Thyroid Rejuvenation™

Addressing your thyroid problem and improving your neck appearance at the same time

What Is Thyroid Rejuvenation™?

Thyroid Rejuvenation™ is a treatment that solves two problems at once. It combines thyroid surgery with neck enhancement. This means we can remove your thyroid problem and improve the way your neck looks—all in one procedure.

The surgery uses a special technique that leaves no visible scar on your neck. Instead of cutting the front of your neck, we work through small openings inside your lower lip. After healing, no one can see where the surgery was done.

At the same time, we can improve your neck's shape and contour. This might reduce fullness under your chin or create a more defined jawline. The result is a neck that looks better than before you had any thyroid problems.

Who Might Benefit from Thyroid Rejuvenation™?

This treatment may be a good choice if you:

• Need thyroid surgery for a medical reason
• Want to avoid a visible scar on your neck
• Are bothered by the appearance of your neck
• Would like a more defined jawline or neck contour
• Want to address both medical and appearance concerns together

Many patients tell us they wish they could "turn back the clock" on their neck appearance. Some are concerned about fullness under their chin. Others want better definition between their chin and neck. Thyroid Rejuvenation can help with both your thyroid health and these appearance concerns.

A Note About Scars: Traditional thyroid surgery leaves a scar across the front of your neck. This scar is permanent. Research shows that many people feel self-conscious about their thyroid surgery scars, even years later. Some patients avoid certain clothing or hairstyles because of their scars. With scarless surgery, you don't have to worry about any of this.

How Does It Work?

The procedure has two parts that happen during the same surgery:

Part 1: Scarless Thyroid Surgery
We remove your thyroid through three small openings inside your lower lip. We use a tiny camera and special instruments. The camera makes everything look 10 times bigger on a screen. This lets us work very carefully. Because the cuts are inside your mouth, there is no visible scar on your neck.

Part 2: Neck Enhancement
During the same surgery, we can improve your neck's appearance. We might reduce fullness under your chin. We might create better definition between your chin and neck. We do this work through the same approach, so you still have no visible scars.

The entire procedure usually takes about two to three hours. Most patients go home the next day.

What Results Can I Expect?

You can expect two main benefits:

Your thyroid problem is solved. The surgery treats your medical condition just as well as traditional surgery. If you have thyroid cancer, we remove it completely. If you have a thyroid nodule or goiter, we take it out. The medical results are excellent.

Your neck looks better. Many patients see a real improvement in their neck appearance. The change might include:

• Less fullness or "heaviness" under the chin
• Better definition between the chin and neck
• A more youthful neck contour
• No visible surgical scar

How We Measure Results: We track our outcomes using proven methods from aesthetic surgery research. We measure the angle between your chin and neck—doctors call this the "cervico-mental angle." Research shows the ideal angle is between 105 and 120 degrees. Studies show that traditional neck procedures improve this angle by an average of 7 to 14 degrees. Our goal is to achieve results similar to what is published in the medical literature, and our patients have had success achieving results that are at least that good so far.

Is It Safe?

Yes. The scarless thyroid surgery part is very safe. Research from around the world shows it is as safe as traditional surgery—and in some ways, it may be safer.

In October 2025, experts from six international medical societies published a major report. They agreed that scarless thyroid surgery is safe when performed by an experienced surgeon. The report included data from thousands of patients worldwide.

The neck enhancement part is also safe. These techniques have been used in cosmetic surgery for many years. When combined with thyroid surgery, they can be done safely at the same time.

Important: This procedure should only be done by a surgeon with special training in both scarless thyroid surgery and neck procedures. At the Russell Center, we have performed more scarless thyroid surgeries than any center in the United States. Dr. Russell is one of only a few surgeons in the world who combines this surgery with neck enhancement.

What Is Recovery Like?

Most patients recover quickly. Here is what to expect:

In the hospital: You will stay overnight. Most people have mild discomfort but not severe pain. You can eat and drink starting the evening of surgery.

First week: You may have some swelling in your neck and under your chin. Your lower lip might feel a bit numb or tight. These feelings are normal and go away. Most people can return to desk work within a week.

First month: Swelling continues to improve. You will start to see your final neck contour taking shape. Most people can return to all normal activities, including exercise.

Three to six months: Your final results become more clear. The swelling is almost gone. Your neck has settled into its new shape. This is when patients often tell us they are most happy with their results.

How Is This Different from Other Options?

Traditional thyroid surgery removes your thyroid through a cut on the front of your neck. This works well for the thyroid problem. But it always leaves a visible scar. It does not improve your neck's appearance—in fact, some patients feel their neck looks worse after traditional surgery because of the scar.

Scarless thyroid surgery alone solves the scar problem. Your thyroid is removed through your mouth, so there is no neck scar. But it does not improve your neck's overall appearance.

Neck cosmetic surgery alone can improve how your neck looks. But if you have a thyroid problem, you would need a separate thyroid surgery later—which would leave a scar.

Thyroid Rejuvenation™ is different. It addresses both concerns at once. You get:

• Treatment for your thyroid condition
• No visible neck scar
• Improvement in your neck's appearance
• One surgery instead of two
• One recovery period instead of two

Why Choose the Russell Center?

Dr. Russell developed the Thyroid Rejuvenation™ approach. He is the first surgeon in the world to perform this combined procedure.

His background includes:

• Nearly 10 years as Director of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery at Johns Hopkins
• Member of the American Thyroid Association Guidelines Committee
• More "scarless" thyroid surgeries than any doctor in the United States
• More than 100 articles, chapters, and books on improving thyroid surgery via innovation
• First author of the 2025 International Consensus Statement on scarless thyroid surgery

At the Russell Center, we measure our results carefully. We track outcomes using proven methods from medical research. Our goal is to give you excellent medical care and appearance results that exceed published standards.

Is Thyroid Rejuvenation™ Right for You?

This procedure is not for everyone. It works best for patients who:

• Have a thyroid problem that requires surgery
• Are in good overall health
• Have concerns about neck appearance
• Want to avoid a visible scar
• Understand that results take several months to fully develop

During your consultation, we will examine your thyroid and your neck. We will discuss what is realistic for your situation. We will review before-and-after photos from other patients. We will answer all your questions. Then, together, we will decide if Thyroid Rejuvenation™ is a good choice for you.

A Note About Expectations: Thyroid Rejuvenation™ can make a real difference in how your neck looks. Many patients are very happy with their results. However, it is not a miracle. Results vary from person to person. During your consultation, we will be honest about what we can achieve for you. Our goal is for you to have realistic expectations and excellent results.

Questions to Ask at Your Consultation

When you meet with us, you might want to ask:

• Am I a good candidate for Thyroid Rejuvenation™?
• What results can I expect for my specific situation?
• What are the risks for my case?
• How long will my recovery take?
• When will I see my final results?

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