

[0ViewTube0]

No doubt this kind of surgery has benefits and will continue to increase in popularity. I hope it does. But it seems it will be for reasons pertaining to things you touch upon in your comment, say, higher success rates and better healing. It does not seem it will be for reasons pertaining to, say, aesthetics.

BTW As a TT and at the same time parathyroid surgery patient my first concern was cancer, then healing, then future wellness, and so on.

[DrKuppersmith]

Properly removing a cancer and addressing the disease process is always the top priority. Issues such as aesthetics are secondary, but are also very important. For many patients, a visible scar is of great concern and has a significant impact on their wellness.

Even in open procedures, I carefully plan my incision to be in a natural skin line, try to minimize its length, and carefully close it. In most cases these incisions heal very well and frequently, with time, are difficult to see.

[0ViewTube0]

Contrary to what the dr says, the smallest concern of myself and other TT patients I know was a visible incision.

While this surgery is an impressive wave of the future, Id hardly describe my scar as ugly. And Ive never considered someone inquiring about it as nosey. In fact, it once prompted a discussion of anatomy after a young student asked me in front of a class why my neck was cut. Also, I know TT patients whove said an inquiry prompted the inquirer to pursue a suspicious neck.

[DrKuppersmith]

From our experience, many patients are very concerned about their neck's appearance after thyroid surgery. Typically, traditional incisions heal well, but not in all cases. Until recently, no alternative existed. This procedure is not for everyone, but for certain patients this offers an alternative to procedures that require a neck incision. There may be additional benefits from improved visualization and enhanced dexterity of the robotic instruments. For patients, it's nice to have options.

[joseaw77]

Awesome Vid Dr. Kuppersmith.  Keep up the amazing work your doing!

[bathenj]

Cool procedure!