Thyroidectomy is the removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. Thyroidectomy is used to treat thyroid disorders, such as cancer, noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goiter) and overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Thyroidectomy is a common surgical procedure that has several potential complications or sequela including: temporary or permanent change in voice, temporary or permanently low calcium, need for lifelong thyroid hormone replacement, bleeding, infection, and the remote possibility of airway obstruction due to bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Depending on the reason you are having your thyroid gland removed, the type of thyroidectomy you have may be Total thyroidectomy, which removes the entire gland or Subtotal or partial thyroidectomy, which removes part of the thyroid gland.