Your thyroid is responsible for regulating your metabolism, which affects your heart rate, body temperature, and energy levels. The parathyroid glands  are essential to your muscle, nerve, and bone health because they help manage calcium levels. When something goes wrong with one of these glands, you might have trouble swallowing, notice changes in your body weight and muscle strength, or suffer other serious consequences.

Surgery is a common course of action for various thyroid conditions. Research has shown that surgeons with a great deal of experience with these operations get better outcomes for their patients. It’s crucial to work with a skilled team of healthcare professionals to ensure the best outcome and recovery time. This is why it helps to know what to look for when searching for a “thyroid surgeon near me.”

Let’s take a look at the factors that influence surgical success and how to choose the best surgeon when scheduling thyroid or parathyroid surgery in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

Conditions that may require a head and neck surgeon

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in front of your windpipe just under the voice box. Embedded in the back of this structure are the four parathyroid glands. Some thyroid and parathyroid  conditions are treatable with medication or hormone therapy, but many typically require surgery.

Common thyroid conditions

These thyroid conditions  are the ones that most commonly need surgical intervention from a top-rated thyroid surgeon:

• Thyroid cancer. Cancerous cells in the thyroid usually require surgical removal, or a thyroidectomy.
• Suspicious nodules or unclear biopsies often require thyroidectomy.
• An enlarged thyroid can press on the airway, making surgery necessary.
• Overactive thyroid. Hyperthyroidism that’s unresponsive to meds may be treated surgically.

Parathyroid conditions

A parathyroidectomy is a procedure that removes one or more of the parathyroid glands. You may need this type of surgery if something is causing your parathyroid to produce too much of the hormone that controls calcium levels in your blood as well as phosphorus and vitamin D levels. These are the four most common reasons for a parathyroidectomy:

• A noncancerous growth causing a gland to overproduce hormones.
• All four glands become enlarged, producing excess parathyroid hormone levels.
• Parathyroid cancer. A rare condition.
• Secondary hyperparathyroidism. This occurs when another condition, such as kidney disease, triggers hormone overproduction.

The data on high-volume thyroid surgeons

Research shows that there is a significant improvement in patient outcomes when a surgeon performs 25 or more total thyroidectomies a year.

Another study indicates that a low-volume surgeon does fewer than 25 thyroidectomies a year, while a high-volume surgeon is one who does more than 50 thyroidectomies a year and a high-volume center has a case load of more than 100 thyroidectomies a year. This study concluded that: “surgeon’s volume and experience play a significant role in the rate of post-thyroidectomy complications.”

A review of literature on the subject found that: “Higher volume thyroid and parathyroid surgeons were found to be associated with fewer surgical and medical complications, shorter length of hospital stay, and reduced total cost when compared to lower volume surgeons. This volume-outcome relationship was also found to specifically affect the complication and recurrence rates for thyroid cancer patients undergoing surgery, especially for individuals with advanced stage disease.”

Why does a surgeon’s experience matter?

When doing a search for the “best thyroid surgeon near me,” look for ones who are considered high-volume surgeons. This means the surgeon performs a minimum of 50 thyroid procedures per year.

Here’s why experience matters  so much when a surgeon performs thyroid surgery:

• Damage to nerves that serve the voice box could cause life-long impairment of your ability to speak, breath, and swallow.
• Damage to the parathyroid can cause temporary or permanent hypocalcemia.
• In cases of thyroid cancer, it’s desirable to leave as much of the thyroid intact while providing the greatest likelihood of controlling the cancer. Experienced surgeons know how to strike the right balance.
• Patients tend to have a lower rate of complications, wound-related issues, reoperations, and recurrence rates for thyroid cancer.
• Patients tend to have a shorter hospital stay and lower overall treatment costs.

Qualifications to look for in a thyroid surgeon near me

When you type “thyroid surgeon  near me” into a search engine and look at the results, consider several key qualifications. By taking time to compare training, experience, and outcomes, you may improve your chances of having a smooth procedure and recovery. Look for:

• Board certification and specialized training
• Use of advanced surgical techniques
• Multidisciplinary care approach
• Comprehensive pre-operative and post-operative care

Surgeons who are linked with prominent medical centers have direct access to nuclear medicine, radiology, and pathology teams, which means that diagnostic evaluations, biopsies, and imaging could be done with the utmost precision. These surgeons have more resources available to them than solo practitioners or private practices.

Questions to ask when choosing a surgeon

It can feel awkward and difficult to ask doctors about their qualifications. If you know you won’t feel comfortable doing it, try to find a friend or family member who can advocate for you. You also can do some research ahead of time into a doctor’s background and experience.

Here are some questions you might want to look into before choosing a board-certified thyroid surgeon and/or before undergoing surgery:

About their experience

• “How many thyroidectomies and parathyroidectomies do you perform annually?”
• “What is your complication rate for this specific procedure?”
• “Do you specialize in head and neck surgery?”
• “Have you treated cases like mine before?”

About surgical approach and technology

• “Do you use nerve monitoring during surgery?”
• “Am I a candidate for minimally invasive thyroid surgery or minimally invasive parathyroid surgery?”
• “What techniques do you use to preserve parathyroid function?”
• “How do you minimize scarring?”

About outcomes and follow-up

• “What are the potential risks and how do you manage them?”
• “How will you monitor for low calcium after surgery?”
• “What does recovery look like for my specific condition?”
• “Will I need hormone replacement therapy?”

About logistics

• “Where do you perform surgery, and is the facility accredited?”
• “How do I schedule an appointment?”
• “What does your pre-operative and post-operative care involve?”

Red flags and what to avoid

• Surgeons who don’t perform thyroid surgery regularly (low-volume)
• Lack of specific training as an endocrine surgeon or head and neck surgeon
• Inability to answer questions about complication rates
• One-size-fits-all approach without personalized treatment plans
• No access to advanced diagnostic or surgical technologies
• Poor communication or rushing through consultations
• Lack of post-operative care

The Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health advantage

Research has shown that high-volume thyroid surgeons are more likely to get better outcomes for patients. You don’t want a greater risk of permanent voice changes or breathing difficulties because you chose someone who rarely performs thyroid procedures.

When you come to Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health for thyroid treatment, you’ll work closely with a team of specialists who coordinate every step of your diagnosis, care plan, and recovery. Our Head and Neck Surgery Department employs surgeons who specialize in evaluating thyroid masses and performing complex neck procedures.

Our Endocrinology team treats infertility, diabetes, cancers of the endocrine glands, and more. We combine expertise with coordinated care so you can benefit from the highest standard of thyroid treatment.

About Drs. Espinola and Pfaff

Dr. Trina Espinola is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon. She’s highly trained in the latest medical and surgical techniques for conditions of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck. She has presented on topics such as thyroid cancer management and is experienced at treating thyroid and parathyroid disease. Dr. Espinola is fluent in both English and Spanish, which allows her to give all patients the utmost level of care. Request an appointment with Dr. Espinola by calling (727) 553-7100.

Dr. Julia Pfaff is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon whose areas of expertise include thyroid and parathyroid disorders, head and neck cancer, and sinus conditions. Having undergone thyroid surgery during her medical training, Dr. Pfaff draws on her personal experience to connect with her patients and provide exceptional care. She is one of the few doctors in Florida qualified to perform the Inspire Implant procedure for sleep apnea. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Pfaff by calling (727) 553-7100.