Surgery

Surgery is difficult to define. At its most basic level, surgery is a medical technique that involves using tools to investigate or treat a disease, injury or bodily dysfunction. However, this definition would include procedures like freezing a wart, which few people consider to be surgery. Digging a bit deeper, we can conclude that most people consider surgery to involve the cutting of live tissue.

Surgery can be classified in a few ways. Elective surgery is any surgical procedure that isn’t necessary to save the life of a patient. For example, getting a nose job is a form of elective surgery. Emergency surgery, conversely, is surgery that is essential in order to save a life or part of a patient’s body (such as a limb). A third classification, exploratory surgery, refers to any procedure that is performed with the goal of learning more about a patient’s medical condition.

5 Things You Need to Know

  1. Many people used to refer to surgery as “going under the knife.” Today, that term is becoming less and less accurate. Technological advances have meant that scalpels are no longer needed for many types of surgery. Instead, doctors are using lasers. Even the surgeries that do involve incisions are being improved so that they can be performed with much smaller cuts.
  2. There is no such thing as a surgery that doesn’t involve some degree of risk and discomfort.
  3. Several of the most common surgical procedures in the U.S. are related to childbirth. They include episiotomy (an incision made through the perineum to enlarge the vagina), cesarean section, repair of laceration (stitching up a wound) and artificial rupture of the amniotic membrane.
  4. The most common surgical procedures not related to childbirth include cataract surgery, tooth extraction, appendectomy and herniorrhaphy.
  5. Every year, there are more than 70 million surgical procedures performed in the U.S.

3 Questions You Need to Ask Your Doctor

  1. Why is this surgical procedure necessary?
  2. What are the specific risks that are involved with this procedure?
  3. How will my life change after I have had this procedure?

Also Known As: Operation

Your health is too important to take lightly. The information on this website is intended to start you down the path to living well, but it’s only just the beginning.

Each of us is unique, and we all deserve the individual attention that only a health care professional can provide. So do what’s in your best interest - take the next step and find doctors or surgeons in your area today.