Can I have a neck tuck while having a benign cyst removed from my thyroid?

Question

I am having a benign cyst removed from the left side of my thyroid. Why not a neck lift at same time?

David Stoker, MD · Answer

I advise doing the neck lift separately from the thyroid surgery.  The incision necessary for the thyroid surgery would diminish blood flow to the neck skin and increase your risks with a simultaneous neck lift.  In addition, some benign cysts turn out to be early cancer and it would be valuable to know that before doing additional surgery.  Complete the thyroid surgery first, confirm the pathology is benign and then schedule your neck lift two or more months later.

Michael Boggess, MD · Answer

Hello.  Thank you for your question.  I would not advise having a neck lift at the same time as thyroid surgery.  The incisions and dissection planes for these two procedures are very different.  They do not complement each other and, in my opinion, it would be counter-intuitive to combine the two.  I would advise completing the thyroid surgery first.  Once healed, the neck lift can be performed as a separate procedure through a different, more aesthetic incision.  I wish you the best.  I hope this information is helpful.

Kenneth Yu, MD · Answer

Hello.  I don't recommend combining a neck lift with a hemithyroidectomy (the most likely surgery to remove your cyst).  The two procedures are very different even though one is operating in the same anatomical region.  A thyroid surgery entails dissection between your strap muscles to get to the thyroid cyst.  Neck lifts have incisions far from the midline of your neck and involve dissection in a different level (or plane).  Combining the two will not allow your plastic surgeon to achieve the best outcome.  I recommend getting the cyst out, confirm its benign pathology and then doing the neck lift at a later date after you're well healed.  Take care.

Guy Watts, MBBS (Hons), FRACS (Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question. I can understand the thought of 'why you are there why not add another procedure?', although there is a fundamental reason why this is not a good idea. Primarily you will not know definitively what your thyroid nodule is until the histopathology is returned after your surgery. Therefore you may require further treatment for the nodule that may be compromised by the second 'lift' procedure. The first priority of any patient care is to do no harm and combining procedures with differing objectives can compromise this. I hope that helps.RegardsDr Guy Watts

Brian K. Machida, MD, FACS · Answer

I would never combine a thyroid procedure with a lift.  You're dealing with two different incisions, two different dissections, two different priorities.  If there is any chance that the thyroid surgery might end up with a malignancy, I would definitely advise against it.

Reza Momeni, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes it's possible to perform both surgeries together, but you should not expect one to be done through the incision for the other.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

so its not practical to do them at the same time unless you opt for the direct approach where you have the scar over the front of your neck.  If you are accepting of this, you could have a neck lift with your thyroid surgery.

Todd C. Miller, MD · Answer

Hi Gayle, in theory, what you are asking can be done. I would probably advise against this. The incision for a thyroidectomy is in a different area of the neck than a typical necklift incision and the dissection and healing process for a hemithyroidectomy may disrupt or compromise the results that you would get from a necklift. Talk with your surgeon about it and get his or her input.

Andrew Pichler, MD · Answer

This is an interesting question. The main issue is that you really cannot be sure that the thyroid lesion is benign until you get back the final pathology report from the excision. I would not combine the two procedures.

William Georgis, MD · Answer

Best wishes on your upcoming thyroid surgery.  I think that trying to combine a cosmetic neck lift with your neck thyroid surgery is an invitation to trouble.  The incisions are different and the thyroid incision could possibly interfere with the circulation of the skin that is lifted in a neck lift.  I would recommend that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to find out how long you should wait between procedures.

Can I have a neck tuck while having a benign cyst removed from my thyroid?

Answers (16)

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