Sarah Oltmann, M.D.

Meet Dr. Oltmann

As an endocrine surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Sarah Oltmann, M.D., is specially trained to treat cancers and other disorders of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands that require surgery. Her minimally invasive techniques not only reduce the size of the incision and resulting scar, but also decrease swelling and numbness for patients after surgery, resulting in faster recovery.

“When incision size can be decreased and safely achieve the same result as traditional options, the patient’s recovery is easier. That’s something I strive for with each procedure,” Dr. Oltmann says.

For patients with endocrine diseases such as hyperthyroidism, symptomatic thyroiditis, or functional adrenal nodules, surgery is often the preferred treatment because of its rapid result – immediate resolution of symptoms such as hormone overproduction (though some medical preparation prior to surgery is often necessary).

When procedures are performed using minimally invasive techniques, patients are often able to go home the same or next day and resume their normal activities within a week.

“With endocrine procedures, I know my patients will start feeling better rapidly after surgery, without a prolonged recovery time – which is not always the case for other surgical procedures,” she says.

“Every patient is unique, as is their experience with surgery. I strive to prepare each patient for what surgery will entail, and for what recovery will be like.” 

As a thyroid cancer survivor herself, Dr. Oltmann uses her experience to better help patients know what to expect. She says that when she was a patient preparing for own operation, she found speaking to other patients set her mind at ease. “Reading about it in a book or on a blog is different from speaking to someone in person who has been in your shoes. I hope I can provide that comfort to my patients.”