Your parathyroid glands only have ONE job.

I really think it’s interesting that the parathyroid is the only gland in our bodies that God had some reason to give us 4 of. In our bodies, no other gland or structure has as much duplication. Perhaps the fact that there are four of them has something to do with why one of them will occasionally go out of whack and start producing more hormone than it should. Your parathyroid glands only have one job: to keep your calcium levels normal. This is critical because calcium is required for the proper functioning of many metabolic pathways. This includes your nervous system, kidneys, bones, muscles, and other organs.

There are several reasons to choose an experienced surgeon for your parathyroidectomy. One being, parathyroids can be hard to find. They’re so small that doctors had no idea that parathyroid glands existed until about a century ago. They blend in with the background, and the skills required to perform a successful parathyroid operation are not learned with just a few cases under your belt. It takes hundreds of surgeries to master the art of parathyroid gland removal. A surgeon with little experience may find the abnormal gland and reduce your calcium, but studies have shown that surgeons with low volumes have a much higher percentage of patients who are not cured with the first operation. And if your operation fails, you’ll need a second one. Which will not only be an annoyance, but also cause an increase in difficulty level during removal. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to give the first operation your best shot. Do your research and find a doctor well suited for your needs. 

Another important thing to be aware of is finding a surgeon who cares. You only want to work with surgeons who have a passion for parathyroid surgery. For me, it’s fun. I love looking for parathyroid glands, it’s like finding buried treasure. And I have treated thousands of patients with the disease, each being a unique experience.  I take pride in my success rate being about 98%, I rarely perform a second parathyroidectomy. Remember, it’s worth it to travel to an experienced center to maximize the likelihood of success with your first and hopefully only operation. This shortens your road to recovery and alleviates the burden of possible suffering from Hyperparathyroidism symptoms in the future. 

If you’d like to become a patient or simply want more information, go to parathyroidatlanta.com or contact us by phone.  We have many patients who travel from out of town for their treatment. We can easily set up telehealth consultations in advance of planning surgery for you.  We do not charge any additional fees for reviewing your medical information prior to a consultation.