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Who is a surgeon?

A surgeon is a medical professional specializing in surgical procedures using manual and instrumental means to make physical adjustments. There are many reasons for having surgery—diagnosing or treating diseases, injuries, and deformities and improving or adjusting body functions or appearance. Surgeons most commonly work in hospitals or private clinics with a team of doctors and nurses. 

Surgeons provide proper and thorough surgical care for a patient. This care includes diagnosing, performing preoperative, operative, and postoperative patient management, and surgical treatments. They can operate on the alimentary tract, abdomen – its contents (including pelvis), skin, breast, soft tissue, and endocrine system, among others. 

General surgeons undergo extensive training for about 10-13 years, while those specializing further in a particular field may study for another two years. They must complete four years of an undergraduate degree and four years of medical school. After that, those who want to become general surgeons opt for a 5-year surgical residency. 

After completing their residency program, they can start practicing as surgeons or choose to specialize in a surgical specialty. 

Physicians vs. surgeons: Key differences explained

Though physicians and surgeons both play essential roles in healthcare, their focus, training, and patient interactions differ in ways that shape their careers and patient care approaches.

Here’s a closer look at what sets them apart:

• Foundation of training: Physicians and surgeons complete rigorous medical schooling, but their paths diverge significantly after that. Physicians focus on diagnosing and managing illnesses with a non-invasive approach, refining their skills in treatment through medication and lifestyle changes. Surgeons, however, dedicate years to mastering operative techniques and gaining hands-on training to perform surgical procedures.
• Scope of practice: Physicians treat a broad range of conditions across all age groups, while surgeons take a more specialized path, focusing on physically correcting specific medical conditions through surgical procedures.
• Approach to diagnosis: Physicians are trained to assess patients holistically, taking into account symptoms, medical history, and all sorts of test results to arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan. Surgeons also excel in diagnosis but often focus on assessing whether surgery is necessary and safe for a particular condition.
• Treatment methods: Surgeons perform invasive procedures to address or repair physical issues. At the same time, physicians generally rely on non-invasive interventions, such as prescribing medications, recommending lifestyle changes, or coordinating other therapies.
• Specializations: Both fields offer avenues for deeper specialization. Physicians might further train to become cardiology, neurology, or pediatrics experts. Surgeons also specialize, with options ranging from orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery to neurosurgery, each requiring additional years of highly specialized training.
• Patient relationships: Physicians often work with patients over extended periods, building long-term relationships, particularly when managing chronic conditions. Surgeons may establish meaningful connections, but their involvement is typically more episodic, focused on the surgical process and recovery.
• Work environment: Physicians in diverse settings, from hospitals to private practices, spend much time in clinics managing ongoing patient care. Surgeons, however, are most often based in operating rooms, where they spend a significant portion of their day performing surgeries.
• Emergency response: Surgeons are frequently on call for urgent surgical cases, which demand quick, decisive action under pressure. Physicians, particularly in emergency medicine, are also essential in urgent care. However, their role often involves a broader, non-surgical scope.
• Use of technology: Surgical fields are often at the forefront of technological advancements, with surgeons frequently using robotics, minimally invasive techniques, and specialized equipment to enhance precision. Meanwhile, physicians incorporate new diagnostic tools and patient management technologies to improve outcomes and efficiency.
• Impact on patient health: Both physicians and surgeons are vital to patient care, each playing a unique role. Physicians manage patients’ overall well-being and chronic conditions. At the same time, surgeons intervene directly to address and correct specific, sometimes life-threatening situations.

What types of surgeries do surgeons perform? 

Surgeons mainly perform two types of surgeries — invasive and minimally invasive. Invasive procedures, often known as open surgeries, involve cutting through the skin and tissues to provide the surgeons with a clear view of the interior organs and structures. These operations come with lengthy recovery times and the potential for bodily scarring.

In minimally invasive surgeries, surgeons make small incisions in the body and use various techniques and instruments to prevent the body from significant damage. Thus, it involves less pain, fast recovery, and lesser complications. 

Although most surgeries classify into these two categories, some cosmetic procedures have brought about new types of non-invasive surgery — botox, derma fillers, laser skin resurfacing, and chemical peels requiring no skin incisions.

What are the different types of surgeons? 

The most common type is a general surgeon, who can treat various problems affecting different body parts. They can operate on the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and the thyroid gland. However, other surgical specialists focus on specific areas of the body and use advanced techniques and procedures for treatment. Some common ones include:

1. A cardiothoracic or a thoracic surgeon performs surgical procedures on the heart, lungs, and other organs inside the thoracic cavity.
2. A neurosurgeon deals with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders, diseases, or infections of the peripheral and central nervous system — the brain, spine, and nerves. 
3. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons diagnose and operate on patients with disorders affecting the mouth, jaws, face, and neck.
4.  An otolaryngologist is involved in the medical and surgical management of disorders affecting the ear, nose, and throat. They are, therefore, frequently referred to as ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctors for this reason.
5. A pediatric surgeon operates on children right from birth through their adolescence. 
6. Plastic surgeons repair injuries and defects in the function or appearance of body parts such as the skin, musculoskeletal system, hand, extremities, breast, and external genitalia. They reconstruct and restore body areas affected by illnesses and enhance physical appearance for cosmetic purposes. 
7. Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat musculoskeletal system problems, including muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, joints, and cartilage.
8. Urologists focus on the diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive tract, including kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, urethra, and testes. 
9. Vascular surgeons can surgically treat diseases of the vascular system — arteries and veins. 
10. A colon and rectal surgeon treats patients with problems in their small and large intestines (cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal). 
11. Trauma or critical care and acute care surgeons deal with patients needing emergency surgeries due to a critical injury or illness. 
12. Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB-GYNs) have medical and surgical training in treating gynecological conditions in women. They care for pregnant women throughout their prenatal and postnatal phases and help them deliver babies.
13. An ophthalmologist performs surgeries on the eye to correct disorders and prevent further damage. 
14. Surgical oncologists operate on cancerous tumors to relieve symptoms or control the spread of cancer.

When should you consult a surgeon?

Your physician may direct you to a surgeon near you when your medical condition or pain is not resolving through traditional methods and medications. It may worsen over time and affect your quality of life; hence, you may require surgery to avoid further damage. 

It's important to note that surgeries may either be emergent or elective. Emergency procedures are performed in cases where a patient's health is in danger. Contrarily, elective surgeries are pre-planned and may not require immediate action, though they are not always optional.

Surgeries sometimes help get an accurate diagnosis of a condition. A surgeon helps in emergencies involving severe injuries or medical conditions such as shock, an amputated limb, skin burns, or internal bleeding. You may also have surgeries to transplant tissues or organs, implant mechanical or electronic devices, and reposition internal structures to their normal position. 

Apart from the medical reasons why surgery is inevitable, people may opt for cosmetic surgeries that are mainly voluntary.

How to prepare for your surgery?

During an initial appointment, the surgeon will ask about your health conditions and medications. Hence, you must write down all the necessary information. About 2-6 weeks before your surgery, the surgeon's office will schedule a pre-admission appointment with the surgeon's team of nurses and an anesthesiologist. They will walk you through the surgical process and discuss post-surgery care, so you can mentally prepare yourself. 

Your hospital stays will be decided by your surgeon's office. It could include one of the following admission types:

1. Day surgery - Discharge happens on the same day as surgery.

2. Overnight surgery - Discharge occurs the next day after the surgery by 7:00 am.

3. Same-day admission - Discharge happens more than 24 hours after the surgery.

You must stay active and have a balanced diet to prepare for the surgery. Call the family doctor or surgeon if you have any medical concerns, and communicate openly and honestly with them.

Make sure to have someone from your family or friends with you throughout and post the surgery, as you will require help for at least the first few days. 

Tips to recover after surgery

Ample rest is essential for recovery after undergoing surgery. You must ask your surgeon what will be your limitations before and after surgery and approximately how long it will take you to heal. Here are a few tips you can refer to for recovery after surgery:

1) Plan in advance

If you have movement restrictions after surgery, you may have to make a few changes around the house before, such as making space to live on a lower floor in your home to avoid the stairs. You should also check if you need to rent a hospital bed.

You should check if you require specific equipment or gear to recover post-surgery. If you need medical supplies, oxygen tanks, crutches, etc., you should make provisions for them before your surgery.

2) Take care of your nutritional requirements

If you must follow a specific diet after your surgery, and ensure you are well-supplied with the correct nutrition when you go home. You can also meal prep before your surgery and stock your pantry.

3) Take your prescribed medicines on time

Ensure you follow your prescriptions religiously and monitor your health. If you feel the medication is too strong, contact your surgeon or physician for a check-up.

4) Take a leave from work

Take your time getting back to work after your surgery. You need to rest and be healthy to return to your daily tasks. Plan your leave and consult with a surgeon near you about when you can return to work.

5) Move around after given clearance

Do it as soon as your doctor tells you that you can move around after they feel you are well-rested. Lying in bed continuously may cause other health issues such as pulmonary embolisms, blood clots, weakening of muscles, pressure ulcers, etc. If you are tired and not up for it, push yourself to move around a little. Physical activity is also essential to keep your gut healthy after surgery.

6) Care for your surgical wounds

Surgical wounds post-surgery are common. It is essential to wash them and change the bandage daily to prevent them from catching an infection. Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly before and after cleaning your wound. Limit your activities till your wound has healed entirely. Speak to your surgeon to understand how you can care for your wound better.

How to find an experienced surgeon near you in Houston, TX?

Suppose your pain or disease has started interfering with your independence, mobility, capacity to work and engage in social activities, or mental health. In that case, a surgeon near you may be able to help. It is usual to experience anxiety and fear with the prospect of surgery, but a good surgeon near you can help you feel at ease. At Zocdoc, you will find the best surgeons near you who can help you find relief and revive your quality of life. 

You can mention the specialty and location in the search box—for instance, a general surgeon in Houston, TX. You can also specify the type of surgeon, such as a thoracic, trauma, or orthopedic. You can add your symptoms and insurance details apart from the specialist and location. You will immediately receive an extensive list of surgeons near you per your requirements. 

If you need clarification on your healthcare plan, use the insurance finder available on the website. In addition, adding an image of your medical insurance card can help simplify finding in-network providers. However, if you still want to manually pick your plan from the provided list on the website, that option is open for you as well. For any insurance-related queries, visit Zocdoc’s patient help center.

Some of the experts offer video consultations along with in-person visits. Furthermore, Zocdoc filters can help narrow down your search results—you can specify the expert's gender, language, and hospital affiliations. 

Once your results are per your preferences, you can view individual doctor profiles to understand more about the experts. You will find relevant details about the surgeon, educational background, qualifications, awards, accreditations, expertise, and experience. You can also read verified patient reviews for a more personal account of their experience.

When you have found a surgeon near you who meets your needs, you may schedule an appointment depending on the doctor's schedule. 

Booking with Zocdoc is easy, secure, and 100% free.

Statistics on surgical procedures in Texas and America 

Breast biopsy, cesarean section, hysterectomy, low back pain surgery, and mastectomy are some of the most prevalent surgical procedures in the United States. 

Cesarean section, or C-section, is a surgical technique for delivering a baby through an incision on the mother's abdomen. A 2020 study on the cesarean delivery rate by state published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Texas had a cesarean delivery rate of almost 34.7% of all live births. Texas was ranked sixth with this rate, which is relatively high compared to other states.

Hysterectomy is the process of surgically removing the uterus. Based on the Texas Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data, 2010, approximately 1,393,340 females aged 18 and older had abdominal or vaginal hysterectomies, of which around 33,868 were non-maternal females. This data excludes hysterectomies with diagnoses of genital cancer, pelvic or lower abdominal trauma, and inpatient discharges related to pregnancy and childbirth. That means about 2.43% of adult females in Texas underwent the hysterectomy procedure. 

According to the recent 2020 report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, plastic surgery continues to rise. According to that, the top 5 cosmetic surgical procedures include nose reshaping (around 352,555), eyelid surgery (about 325,112), facelift (around 234,374), liposuction (nearly 211,067), and breast augmentation (about 193,073). On the other hand, Botox (around 4.4 M), soft tissue filler (around 3.4 M), chemical peel (around 931,473), laser skin resurfacing (around 997,245), and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment (around 827,409) were the top 5 cosmetic minimally invasive procedures. Females underwent nearly 92% of all cosmetic procedures, while males accounted for about 8%. 

Sources 

Canadian Association of General Surgeons[1]

Canadian Association of General Surgeons[2]

WebMD

Verywell Health 

Mayo Clinic 

St. George's University 

Northeastern Plastic Surgery 

Carrum Health

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

American Society of Plastic Surgeons 

Texas Department of State Health Services 

WebMD[1]

WebMD[2]

WebMD[3]

Times Pro

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.