thyroid cartilage surgical procedure thyroid cartilage reduction A surgical procedure in which the thyroid cartilage is reduced in size by shaving down the cartilage through an incision in the throat, generally to aid those who are uncomfortable with the girth of their laryngeal prominence (Adam's apple). Adam's apple reduction TCR chondrolaryngoplasty chondroplasty of larynx reduction laryngoplasty tracheal shave