What Is a Surgeon? - WebMD

A surgeon is a doctor who specializes in evaluating and treating conditions that may require surgery, or physically changing the human body. MenuNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersWebMDRxSavingsCardCoronavirus(COVID-19)CBDOilKetoDietHepatitisCDiabetesWarningSignsRheumatoidArthritisMorning-AfterPillBreastCancerScreeningPsoriaticArthritisSymptomsHeartFailureMultipleMyelomaTypesofCrohn'sDiseaseAtoZGuidesReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyDanBrennan, MDonJune28,2021InthisArticleWhatDoesaSurgeonDo?EducationandTrainingReasonstoSeeaSurgeonAsurgeonisadoctorwhospecializesinevaluatingandtreatingconditionsthatmayrequiresurgery,orphysicallychangingthehumanbody.Surgeriescanbedonetodiagnoseortreatdiseaseorinjury.Intheoperatingroom,surgeonsleadateamofotherdoctorsandnursestomakesurethataproceduregoessmoothly.Surgeonsuseinstrumentstochangeormovelivetissue,including:LasersUltrasoundIonizingRadiationScalpelsProbesNeedlesWhatDoesaSurgeonDo?Therearetwomaintypesofsurgery.Opensurgeryrequiresacutintotheskinsothesurgeoncanseeintothebody.Minimallyinvasivesurgeryrequiressmallerentrypointstomakerepairsandtaketissuesamples.Itgenerallyhaslessrecoverytimethanopensurgery.Butnotallsurgerieshaveaminimally-invasiveoption.Therearedifferentsurgeonsforeachareaofyourbody,andeachusesavarietyoftechniques.Someofthemostcommonsurgeryspecialtiesare: Generallsurgeon .Ageneralsurgeonoperatesonawiderangeofconditionsthatcanaffectalmostanypartofyourbody. Colonandrectalsurgeon.Patientswithissuesinanypartoftheirintestineswillprobablyseethisspecialist.Neurosurgeon.Neurosurgeonsdealwithdisordersandillnessesrelatedtoyourbrainandnervoussystem. Obstetricianandgynocologist (OB/GYN).OB/GYNshavetwoareasofexpertise.Thefirstinvolvesworkingwithpregnantwomen,deliveringbabies,andcaringforbabiesafterthey'reborn.Thesecondistreatingconditionsrelatedtothefemalereproductivesystem. Ophthalmologist.Oneofthedutiesofthiskindofeyedoctorisdoingsurgicalprocedurestocorrecteyeandvisualproblems. Oralandmaxillofacialsurgeon .Thissurgeonoperatesonthehead,neck,face,andjaw. Orthopedicsurgeon .Orthopedicsurgeonstreatissuesofthemusculoskeletalsystem,whichincludesbones,muscles,joints,arteries,associatednerves,andoverlyingskin. Otolaryngologist.Otolaryngologistsarealsocalledear,nose,andthroat(ENT)doctorsbecausetheyspecializeinthosethreebodyparts. Pediatricsurgeon .Pediatricsurgeonsworkwithchildren,fromnewbornstoteenagers. Plasticandmaxillofacialsurgeon .Plasticsurgeonsdocosmeticsurgeriesaswellashandletherepair,replacement,andreconstructionofthebody. Thoracicsurgeon .Alsocalledcardiacorcardiothoracicsurgeons,thesedoctorsspecializeinoperatingonyourheartandotherchestorgans.Urologist.Anurologisttypicallyoperatesonyourkidneys,ureters,bladder,prostate,urethra,andtestes. Vascularsurgeon.Vascularsurgeonsoperateonyourcirculatorysystem. EducationandTrainingThepathtobecomingasurgeonislongandintense.Itinvolves:College.Thefirststepistoearnanundergraduatedegree,typicallyinpre-medoranotherscience-orientedsubject. MedicalCollegeAdmissionTest(MCAT).Thosewhohopetobesurgeonsmustpassthisexam.Manystudentstakeitduringtheirfinalyearsofcollegesotheyhaveplentyoftimetoapplyformedicalschoolbeforegraduating. Medicalschool.Thenextstepis4yearsofmedicalschool.Manymedicalschoolsofferspecifictracksofstudy.Surgicalspecialtyandresidency.Aroundgraduation,doctorsneedtodecidewhichspecialtyareatheywanttopursueandfindaresidencyprogram.Somespecialtiesmayrequireadditionalexams. Surgicalresidencieslastatleast5years,longerthanotherareasofmedicine.Afterresidency,doctorsmaybeginworkingassurgeons. ReasonstoSeeaSurgeonSurgerycanbeemergentorelective.Emergentsurgeriesaredoneforanurgentlife-threateningcondition,suchasaseriousinjury.Electivesurgeriescanbescheduledinadvanceanddon'tneedtobeperformedrightaway,althoughtheyaren’talwaysoptional.Youmayhavesurgeryto: LearnmoreaboutaconditiontogetanaccuratediagnosisGetatissuesamplefromasuspiciousareaRepairorremovediseasedtissueororgans Takeoutanobstruction MovebodypartsbacktotheircorrectpositionRedirectbloodvesselsTransplantorgans Putmechanicalorelectronicdevicesinsidethebody ChangeyourappearanceRiskyMistakesPetOwnersMakeSomeofthesemightsurpriseyou.Depressed,GuiltyFeelingsAfterEating?Symptomsofbingeeatingdisorder.PsoriasisHomeRemedies14tipstoditchtheitch.QuitSmokingGetyourpersonalizedplan.SlideshowMultipleSclerosisSymptomsSlideshow10SecretstoaSparklingSmileSlideshow7WaysYou'reWreckingYourLiverSlideshowSymptomsofADHDinChildrenSlideshowType2Diabetes:EarlyWarningSignsSlideshowWhatIsSchizophrenia?SlideshowFungalInfections:WhatYouShouldKnowSlideshow11SurprisingSuperfoodsforYourBonesFoodsThatHelpEnhanceYourBrainpowerBreastCancerSigns&SymptomsConstipated?AvoidTheseFoodsLungCancerRisks:MythsandFactsCausesofErectileDysfunctionTipsforLivingBetterWithMigraineHealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolli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