The Sher‑i‑Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar has successfully conducted Jammu and Kashmir’s first scar-free thyroid surgery, employing a remote-access minimally invasive technique that allows removal of the thyroid gland without leaving a visible scar on the neck.
The technically demanding procedure avoids the conventional neck incision, reducing postoperative trauma while improving cosmetic results and speeding up recovery. The department has completed more than 25 endoscopic thyroidectomies using a modified version of the remote-access approach. The surgery uses standard laparoscopic instruments instead of specialised, expensive equipment, which significantly lowers costs and increases accessibility. Similar procedures outside the region typically cost several lakhs of rupees.
The surgical team included Prof Munir Wani, Dr Gowhar Aziz, Dr Bilal A Wagay, and Dr Azher Mushtaq, supported by anaesthesia led by Prof Shoukat Ahmad Gurcoo along with a team of consultant anaesthetists. Patients benefit from the absence of a neck scar, reduced pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times.
SKIMS highlighted that its Division of Endocrine and Breast Surgery is currently the fifth centre in India offering an MCh programme in Endocrine Surgery, reinforcing the institute’s role in advanced surgical training and innovation.
The introduction of scar-free thyroid surgery reflects SKIMS’s focus on expanding high-end, patient-oriented care in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing complex surgical procedures closer to regional patients while maintaining affordability.
