Dr Imran Asim / General Surgeon Contact No 03337759333

Surgeries

Some of the common surgical procedures you might expect a general surgeon to perform include:

• Anti-reflux surgery (Nissen fundoplication).
• Appendix removal (appendectomy).
• Bariatric (weight loss) surgery.
• Breast surgery
• Exploratory surgery (laparotomy or laparoscopy).
• Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy).
• Hernia repair surgery.
• Prostate removal (prostatectomy).
• Spleen removal (splenectomy).
• Uterus removal (hysterectomy).

Methods

General surgeons today train in the latest technology-assisted operative techniques, including:

• Endoscopy.
• Laparoscopic surgery.
• Robotic surgery.

Endoscopy

Endoscopy allows a surgeon to perform small operations without cutting through your skin or tissues. Instead, they operate with long, narrow tools through an endoscope, a long, flexible tube with a video camera on the end. The endoscope enters your body through your throat (upper endoscopy) or through your anus (colonoscopy). It projects video to a screen, and your surgeon operates guided by the screen.

Common endoscopic surgery procedures include:

• Removing polyps or tumors (polypectomy).
• Removing tissue samples (biopsy).
• Cutting into a clenched muscle to release it (myotomy).

Laparoscopic surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery technique. A surgeon accesses your abdominal organs through small “keyhole” incisions no more than half an inch long. They place a laparoscope, which is a type of endoscope, through one of the holes to visualize the space. The camera projects to a screen, and the surgeon operates with long, narrow tools through another hole, guided by the screen. 

Operations that general surgeons commonly perform laparoscopically include: 

• Appendectomy (for appendicitis).
• Cholecystectomy(for gallstones).
• Gastric bypass surgery (a weight loss procedure).

Robotic surgery

Robotic surgery is a type of laparoscopic surgery. It uses a laparoscope and long, narrow tools through small keyhole incisions. The difference is that robotic arms operate the tools. The surgeon operates the robotic arms from a computer console within the operating room. General surgeons may learn robotic surgery in their standard training, or they may take additional training to learn it, such as a fellowship.

Additional Common Questions

What’s the difference between a general surgeon and a doctor (physician)?

All surgeons are doctors (physicians), but not all doctors are surgeons. Surgeons are doctors who complete additional training and earn certification to practice surgery. In general, surgery means operating on a person’s inner parts, such as their organs, tissues and bones, to treat injuries or diseases.

A general practitioner or primary care physician (PCP) is a doctor who practices general medicine instead of choosing one specialty. They generally don’t perform surgery. A general surgeon is a doctor who has chosen to specialize in surgery. They practice general surgery instead of choosing a surgical specialty. 

How long does it take to become a general surgeon?

If you’re in the U.S., you’ll need a bachelor’s degree (four years), then a medical degree (four years), followed by surgical residency (five years) before you can become certified as a general surgeon. That’s a minimum of 13 years in higher education, plus however long it takes you to pass the board exams.

What’s the difference between a pediatric surgeon and a general surgeon?

All pediatric surgeons are general surgeons, but not all general surgeons are pediatric surgeons. A pediatric surgeon is a general surgeon who’s completed additional training to specialize in treating children. It’s similar to a pediatrician, except that a pediatric surgeon can also perform surgeries. 

A note from Cleveland Clinic

A general surgeon is like a general doctor with extra powers — powers to fix a wide range of ailments in the operating room. It takes a lot of training to learn everything a surgeon has to know and master all the skills they have to master. But it leads to a rewarding career — one in which no two days are alike.