EXPERTS IN THYROID SURGERY AND NON-SURGICAL PRECISE™ THYROID ABLATION.
Dr Francis Hall has over 25 years of thyroid experience and is a New Zealand pioneer of non-surgical thyroid ablation, offering radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for nodules and ethanol ablation for cysts. Patients travel from all over New Zealand to see him.
For many benign thyroid nodules and cysts, ablation achieves the same relief with far less disruption.
| Thyroid ablation (RFA / ethanol) | Thyroidectomy (surgery) | |
|---|---|---|
| Anaesthetic | Local anaesthetic only | General anaesthetic |
| Incision / scar | No incision, no scar | Neck incision, possible scar |
| Hospital stay | None, home the same day | Usually overnight |
| Recovery time | Back to work the same day | 1 to 2 weeks or more |
| Thyroid function | Healthy thyroid preserved | Part or all of the thyroid removed |
| Medication after | Usually none | Lifelong thyroxine often needed |
Not every nodule or cyst is suitable for ablation. A consultation with Dr Hall will confirm the best path for you.
Which one is right for you depends on whether your thyroid lump is solid or fluid-filled. Dr Hall confirms this with an ultrasound at your consultation.
RFA treats solid, benign thyroid nodules. Using a fine needle electrode guided by ultrasound, Dr Hall delivers controlled radiofrequency energy directly into the nodule. The heat destroys the target tissue while the surrounding healthy thyroid is left untouched, and the nodule shrinks over the following months.
Ethanol ablation (percutaneous ethanol injection) treats fluid-filled thyroid cysts. Under ultrasound guidance, Dr Hall drains the cyst and injects a small amount of medical-grade ethanol. This seals the cyst lining so it collapses and stops refilling. It takes only a few minutes and most cysts settle after one or two sessions.
Dr Hall reviews your ultrasound, blood results and symptoms to confirm whether ablation is right for you.
A fine needle aspiration or biopsy if needed, to confirm the nodule is benign before any treatment.
Ultrasound-guided ablation under local anaesthetic. Around one hour. You rest briefly, then go home.
Check-ins over the following months to measure shrinkage and confirm a lasting result.
Dr Francis Hall has over 25 years of experience in thyroid surgery and is a New Zealand pioneer of non-surgical thyroid treatments, including thyroid radiofrequency ablation and ethanol ablation.
He founded Auckland Thyroid Centre to bring specialist thyroid care together under one roof, from testing and diagnostics through to the most advanced surgical and non-surgical treatments available in New Zealand. Patients travel from all over the country to see him.
Verified Google reviews from people Dr Hall has cared for.
Share a few details and our team will be in touch to understand your situation. Whether you are at the start of your thyroid journey or looking for a second opinion, we are here to help.