All surgeries have both benefits and risks. Make the best choice for you by learning about each, tips for preparation, and what to expect in recovery.
Major or minor, all surgeries have both benefits and risks. Make the best choice for you by learning about each, tips for preparation, and what to expect in recovery.
surgeons working on a patient
Purpose of Vascular Surgery
Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI
doctor holding a model of the prostate gland
The Purpose of Prostate Surgery
By Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RN
doctor and patient
Ablation Surgery: Recovery
Medically reviewed by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD
prepping for heart bypass surgery
Heart Bypass Surgery: Overview
By Sherry Christiansen
preparing for colonoscopy
Colonoscopy: Long-Term Care
Medically reviewed by Priyanka Chugh, MD
Balloon angioplasty procedure
Balloon Angioplasty: Preparation, Recovery, Long-Term Care
By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD
Ketamine In Anesthesia Induction
Ketamine: Effects, Medical Uses, Risks
Medically reviewed by Jennifer Schwartz, MD
Stylish transgender man in modern living room
What Is Transgender Top Surgery?
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Woman with no shirt on looking down at herself
Body Asymmetry: Why Is One Hand or Breast Bigger?
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Conjoined twins are rare
Overview of Conjoined Twin Separation Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Human blood for transfusion in Boston
Universal Recipient: Blood Types and Reactions
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Surgeon tying his mask
Risks and Benefits of Medical Tourism
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Home healthcare nurse tending to picc line of recovering patient
PICC Line: Uses, Process, Risks, Safety, Recovery
Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO
Man going under anesthesia
General Anesthesia Side Effects and Complications
Medically reviewed by Jenny A. Dhingra, MD
Doctor examining pregnant patient's belly
How Anterior Is Used to Describe Anatomy
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Organ Weight
How Much Do Your Organs Weigh?
Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO
Multi-ethnic doctors operating girl at hospital
What Is the Risk of Death From Surgery?
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Female doctor examining newborn baby in incubator
Congenital Diaphragmatic (Bochdalek) Hernia
Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD
Anesthesia Provider
Types of Local Anesthesia For Surgery Procedures
Medically reviewed by Jenny A. Dhingra, MD
Making a snowball, chamonix, france
Overview of Necrosis In the Human Body
Medically reviewed by Jason DelCollo, DO
surgeons operating using laparoscopic instruments
Laparoscopy: Preparation, Recovery, Long-Term Care
Medically reviewed by Jennifer Schwartz, MD
A doctor checking a patients spleen
The Function of the Spleen
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Operating room staff performing hospital surgery
Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Surgery Specialty
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Magnetic Resonance Enterography: Purpose, Procedure, Results
Medically reviewed by Emmy Ludwig, MD
Robot-assisted hysterectomy
The Meaning of Prolapse in the Human Body
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Surgeons performing surgery in operating room
The Surgical Specialty of Trauma
Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO
Woman checking blood sugar
The Difference Between Acute and Chronic Illnesses
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Surgeons performing surgery in operating room.
Escharotomy: Preparation, Recovery, Long-Term Care
Medically reviewed by Jennifer Schwartz, MD
A doctor adjusting light in operating room
Reasons for a Resection Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
kidneys
How the Word Bilateral Is Used in Medicine
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Operating nurse soothing patient on table in operating room
What to Know About Monitored Anesthesia Care
Medically reviewed by Jenny A. Dhingra, MD
Team of nurses and surgeons in surgery
What Is the General Surgery Specialty?
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Close up of doctor wearing surgical gloves, holding oxygen mask over patient in operating theater
Paralytic Drugs Are Medications Given During Anesthesia
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Surgeons performing cardiothoracic surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery: Prep, Recovery, Long-Term Care
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Handing doctor surgical tool in operating room.
The Surgical Specialty of Vascular Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Surgeons performing surgery in operating room
Open Surgery Overview and Pros and Cons
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
nurse writing on clipboard and man in hospital bed in the background
Bacteremia Causes and Diagnosis
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Team of doctors performing surgery in operating theater
Types of Prophylaxis in Medicine
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
patient resting after surgery with doctor writing on a chart
Learn About the Perioperative Phases of Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
closeup of a young caucasian doctor man sitting at his office desk observing a chest radiograph in a tablet computer
What Does Pulmonary Mean in Medicine?
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Nurse putting oxygen mask to patient during surgery
Preoperative Explained - Preoperative Phase of Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Surgeons performing surgery in operating room
What Conditions Can an Ablation Treat?
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
patient in hospital bed speaking with two surgeons
The Basics of Inpatient Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Surgeons operating on patient
How in Situ Is Used During Surgery and Cancer Treatment
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Human ligaments, illustration
The Multiple Meanings of the Term Cervical
Medically reviewed by Rony Kampalath, MD
Surgeon Beginning Procedure With Scalpel In Hand, Close-up
What It Means to Excise Something During Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Gastric bypass, illustration
The Meaning of Surgical Anastomosis
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Surgeons performing gastric bypass surgery
Bariatric Surgery: Preparation, Recovery, Long-Term Care
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
What Is Intubation and Why Is It Done?
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Doctor Examining Patient's Throat
Stricture Types in the Human Body
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
liver biopsy supporting with Ultrasound
Why a Biopsy Is Performed
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
transparent urine plastic bag and pee catheter hang under patient bed in hospital
When and Why a Urinary Catheter is Used
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Woman getting ready for an MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Uses, Procedure, Results
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Concentrating surgeons performing operation in operating room
Ambulatory Surgery: How Same Day Surgery Is Different
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
'Boy lying in hospital bed, coloring'
Free Surgery Coloring Book Pages
Fact checked by Sheeren Jegtvig
Mature surgeon using scalpel during surgery
Surgical Incision Types and Care Information
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
surgical team in operating room
What's Involved in a Surgical Scrub Technician Job
Fact checked by James Lacy
Epidural anesthesia
How Is Regional Anesthesia Used During Surgery?
Medically reviewed by Jenny A. Dhingra, MD
Doctor and nurse talking with patient in hospital bed
Overview of the Foley Catheter and Surgery
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD
Orthopedic surgeon operating on a foot
How to Evaluate a Surgeon's Experience With a Procedure
Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD