Vocal cord polyp removal surgery generally does not cause notable pain. Currently, there are mainly two types of surgery for vocal cord polyps. The first type is under general anesthesia, and the second type is under local anesthesia, including topical anesthesia. If you choose surgery under general anesthesia, the patient will be under anesthesia throughout the procedure and will not feel pain. However, there might be varying degrees of pain after the surgery, although it is generally tolerable. If you choose surgery under topical anesthesia, there might be some pain during the procedure, but it typically isn't severe. Post-surgery pain is usually not too intense, but regular follow-ups are necessary, mainly to monitor for any recurrence of the polyps.