General surgery a medical specialty focused on diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions through surgical procedures. The most common procedures usually involve the abdomen, digestive system, soft tissues, and sometimes endocrine organs.
Despite the name “general,” it’s actually quite broad and foundational. General surgeons are trained to operate on multiple parts of the body and often manage a patient’s care before, during, and after surgery.
Common areas they treat include:
- Digestive system (stomach, intestines, colon)
- Gallbladder and appendix
- Hernias
- Thyroid and other endocrine glands
- Skin and soft tissue (cysts, tumors, infections)
- Breast conditions
Typical procedures:
- Appendectomy (removal of the appendix)
- Gallbladder removal
- Hernia repair
- Colon surgery
- Bariatric (weight-loss) surgery
