After a cordectomy, changes in your voice are to be expected. The degree of these changes depends on how much of your vocal cords were removed. Partial removal of the vocal cords may lead to hoarseness and a loss of vocal range. You may experience difficulty producing most sounds for a certain period after the surgery. In cases of total cordectomy, where all vocal cords are removed, patients generally cannot produce most vocal sounds. However, it has been observed that patients can almost always speak in a whisper after such procedures. Approximately 6 months to 1 year post-surgery, a significant majority of patients, especially if most laryngeal structures are anatomically present, are able to regain the ability to produce sound (phonation).