What does a surgeon do?
A surgeon is a doctor of medicine (MD) who evaluates and treats diseases that may require surgery. They train to perform minor and complex surgical procedures, which demand dexterity and exceptional hand-eye coordination. They also investigate a condition before an operation, repair or remove damaged tissues, and improve the function or visual appearance of an organ or body part. In addition to performing surgery, surgeons also provide preoperative and post-operative care.
Surgery can treat some common diseases, including- heart diseases, breast cancer, eye diseases like cataracts and glaucoma, hemorrhoids, fissures, polyps (pre-cancerous growths), spine and nervous system disorders, and joint problems.
During an operation, a surgeon leads a team of healthcare professionals, including surgeon's assistants, anesthesiologists, and operating room nurses. Surgeons typically work in private practices, ambulatory care, government settings (the federal government's Public Health Service, which includes eight agencies), and hospital settings. Besides providing patient care, surgeons teach and participate in academic research, conduct clinical investigations, develop experimental therapies, and guide medical students and residents.
Education and training for surgeons
Becoming a surgeon entails a rigorous and lengthy journey encompassing various stages:
Undergraduate education: The initial phase involves obtaining a bachelor's degree, typically in a science-focused field. This serves as the foundation for future medical studies.
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): Aspiring surgeons must pass the MCAT exam. Many students take it during their final years of college, allowing ample time for medical school applications before graduation.
Medical school: The subsequent step involves completing four years of medical school, where one can learn about different medical specialties.
Selecting a surgical specialty and residency: As graduation approaches, doctors must determine their desired area of surgical specialization and secure a residency program. Certain specialties necessitate additional examinations.
Extended duration of surgical residencies: Unlike other branches of medicine, surgical residencies typically last a minimum of five years. Following the completion of residency, doctors may commence their professional careers as surgeons.
What is preoperative and post-operative care?
Preoperative or pre-op care is care provided before going into an operation. This includes a preoperative health checkup (typically done a month before the surgery), collecting your medical history, and a physical examination. Surgeons also order specific tests such as chest X-ray, Complete Blood Count (CBC), CT scan, MRI, Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), or lung function tests to determine whether you're at risk of any other health condition. A primary care physician or a surgeon can give pre-op care. In case of pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or blood disorders, you may have to visit other specialists or surgeons before surgery.
The medical staff provides post-operative care after surgery. Post-op care depends on the type of surgery a patient undergoes and often includes wound care or pain management. Patients often feel dizzy or nauseous after surgery due to anesthesia. While recovering, a nurse or a surgeon usually monitors your fever, blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing to ensure your system functions normally post-surgery. The medical staff may also check you for signs of infection, bleeding, or an allergic reaction caused by general anesthesia. In case of out-patient or same-day surgery, patients may be discharged on the same day (unless the body shows signs of complications post-operation). However, in the case of in-patient surgeries, patients need care for several days. In this case, the hospital or clinical facility transfers patients from the initial recovery room to another room, where they manage their vitals daily. Healthcare providers use devices or apparatus such as heartbeat monitors, breathing machines, Intravenous (IV) catheters, or a tube (inserted in the nose, mouth, or bladder) to assess a patient's health and assist in overall recovery.
Types of surgical specialties
After completing four years of an undergraduate degree and four years of medical school, surgeons need to complete a rigorous residency program in a specialty. According to the American College of Surgeons (ACS), there are 14 surgical specialties, including:
Thoracic surgeons possess knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and oncology. They treat heart diseases such as coronary heart disease, abnormalities of the heart and valves, and lung cancers. A subspecialty of thoracic surgery is adult cardiac surgery, where surgeons perform invasive and minimally invasive heart surgeries such as angioplasty.
Neurosurgeons specialize in treating central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous system disorders such as brain tumors, intracranial aneurysms, head injuries, spine disorders, and spinal deformities. They study and examine neurological pathways and processes that modify the nervous system's function, including the pituitary gland.
General surgeons are knowledgeable about a wide variety of diseases. Emergency or critical care centers equip them to operate on, manage, and treat trauma victims. They also treat common conditions related to the head, neck, breast, skin, soft tissue, and gastrointestinal and endocrine systems.
Conditions affecting the colon, rectum, anal canal, and perianal area are typically managed by specialists known as colon and rectal surgeons. According to the American College of Surgeons (ACS), these surgeons often work with other medical professionals as their expertise extends to various organs and tissues. It is important to note that colon and rectal surgeons must complete an additional fellowship following their general surgery training.
What are some reasons to see surgeons near you?
People consult surgeons for various reasons, whether for emergent or elective procedures. Emergent surgeries are necessary for urgent and life-threatening situations, such as severe injuries. On the other hand, elective surgeries can be scheduled in advance and do not require immediate attention, although they may not always be optional.
Patients may choose to undergo surgery to achieve several outcomes, including:
- Gain a deeper understanding of a medical condition to receive an accurate diagnosis
- Collect a tissue sample from a suspected area for further examination
- Repair or remove damaged tissue or organs affected by the disease
- Eliminate an obstruction that may be causing complications
- Surgeons restore body parts to their correct positions if they have been displaced
- Redirect blood vessels to improve circulation
- Undergo organ transplantation to replace a malfunctioning organ
- Insert mechanical or electronic devices into the body to enhance functionality
- Make alterations to one's appearance
How to prepare for surgery?
Specific preparatory steps always depend upon the illness or injury that needs to be treated and should be taken based on the doctor's advice. However, there are certain standard practices that you can adopt if you are supposed to undergo general anesthesia. Some of these are:
- Take a bath or clean your body.
- Shave the site of surgery, if possible.
- Avoid drinking or eating anything from a specific time before the surgery.
- Based on your physician’s advice and the surgical requirement, you should take an enema an evening before the scheduled surgery to clear the bowels.
- Refrain from wearing makeup or nail paint on the day of the surgery.
- Do not wear your contact lenses on the day of the surgery.
- Let the medical staff know if you have prosthetics, dentures, etc.
- Wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothes.
- Carry your insurance information and social security card number with you.
- Undergo all pre-surgery procedures such as blood tests, electrocardiograms, etc., as may be advised.
Tips to recover after surgery
Recovery post-surgery requires time and patience. The surgeons near you will give you certain dos and don'ts, like the following:
- Take rest: Rest is essential. You cannot become too active quickly after surgery, or your condition may worsen. If you have a wound after surgery, that will take a while to heal. Stick to whatever your doctor has told you and rest even if you do not need it anymore. Do not do too much too soon.
- Take your medication on time: Take the prescribed pain medications. Do not avoid it because you have experienced its side effects, such as constipation or nausea, or someone said it is addictive. Pain can often interrupt your sleep, appetite, and mobility, making it difficult for your body to heal. Your surgeon will let you know when you are ready to get off medication; until then, follow their guidance.
- Nourish yourself: If you have not moved your bowels or feel queasy, you usually avoid consuming food or drinks. However, it is essential to refuel yourself, as food will give your muscles energy, and fluids will hydrate your body. When you do not nourish your body enough, your recovery may be slower.
- Take time off work: You should not return to your workplace immediately after surgery. Even if you are working from home, if you know you have surgery coming up, plan your leaves to allow you time to recover post-surgery.
- Look after your wounds: If you have wounds post-surgery, you must clean and bandage them regularly or keep them dry, as advised by your doctor. Check with the surgeons near you if you have any queries about how to care for your wounds. If you have dissolving stitches, you do not need to get them removed. However, the other types of staples and stitches must be removed by your doctor within five to 21 days, depending on the surgery you have undergone.
Find surgeons near you in Brooklyn, New York
Your primary care physician (PCP) may refer you to a surgeon if they deem you require surgery for your condition after conducting an initial diagnosis and evaluation. You might also need to speak to surgeons near you before an operation to conduct tests and do an overall health assessment.
Finding an experienced surgeon in your area can be time-consuming and challenging. However, Zocdoc provides users with a safe and straightforward way of finding healthcare professionals within a few minutes from the comfort of their homes. To book a video appointment or in-person consultation, you only need to visit the Zocdoc website and enter your condition or symptoms, location, insurance plan, and the date you'd like to see a provider. Zocdoc allows users to make an appointment on the same day, 24 hours in advance, after 5 pm, and even on weekends.
Once you click "find," you can view a list of top-rated surgeons. Filter the given results by the time of day, gender, hospital affiliation, distance, and whether a provider treats children. If you wish only to see providers that accept your insurance, enter your insurance carrier and plan in the drop-down menu at the top of the page to automatically filter the displayed results with in-network providers.
Additionally, if you have multiple insurance plans, you can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account. However, you can only search for and schedule appointments with one insurance plan at a time. You can specify your secondary carrier and plan for the provider in the notes section during the final step of the booking process. Moreover, if your provider uses Zocdoc's intake forms, you may add secondary insurance while filling out your forms online. For further insurance-related FAQs, refer to Zocdoc's patient help center.
To help you find the best care for yourself, Zocdoc provides each healthcare professional's educational background, including their clinical experience, medical specialties, certifications, awards, licensures, and accreditations. Further, you can even choose surgeons near you by reading honest and verified patient reviews.
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Statistics for surgical procedures in New York
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nearly 90 pediatric surgeons are practicing in New York (as of May 2022). New York also has an estimated 3,340 surgeons (excluding oral, maxillofacial, and pediatric surgeons), which makes up the country's most employed surgeons.
According to a 2013 New York State Department of Health report, most ambulatory discharges from hospital-based centers are for patients between 45 and 79 years old. Hospital-based centers reported approximately 66.1% of ambulatory surgery discharges. Patients may be discharged on the same day in ambulatory surgeries, typically requiring a stay of 24 hours or less. Most discharges occurred in New York City or Long Island, and most admitted patients stayed between 2 to 9 hours. The top three surgical procedures among all groups included- Colonoscopy and biopsy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and lens and cataract procedures.
The top three procedures done for children aged 1-9 years were tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, myringotomy, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Researchers also found that females accounted for more hospital discharges (57%) than men (43%). Furthermore, colonoscopies and biopsies accounted for 36.6% of all procedures performed. Eye disorders, neoplasms, gastrointestinal disorders, spondylosis, and other back problems accounted for most primary diagnoses before surgery.
Sources
MedlinePlus
WebMD [1]
Healthline
American College of Surgeons[1]
American College of Surgeons[2]
St. George's University
New York State Department of Health
Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]
Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]
WebMD [2]
WebMD [3]
Stanford Medicine
