Frequently asked questions

• How much admission time is required?

• How do I do if I live in another city, or in another state?

• How long does the surgery take?

• What is the recovery process like?

• Is the surgery covered by my insurance company? What if I don't have private insurance?

• What if I live in another country?

The duration of the surgery varies from 30/45 minutes for a partial thyroidectomy or submaxillectomy to 90 minutes for a total thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy (the latter includes the waiting time for the analysis of the removed gland together with the waiting time for the results of the intraoperative blood tests). As the surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, this time may vary depending on the time it takes to wake and sleep each patient.

The vast majority of patients are admitted for less than 24 hours and can be discharged the day after surgery. In some parathyroid surgeries or total thyroidectomies, a 48-hour admission is necessary to control calcium levels in the blood, which sometimes drop as a result of the surgery.

Recovery is very quick, almost painless, except for slight discomfort when swallowing or moving the neck secondary to the intubation. You can eat normally from the first day and move your neck without any problems. No external stitches are left in the incision, so wound care is very simple: wash with soap and water and an antiseptic. It is recommended to cover the incision from the sun for the first few months after surgery.

For patients who cannot easily come to the clinic, we carry out the whole process remotely. They only need to travel to Santiago de Compostela for the surgery. We usually carry out an initial consultation by videoconference, where we get to know the patient's case and make an initial assessment. The necessary pre-surgical tests are organised at the place of origin. Once a date for surgery has been selected, the patient is assessed at our centre by the anaesthesiologist the day before surgery. After surgery and discharge from hospital, the patient can return to their place of origin. The first check-up, after 7-8 days, is also carried out by videoconference, where the results of the study of the removed gland and the evolution of the postoperative period are discussed.

The international health department of our hospital can organise all travel arrangements (permits - visa) as well as negotiations with foreign insurance companies. They also offer interpreting and translation services for other languages. You can contact them directly at intl.rosaleda@mail.hmhospitales.com

We work with the vast majority of national insurance companies. Depending on each policy, surgery is fully or partially covered. Some insurance companies do not cover certain sections (neuromonitoring of the recurrent nerve, implantable material, etc.) so the patient will have to pay for them.

In the case of patients without private insurance, an estimate will be made according to the characteristics of each patient, which includes everything necessary for the surgery, pre- and post-operative.

Do not hesitate to contact us without obligation, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.