Visualization of the nerve and parathyroids is critical -- just because the camera can see them well (as plainly as we see them during traditional minimal invasive surgery) does not mean that damage is less likely.
I was able to find a few articles online about the specific machine used for mine, I can send you links if you want. I know they do them in Chicago and TX where I am at. It specifically says in the articles how the camera allows them to see the parathyroid glands and vocal cords in such clarity that it helps with preventing accidental damage.
The axillary approach is not used in the US outside some university settings. Most reports I believe have been from China. Endoscopic approaches may not be much safer for voice or parathyroid complications. More research is needed on this.
I thought they would be small incisions like for knee or shoulder arthroscopic, (small), but that's ok .. those scars can be hidden.
I just wanted to clarify that I'm not completely scarless. I have a 2 inch? scar going down my armpit, and a very small scar on my chest. Its just less noticeable than having it the conventual way.
Yes. She did ....I suppose that by still having 1/2 of my thyroid intact, and the possible prospect of one day having to have it removed if my "stable" nodule changes or becomes suspicious for cancer, I may be extremely interested in this procedure given the fact I had complications of spitting stitches and stitch abscesses along with a secondary cyst that became infected and had to be removed above the incision line. That secondary cyst was benign and deemed a 1.5cm "infectious granuloma" whose scar is worse than the partial thyroidectomy!
The no-scar is most appealing for those, like me who don't heal so well!
C~
CC9
I think Smilerdeb had this procedure.