What is surgery, and who are surgeons?
Surgery entails a doctor making incisions in the human body or physically altering it to treat various illnesses, injuries, and other health issues. It is of two types - open and minimally invasive. During open surgery, doctors assess the insides of your body by making cuts into the skin. Contrarily, minimally invasive surgery involves minor entry points. Additionally, its recovery time is less compared to open surgery.
Meanwhile, surgeons are doctors specializing in assessing and treating conditions that might need operations. They move or change live tissue using a variety of instruments, including scalpels, needles, and probes. Surgeons lead a team of doctors and nurses in the operating room to ensure the smooth completion of surgical procedures.
Education and training of surgeons
Surgeons receive extensive training, starting with an undergraduate degree in pre-med or a science-oriented subject. Next, they clear the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and join a medical school, where they spend four years before graduating with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine/DO or a Doctor of Medicine/MD degree.
During the first two years of medical school, they complete classroom lessons in anatomy, microbiology, physiology, etc.; during the rest of the program, they receive hands-on training about different fields of medicine by participating in clinical rotations in multiple facilities.
After graduating, surgeons join a residency program. While some surgical residencies take 8-9 years to complete, most programs are 5 years long. Upon completing their residency, they earn the license to practice in the state they intend to do so. To obtain this, they clear a national exam. In some states, passing a state-level exam is mandatory as well.
They can then practice as a general surgeon or complete a fellowship to specialize in a specific surgical domain. Finally, many surgeons earn certification from the American Board of Surgery (ABS). While it is not compulsory, getting ABS' acknowledgment helps create better employment opportunities.
What to expect from a surgery?
Surgery has three stages of care - preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative. During the preoperative stage, your doctor will check if you are ready for the procedure. While this stage is usually brief, it can extend if you need to lose weight or undergo medical tests before surgery.
The intraoperative stage refers to the surgery itself. Based on the nature and severity of your condition, your surgeon can perform one or more of the following procedures:
- Ablation: Targeted destruction of tumors or tissues using electricity, chemicals, etc.
- Angioplasty: Opening up a narrowed blood vessel
- Arthrodesis: Surgically connecting bones so they can grow together
- Debridement: Removing dead tissue
- Grafts: Placing tissue from one part of your body to another
- Ligation: Tying off ducts, tubes, or blood vessels
- Prostheses: Using artificial devices to replace body parts like the knees and breasts
- Reduction: Correcting the position of a body part, like bone or cartilage, by realigning it
- Resection: Partially removing an organ
- Transplantation: Transferring donated tissue or organs from a human
During the postoperative period, your surgeon will manage any surgery complications. They would also review and discuss any favorable or otherwise findings with you. Finally, they will ensure long-term follow-up for ongoing post-surgical concerns.
What are some common surgical specialties?
A general surgeon can perform a broad spectrum of surgeries affecting most body parts. However, since surgery is a vast medical field, surgeons often specialize in a specific condition or technique by embarking on additional training. Common surgical specialties include:
- Cardiothoracic surgery: Concerns treating the heart and organs located in the chest
- Colorectal surgery: Involves medical conditions affecting any part of the intestines
- Neurosurgery: Focuses on illnesses of the brain and nervous system
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Concerns the head, face, neck, and jaws
- Orthopedic surgery: Helps treat issues of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, muscles, associated nerves, arteries, and overlying skin)
- Pediatric surgery: Focuses on the treatment of newborns, children, and teenagers
- Plastic surgery: Involves cosmetic procedures and procedures that help repair and reconstruct the body
- Vascular surgery: Concerns treating medical conditions affecting the circulatory system
How to prepare for a surgery?
All surgical procedures, even outpatient procedures, require certain preparation. If you have surgery planned, your surgeon will discuss in advance how you should prepare yourself based on your specific diagnosis and the seriousness of your condition. Depending on your operation, you may be admitted before or will have to stay in the hospital after your surgery to recover. If you wish to know about surgery alternatives, you may also get a second opinion from another surgeon near you.
While you will be given specific guidelines by your healthcare providers, here are some common do's and dont's that you can follow before undergoing your operation:
- Avoid smoking or consuming alcohol before surgery. It will help reduce the risk of respiratory and anesthesia complications after your operation. If you have trouble quitting, you can speak to your primary care provider about nicotine replacements and cessation programs.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on what to eat and drink before your surgery. Some patients may need to fast a few hours before surgery.
- If you are taking medications or supplements, do not forget to mention them to your doctor and consume only those dosages instructed by your surgeon or anesthesiologist. In some cases, medications need to be stopped in order to make the surgery safer. For example, blood thinners and aspirin can cause too much bleeding. Ask your doctor which supplements can be taken before your procedure. Some may potentially raise the chance of heart problems or bleeding. Others can interfere with your medication or affect the longevity of anesthesia you get on the day of. It may lead to unexpected side effects. Additionally, if you are taking medication for another chronic health problem, remember to refill your prescription.
- If you have asthma, bring your inhaler and take it if your surgeon has instructed you to before your surgery.
- You may have a preoperative physical exam, where your surgical team determines whether you are fit to undergo anesthesia and surgery. It will help your team identify any issues or complications that may happen and that they have to prepare for. This is why you should know your entire medical history and inform your surgical and anesthesia team about any pre-existing conditions. You may also be asked to complete some tests like blood tests, urinary tests, EKG, and X-rays.
- Ask your doctor about visitor guidelines and the time you should arrive for surgery. Before your procedure, a nurse or your surgeon will contact you to give you information about how many people can visit you after your procedure.
- Make lifestyle changes. If your surgery has been planned well in advance, try to stay as active as possible, get adequate sleep, and incorporate healthy foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat into your diet. People with healthy habits can handle surgery and recover better with fewer complications and less pain. Your surgeon may ask you to manage your weight.
- Remove or avoid wearing nail polish, gels, or wraps before your procedure. This will help your surgical team monitor your oxygen levels accurately. Also, avoid creams, lotions, and deodorants. You may be given a special kind of soap to bathe with. You should follow any preoperative instructions given regarding shaving body hair at the surgery site.
- You may also be asked to remove your contact lenses and all your non-permanent dental work, such as dentures, before your operation. If you have prosthetics, you should inform your medical team about it.
- Remember to leave your valuables and jewelry (including body piercings) at home or hand them over to your family member before your procedure.
- Bring loose-fitting and comfortable clothing and shoes or slippers for an easy recovery.
- Ask your doctor about all the costs of surgery so that no bills come to you as a surprise after your procedure. It's also necessary to contact your health insurance company to learn which services and products are covered by your policy and what your out-of-pocket costs will be.
How to deal with surgical anxiety?
Surgical anxiety is normal. It can stem from various reasons, such as the fear of the unknown, unpleasant surgeries in the past, and concerns about body alteration. Some procedures, like prostate surgery, can also affect your self-esteem, further contributing to anxiety.
Listed below are some tips to manage surgical anxiety:
- Talk to your surgeon: Be honest with your doctor if they suggest surgery. Tell them about your fears and if you have had bad experiences. Once they know the reason for your anxiety, they can offer reassurance and ensure the process is comfortable. They can also prescribe anti-anxiety medications and/or antidepressants to calm your mind during the procedure.
- Ensure you have all the information: Ask your surgeon questions or clarifications about your procedure, and also read up about your condition, symptoms, and treatment options. A thorough understanding of why the procedure is necessary and how it can help can relieve you.
- Explore ways to alleviate your anxiety: Alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, meditation, and herbal supplements, can help manage your stress. Before resorting to such methods, check with your doctor to see if the treatment suits you and will not hamper the surgery.
Find the best surgeons near you in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Surgery, a crucial part of the treatment plan for various diseases and injuries, can be life-saving, so seeing a surgeon best suited to your concerns is essential. While finding the right general surgeon or specialist can be challenging, Zocdoc makes the process easy for you!
First, visit the Zocdoc website and create an account. Next, enter your location, the doctor's specialty you want to see, and your preferred appointment date and time. The website will present a list of all healthcare providers matching your criteria. Zocdoc also allows you to filter the search results according to the doctor's gender, the languages they speak, and whether or not they treat children.
On Zocdoc, every doctor has a unique profile containing details about their education, expertise, certifications, etc. These profiles also include ratings and reviews from past patients, equipping you with all the information you need to make a well-informed choice.
Zocdoc helps you search for in-network surgeons in your area. Simply select your insurance carrier and plan from the drop-down menu on the Zocdoc website. If you happen to have multiple insurance plans (for medical, dental, or vision), you can add all of them to your Zocdoc account. Mention your secondary carrier and plan for your selected provider in your notes in the last step of the booking process. In case your provider uses Zocdoc's intake forms, you can add secondary insurance while filling out forms online. For more insurance-related information, you can access Zocdoc's patient health center. Note that you can book an appointment with only one insurance plan at a time.
You can book both in-person and online sessions with a surgeon near you via Zocdoc. While browsing the list of surgeons in Philadelphia, look for a purple video icon. The presence of the icon beside the name of a doctor indicates they offer virtual consultations.
All bookings made on Zocdoc are 100% free, fast, and safe.
Plastic surgery-related statistics for the US
According to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, surgeons performed around 1,498,361 cosmetic surgeries in 2022, reflecting around a 19% increase from the number of cosmetic surgeries in 2019 (≈1,255,228). The most common surgeries focused on the body - liposuction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and arm and lower body. Around 576,485 such surgeries took place in 2022, almost a 25% rise from 2019. Further, compared to 2019, the number of cosmetic surgeries for the face (≈346,384) increased by nearly 18%, and the number of facelift procedures increased by approximately 8%.
Sources
WebMD[1]
Verywell Health[1]
Verywell Health[2]
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
MSD Manuals
Mayo Clinic Health System
Cleveland Clinic
American Society of Anesthesiologists
Johns Hopkins Medicine[1]
Johns Hopkins Medicine[2]
Stanford Health Care
WebMD[2]
