General surgery is focused on the diseases and conditions that affect the abdominal area and digestive system. The procedures are performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopy is a surgical method that employs tiny incisions that act as entry points for a tiny camera and other minimally invasive tools. The use of this surgery lowers your risk of infections, complications, and scarring. Laparoscopic surgeries are also easier to recover from when compared to “open” procedures.
General Surgery Treatments
Gallbladder Removal
The gallbladder is an organ shaped like a pear that sits below your liver. Your liver produces a digestive fluid called bile, which is then collected and stored in your gallbladder. When your gallbladder becomes diseased, removal may be necessary. The technique for removing the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy. The procedure is considered low-risk and most patients are returned home the same day.
During the procedure, four small incisions are created before a tiny video camera and special surgical tools are inserted into your abdomen. The gallbladder is safely removed before the wounds are closed.
Some surgeons opt to remove the gallbladder by opening the abdomen during a procedure called an open cholecystectomy.
Gallbladder removal helps to alleviate problems associated with gallstones in the gallbladder, gallstones in the bile duct, gallbladder polyps, gallbladder inflammation, or inflammation of the pancreas (which is typically caused by gallstones).
Gallbladder surgery can relieve pain and prevent future digestive issues. Since your gallbladder isn’t essential for healthy digestion, digestive problems following a cholecystectomy are rare.
Hernia Repair
Inguinal hernia surgery involves the repair of the abdominal wall where certain tissues, such as your intestine, are pushing through. The surgery heals the abdominal wall, readjusts the digestive organs, and relieves pain, discomfort, and bulges through the skin.
During the procedure, your surgeon will place tiny incisions just below the navel. The abdomen is inflated with air so that the surgeon can see the digestive organs with the help of the laparoscopic camera. The surgeon places mesh around the hole in the abdominal wall, which reinforces the area, before the healthy tissue is sewn together.
Like gallbladder surgery, most patients go home the same day following their hernia repair procedure. You can expect to return to your normal activity levels within two to four weeks.
Abscess Drainage
An abscess is a growth filled with pus that develops on the skin. When antibiotics and other medical treatments fail, the abscess may require surgical drainage.
The general surgeon will make a small incision into the abscess to alleviate the pressure. Once the pus is drained, the abscess cavity is treated before the wound is adequately dressed. The procedure for draining abscesses is fairly quick and painless.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows your general surgeon to screen and diagnose issues along the lining of your colon and rectum. A bendable tube the thickness of an index finger is gently inserted into the anus. The tube is advanced slowly into the rectum and colon to screen for cancer and check for polyps.
Colonoscopies can also be used before and after gastrointestinal surgeries. The diagnostic method is used to evaluate bowel habit changes, check for bleeding, and evaluate changes in the colon lining indicating one or more inflammatory disorders.
If your surgeon sees bleeding, disease, or other problems inside your digestive system, a biopsy may be obtained and submitted to a laboratory for further analysis. Any noncancerous (benign) polyps that are found can be removed at the time of the colonoscopy.
Wart Removal
Wart removal surgery uses intense lasers to destroy the irregular tissue. Your surgeon will first employ a local or general anesthesia to keep you relaxed and comfortable. The high-intensity laser beam burns away the tissue that comprises the wart. The treatment aims to remove all the wart tissue, though you may require more than one laser treatment if your problem persists.
While the treatment is generally quick, recovery time depends on how many warts were removed and their locations. The treatment areas may be sore for a few days following your wart removal surgery.
Wart laser surgery is usually considered a last resort when medicine has failed, and the warts tend to be larger than average and widespread. Your doctor may also recommend wart removal during pregnancy.
Hemorrhoidectomy
Otherwise referred to as hemorrhoid surgery, a hemorrhoidectomy is aimed at shrinking or removing hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoidectomies are typically only performed when lifestyle habit changes and over the counter medicines have failed to treat the hemorrhoid problem.
The procedure involves the use of a laser that eradicates the hemorrhoids. This treatment is recommended if the hemorrhoids are overly large, painful, and possibly bleeding.
Hemorrhoidectomies are safe and effective. For best results, your general surgeon will recommend that you eat a high fiber diet and take care of your skin to prevent future hemorrhoid flare ups.
Sphincterotomy
The lateral internal sphincterotomy repairs an issue where the sphincter – the circular group of muscles surrounding the anus – is cut or stretched. The sphincter is responsible for controlling bowel movements. Following the surgery, patients report greater bowel control and improved quality of life.
Sphincterotomies are recommended for patients who tend to suffer from anal fissures. These are breaks and tears in the skin that comprises the anal canal. Sphincter surgery is only employed when diet changes and stool softeners have failed to treat the condition.
During the simple surgery, your surgeon will make an incision in the internal anal sphincter. This technique releases tension against the sphincter, which alleviates problems associated with anal fissures. The surgery is quick, uses local or general anesthesia for your comfort, and involves same-day recovery at home.
Fistulotomy
Anal fistulotomy is a procedure aimed at opening and draining an anal fistula. A fistula is a small tunnel that deviates from the anal canal to a hole in the skin close to the anus.
During the procedure, the general surgeon inserts a laparoscope into the anus. General or local anesthesia is used to keep you comfortable during the procedure. Special surgical tools are guided through the scope into the anus. The doctor uses these tools to make an incision on one side of the fistula tunnel. The fistula is then drained and left to heal.
The recovery takes between one to two weeks, but you’ll be sent home the same day as your fistulotomy procedure.
Pilonidal Excision
Pilonidal excision is a procedure that removes a cyst (fluid filled sac) from the buttock area. Your general surgeon makes an incision to remove the cyst and some of the surrounding tissue.
Some surgeons choose to use stitches to close the surgical wound while others leave the wound open. If stitches are used, the treatment area can take around four weeks to heal. Open incisions can take a few weeks or longer to adequately heal. Most pilonidal excision procedures leave scars that will fade over time.
You will be sent home the same day after surgery and can return to normal activities within two to four weeks.
Call Our Ambulatory Surgery Center in Beverly Hills
If you have been diagnosed with one of the above conditions, schedule a consultation at Beverly Century Surgery Center. A short meeting with Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki can help you learn more about our general surgery procedures, their benefits, and risks.