Do vocal cord polyps definitely require surgery?

Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
Updated on May 26, 2025
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The treatment of vocal cord polyps is primarily surgical since this condition is mainly caused by excessive talking, improper voice use, or overuse of the voice at one time. Such actions can lead to pathological changes in the vocal cord mucosa, resulting in edema and vascular dilation in the Reinke's space, and even hemorrhagic polyps. In these cases, simple voice rest or medical treatment is often ineffective. The best approach is to surgically remove the polyps completely, and then combine this with voice rehabilitation and correct pronunciation to achieve the best possible healing of the surgical site. Therefore, the most appropriate treatment plan for vocal cord polyps is to undergo surgery promptly. The specific surgical method depends on the size and location of the polyp, and whether it can be well exposed during surgery.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What medicine should I take for vocal cord polyps?

Some patients with vocal cord polyps can consider medication treatment, mainly aimed at smaller polyps with limited lesion scope and not particularly obvious clinical symptoms. In such cases, medication treatment can be considered, generally focusing on oral and nebulized medications. It is also necessary to avoid excessive voice use and to frequently revisit the laryngoscope to monitor the changes in the vocal cord polyps, typically revisiting every 1-3 months. If the polyps are larger and have caused obvious hoarseness or severely affected breathing, conservative medical treatment is likely to be ineffective, and it may be necessary to consider undergoing a microlaryngoscopic surgery to remove the vocal cord polyps. Regular follow-ups are still required after the surgery to observe the recovery. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor, based on the specific situation.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How long is the hospital stay for vocal cord polyp surgery?

Vocal cord polyps are benign occupying lesions on our vocal cords. Generally, the removal of vocal cord polyps is performed under a microscope-supported laryngoscope. The hospital stay for vocal cord polyp surgery is usually short, and the surgery can even be performed in a day clinic. Typically, the stay lasts about 1-3 days, although in different medical units, it can be extended to 3-5 days or even 5-7 days. In any case, it's typically within a week. Moreover, as the procedure for vocal cord polyps is relatively less harmful, the hospital stay is generally short. Post-surgery, it is important to speak less and avoid straining the vocal cords to prevent the recurrence of the polyps.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Is vocal cord polyp surgery under general anesthesia painful?

Vocal cord polyps are benign space-occupying lesions located on the vocal cords, generally occurring unilaterally. Currently, treatment involves surgical removal under general anesthesia, utilizing a microscope and a supportive laryngoscope, or it can be performed using an endoscope; all these procedures require general anesthesia. After the general anesthesia, patients generally do not respond to pain, so the surgery is essentially painless, thus there is no need for excessive worry. After surgery, the vast majority of patients experience no pain. A minority of patients may have mild pain due to mucosal abrasions in the pharyngeal area, but most patients do not suffer pain.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can vocal cord polyps be treated without surgery?

Vocal cord polyps are benign neoplasms in the throat, primarily presenting clinically as hoarseness. Typically, vocal cord polyps are relatively large when detected, and various treatment methods often do not result in complete disappearance. Therefore, clinical treatment of vocal cord polyps mainly involves surgical removal. Sometimes, if patients are reluctant to undergo surgery, medication can be attempted. However, the likelihood of completely eliminating vocal cord polyps with medication alone is relatively low. If the condition does not improve or the polyps do not shrink or disappear after medicinal treatment, surgery is often necessary.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can people with vocal cord polyps drink alcohol?

Vocal cord polyps are benign neoplasms that occur on the free edge of our vocal cords. People with vocal cord polyps should not drink alcohol for several main reasons: Firstly, alcohol directly irritates the vocal cords, which is a stimulatory effect. Secondly, after drinking alcohol, blood vessels dilate. The dilation of blood vessels in the vocal cord mucosa leads to vocal cord congestion and aggravated vocal cord edema, which further exacerbates inflammation. Thirdly, some patients may be allergic to alcohol. An allergic reaction can also cause congestion and increased edema of the vocal cord mucosa, worsening the condition of vocal cord polyps. Therefore, considering the aforementioned reasons, patients with vocal cord polyps cannot drink alcohol.