For thyroid surgery, if there is no damage to the surrounding vital nerves or blood vessels, it is usually over in less than 5 hours. Surgery for a simple thyroid nodule, also known as a nodular nail, takes about an hour. In the case of multiple or thyroid cysts requiring unilateral lobectomy, it usually takes 1-2 hours. In the case of malignant thyroid cancer, such as papillary thyroid cancer, which is the most common, it takes about 3 hours. If combined with lymph node dissection in the central region or bilateral lobe removal of the cervical contour thyroid gland, plus lymph node dissection in regions 3 and 4, the operation will take about 3 hours or more.