Yes, they can - and, yes, humans are capable of regeneration Mr. PhD above. Not universally, but certainly your skin, your liver, some of your nerves, etc... Are more than capable of regeneration. Tonsils happen to consist of the same tissue as lymph nodes, and can in fact regenerate and grow back if they weren't entirely excised (ie: If a tiny piece was left behind) in the initial surgery.
The Lymphatic tissue of the tonsils is capable of regeneration. Often when tonsils are removed, a tiny bit is left behind because if the entire tonsil is removed there is a high incidence of heavy bleeding at the site. That small bit is capable of regenerating. You should consult a doctor if the growth is relatively fast (over a few weeks vs over a few years).
Yes, they can. I had mine out when I was 6, now I am 30. I recently went to the DR. For a check up. She said that my right tonsil had grown back. I am living proof that they can grow back if they are not removed properly.
My doctor explained it this way.. The way the procedure was done years and years ago only a portion of them could be removed completely. So they grew back more often. With the technology and cauterizing that can be done now almost all of the tonsil is removed. Even with this they CAN STILL GROW BACK.
My tonsils (along with my adenoids) were removed when I was in the 9th grade because I had been sick with strep throat 13 times in 5 years before that. About 2 months after my tonsils were removed, I came down with strep throat AGAIN. And only once more about two years later.
Then last August 2008 I went to the doctor and my tonsils had grown back, and then some. Luckily my adenoids had not grown back.
There is a very small percentage of people that this actually happens to, and many of the ones who have them grow back, also have a form of lymphoma.
In September I had my tonsils, my lingual tonsils, part of my throat, and a lymphnode removed (I'm now 22) and it was the worst pain I have ever had in my life!
They grew back in that '75 TV show, Emergency! That paramedic, John, was in denial about his tonsillitis for the whole show...then he goes to Rampart, they started that IV with D5W, and then the doctor said they grew back.....The fact that I can remember this bears a different condition much worse that tonsillitis...sigh.....
I have had my tonsils out twice. When I was 8 yrs old and when I was almost 18 years old. I have been told this is very rare. I got mono and it was supposed to have swollen the small amount of regenerative tissue from my new tonsils. I then got sick over and over until I got them out again. Now my 9 year old and my 18 month old are going to have theirs out. I am hoping the same thing doesn't happen to them!
Actually, they can, many people have had their tonsils taken out because they were badly inflammed. It is a gland that actually helps fight off infection. It has been shown, that in many adults, their tonsils have grown back. Having tonsils removed as a child is not dangerous, but becomes a complicated procedure as you age, becoming more dangerous. Some people will have their tonsils removed due to too many allergic reactions. Mind you, tonsils serve a purpose so now doctors are more reluctant to remove them
That happened with my brother, he had to have them out, and they grew back. I got a kick out of that. He doesn't have problems with them either. Hope this helps.
