I just had a VATS thymectomy last month and was out of the hospital 5 days after the operation. I had some weakness after the surgery and needed an IVIg treatment, which extended my stay by a few days.

Overall, the pain was minimal with this procedure. The chest tubes were a little uncomfortable, but they came out the day after surgery without any pain.

I was mostly back to "normal" a few weeks after the surgery.

My research found there is no evidence that one method is superior, so I'd opt for a less invasion procedure if I was you.