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Robotic Surgery

Thyroid Patients Can Go For Robotic Surgery To Avoid Scar

The rise in the number of the thyroid patients has evolved the field of medicine to serve them with the best treatment. When it comes to the surgery, the groundbreaking advancements in the medicine field offer minimally invasive surgeries as an alternative to the traditional thyroid surgery. 

The adoption of  robotic thyroidectomy helps patients eliminate problems of the traditional thyroid surgery. Read on to know more how thyroid patients can go for robotic surgery to avoid scars.

Traditional surgery for thyroid patients- An overview

It refers to the treatment of thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, and benign nodules by making an incision in the neck. Hence, patients get a noticeable scar leaving several cosmetic and social dilemmas especially for young females. 

It is accompanied by an increased post-recovery period and more postoperative pains. Patients undergoing traditional thyroid surgeries have reported complications due to reduced precision and control.

Robotic surgery for thyroid patients- An overview

The use of the advanced medical robotic systems like Da Vinci Surgical System offers a few millimetres of the incision in the thyroid surgery. This system consists of a console to be operated by the surgeon, specialised instruments, and robotic arms. 

The surgeon controls the robot from a console using the high-definition 3D visuals and intuitive controls. The robotic arms further use tiny instruments for enhancing the stability and precision of the surgeon’s hands.

Why do thyroid patients go for robotic surgery to avoid scars?

Many female thyroid patients prefer to go for the Scarless Thyroidectomy Surgery. So, after having a quick overview of the traditional and robotic thyroid surgery procedure, here are the different reasons why robotic surgery is best to avoid scar:

  • Use of small incisions

Firstly, robotic surgery for thyroid patients uses small incisions compared to traditional surgery. The traditional thyroid surgery involves a large incision in the neck. It creates a noticeable scar which requires significant cosmetic treatment.

Robotic surgery for thyroid use incisions that are less than 1 centimetre in length only. Further, females prefer to go for these stitches placed in the inconspicuous areas depending on the type of the robots used.

  • Less visible trauma to surrounding tissues 

The use of advanced robotic instruments controlled by surgeons creates less trauma to the surrounding tissues during thyroid surgery. It leads to reduced tissue trauma with fewer complications to the skin.

Females prefer to go with the robotic surgery that comes with less bruising, swelling, blemishes, or other skin issues.

  • Reduced postoperative comfort

With the reduced scars and trauma to the surrounding tissues, the overall postoperative comfort significantly decreases in thyroid robotic surgery. It is easy for the patients to return to their daily activities when compared to the recovery time in traditional thyroid surgery.

With the reduced risk of skin infections, the overall postoperative comfort significantly rises with the robotic thyroid surgery. It adds to the overall aesthetic appeal of robotic surgery for females.

  • Low incidence of postoperative skin issues

Many patients after traditional thyroid surgery suffer from different complications like fluid collection, wound infections, or preservation of the critical structures. While the risks of surgery remain noticeable in any medical procedure, robotic surgery offers significant satisfaction to female patients.

With reduced manipulation of the tissues, the chances of postoperative skin issues are significantly reduced.

Final thoughts

Robotic surgery for thyroid patients offers the right alternative to traditional thyroid surgery when it comes to visible scarring. It is easy to understand the basics of traditional surgery and robotic surgery for managing thyroid patients. The different reasons focusing on the adoption of robotic thyroid surgery make them ideal for patients looking to avoid visible scars.

Cross Border Care ensures high levels of advanced treatments like robotic thyroid surgery in state-of-the-art facilities, expert medical professionals, and customized treatment at the best affordable prices.

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Robotic Surgery

Is Thyroid surgery costlier with a robotic system?

Patients looking for treatment for thyroid issues may seek the potential help of robotic thyroid surgery. Several factors contribute to the high cost of thyroid surgery with robotic systems.

Read on to know more about this raise in costs, the key cost factors, and cost vs. benefit analysis on robotic thyroid surgery in this write-up.

Thyroid surgery with robotic system- An outline

While traditional thyroid surgery is performed using open surgery or endoscopic methods, these come with noticeable scarring and long recovery times. The use of advanced surgical robots like the Da Vinci Surgical System in robotic thyroid surgery eliminates the issues of enhanced recovery time, increased postoperative pain, and increased chances of infections with traditional surgery.

Robotic thyroid surgery follows a minimally invasive approach through small incisions either from  transoral routes or transaxillary routes. Hence, the overall recovery time and scarring is reduced in robotic thyroid surgery.

Why is thyroid surgery with robotic systems costlier?

Initial investment costs

Firstly, the investment in robotic surgical systems is high. This is due to the high purchase and maintenance costs of the robotic system used in thyroid surgery. The initial investment in systems like the Da Vinci ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 million USD. 

It is further based on the type of model and configuration. The high initial investment cost of robotic systems covers high-definition 3D visualisation, robotic arms with multiple degrees of freedom, and specialised instrumentation.

Maintenance and operational costs

The robotic systems require dedicated maintenance and operations for smooth efficacy. Regular maintenance, technical support, and software updates add to the overall costs of the robotic surgery. 

Per-procedure costs

Thyroid surgery using robotic systems has considerable procedure requirements like disposable consumable supplies and specialised instruments. These costs are higher than the costs of the traditional thyroid surgery. 

Training and skill development of surgeons

The use of the robotic system for thyroid surgery requires extensive training of surgeons and operating staff. This leads to higher costs per procedure without reducing the efficacy of the surgeons.

Operating room time

The robotic surgery takes longer time than the traditional methods during the learning phase. This longer operating time increases the overall costs linked to the operating rooms. It covers facility overhead, anaesthesia team, and staff time.

Scarcity of Robotic System in India 

The availability of the robotic system in India for thyroid surgery is limited to the metropolitan and big cities only. Hence, patients need to to travel to these regions which adds to the overall treatment costs.

Limited trained surgeons

The training of the surgeons for the robotic thyroid surgery is available in medical excellence regions like the USA. Hence, the overall limited trained surgeons adds to the costs of this robotic treatment.

The average cost of thyroid surgery with the robotic system in India.

Thyroid surgery with robotic systems in India costs around 5,000 USD to 8,000 USD on average. It further depends on the different factors like the patient’s condition, type of hospital, and expertise of the medical professionals.

Cost vs. benefit analysis- Robotic thyroid surgery

When it comes to the cost vs. benefit analysis of the thyroid surgery with robotic systems, there is a fair play for the majority of patients. The availability of the top-class robotic systems, properly maintained robotic arms, and expert processes justifies the robotic system costs.

The expertise of the robotic surgeons and dedicated facilities for the robotic thyroid surgery ensures that patients are less prone to the complications and can enjoy enhanced recovery rates. 

Not to miss is that Cross Border Care can help patients to unlock the benefits of robotic thyroidectomy  while making it as affordable as possible for a broad range of patients.