Thyroid surgery can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, with the length of time depending on the type of thyroid surgery. The usual surgical options for benign thyroid lesions are thyroidectomy, which is usually done in 1 hour. In the case of thyroid cancer, a single lobe plus isthmus resection is usually performed in the early stages of the cancer, and the surgery usually takes more than an hour. In case of bilateral lesions, bilobar thyroidectomy is also required to remove nearby lymph nodes, and the resected mass is also required to undergo pathologic examination for a clear diagnosis, which will take longer, usually 3 to 4 hours. To summarize, the length of thyroid surgery varies, depending on the patient’s disease and the choice of surgical methods to decide, appearing thyroid gland discomfort or touching the swelling, be sure to consult a doctor in a timely manner.