Surgical Procedures A-Z

What happens during a tonsillectomy surgery? An explanation of the tonsillectomy procedure, the type of anesthesia used and the length of the surgery.

Share your before and after weight loss surgery story, or find out what others have to say about their experience. Share photos, stories and more. Learn what life is like after weight loss surgery, or share your best advice for living well after surgery.

Anesthesia is provided to treat or prevent pain. Learn about the risks of anesthesia, the professionals who provide anesthesia --including anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists -- the reasons why anesthesia is given, and the risks of anesthesia.

Comparing different types of weight loss surgery, the procedures and the expected outcomes.

Explaining surgery for breast cancer from diagnostic procedures to the differences between lumpectomy and mastectomy. Also reconstruction after surgery, men and breast cancer, exercise and sex after breast surgery and life after mastectomy.

Learn what to expect when you need to have your appendix removed.

Standard breast cancer surgery options are based upon the stage of the disease. Learn more about what surgical treatments are best for different stages of breast cancer.

What is a lumpectomy, why is it performed and when is a lumpectomy an option instead of a mastectomy.

Considering breast surgery? Learn about the types of breast surgeries that are available, including videos of breast surgery and more.

Chest tubes are used for multiple reasons. Find out what chest tubes do, how they are inserted and how chest tubes are removed.

What is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia? How is a diaphragmatic hernia diagnosed, when is it an emergency and how is surgery performed. Also known as a bochdalek hernia, this is a life-threatening condition. Often misspelled as diaphram or diaphramatic.

Are you considering surgery for your coronary artery disease? Learn about this surgery from diagnosis to recovery.

Wondering about the difference between a craniotomy and a craniectomy? Learn more about these surgeries, including when a craniectomy is better than a craniotomy.

What is an epigastric hernia, what causes an epigastric hernia and how is it treated.

Do you need heart surgery? Are you wondering if heart surgery is the right decision for you? Learn about heart surgery, from preparing for a heart procedure to what happens during surgery and recovering after heart surgery. Find out what you need to know about heart surgery.

Find out about the different types of hernias, how hernias are diagnosed, what type of surgery is done to fix the problem and what you can expect during your recovery from surgery.

Find out what is a hiatal hernia? How is a hiatal hernia diagnosed? What happens during hiatal hernia surgery?

Understand what an inguinal hernia is, how it is diagnosed and treated. Find out what happens during inguinal hernia surgery and how an inguinal hernia and femoral hernia differ.

If you are having trouble with your gallbladder, your physician may recommend surgery. Learn about having your gallbladder removed with the laparoscopic method.

Male breast cancer is a rare but life threatening illness. Learn how male breast cancer surgery, including mastectomy and lumpectomy differs from treatment for women. Learn about reconstruction, clinical trials and support groups for men with breast cancer.

What is a mastectomy, why is it performed and what is the difference between the different types of mastectomy surgeries.

Considering a MAZE procedure? If you have atrial fibrillation and need a MAZE procedure learn more about what you can expect and how the surgery is performed.

Find out everything you need to know about a myringotomy, or ear surgery to insert eustachian ear tubes. Find out the reasons for the surgery, the risks and rewards and what to expect when recovering from the procedure.

Oophorectomy, or surgery to remove the ovaries, has significant risks and complications, including menopause. Learn about the risks of an oophorectomy before you decide to have one.

The types of organ donation explained in detail including living related organ donation, altruistic organ donation, donation after cardiac death and organ donation after brain death. Learn more about what organ donation means.

All types of organ transplants from the diagnosis of organ failure and the waitlist for an organ transplant to the individual transplantation surgeries. Find out how to get an organ transplant and how to pay for an organ transplant surgery. Organ rejection, organ donation and additional issues in human organ transplantation.

Cardiopulmonary bypass is commonly used for heart surgery and to treat heart failure patients. Find out when and why cardiopulmonary bypass is used.

Do you need a pacemaker? Find out what a pacemaker is, what you need to do before surgery, the risks of pacemaker surgery, how the procedure is performed and what you can expect from life after pacemaker surgery.

If you or a loved one is experiencing prostate problems and needs surgery -- or just needs to know more about prostate surgery -- you can find easy-to-understand information about a variety of surgical and non-surgical prostate treatments here.

Learn more about spleen surgery, known as a splenectomy, why the spleen is removed, how it is done and what you need to know about recovering from spleen surgery.

Wondering about your surgery? Learn more from a surgery video. See a surgery video about the procedure you are planning, and find out what you need to know.

The ten most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States

Learn about thyroid surgery from diagnosis and testing to what happens during and after thyroid surgery. Find out everything you need to know about thyroid surgeries.

Learn about tonsils, tonsillitis and when surgery is necessary. Find out what happens before, during and after tonsillectomy surgery.

Find out what an umbilical hernia is, how it is diagnosed and treated. Find out what happens during an umbilical hernia repair surgery and recovery.

Roux-en-Y is a type of weight loss surgery that changes the size of the stomach and the amount of food the small intestine can absorb. Roux-en-Y is the most widely performed weight loss surgery and has one of the best long-term outcomes.

Biliopancreatic Diversion (BDP) is a type of weight loss surgery that decreases stomach size and the body's ability to absorb nutrients. It is one of the most successful surgeries long term.

Before you have surgery, make sure you understand the anesthesia you will be given and the risks involved. Different types of anesthesia have different risks, understanding your personal level of risk is essential when planning surgery.

The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a weight loss surgery typically performed on patients who cannot qualify for more standard weight loss surgeries due to weight or intestinal issues.

The vasectomy procedure is a common surgery to prevent pregnancy. Find out how a vasectomy is done and what to expect before and after surgery.

Vertical banded gastroplasty is a type of weight loss surgery that works by reducing the size of the stomach and placing a band to decrease the speed at which food exits the stomach.

Find out what robotic surgery is and why it is used. Learn where you can find a hospital offering robotic surgery and why robotic surgery may be better than standard surgery techniques.

Double bypass heart surgery explained. Find out what double bypass surgery is and why it is performed.

Laparotomy surgery is quite common, find out why a laparotomy is performed, what happens during a laparotomy surgery and a typical recovery from a laparotomy procedure.

Find out what a femoral hernia is, how it is treated, how the surgery is performed and even how to prevent a femoral hernia. Also, the difference between a femoral and an inguinal hernia.

What is a hysterectomy and why do you need one? Is a hysterectomy optional or is it necessary?

Triple bypass heart surgery is a very common procedure. Find out more about triple bypass surgery and why it is performed.

Adjustable gastric banding (lap-band)explained in detail, the procedure, typical outcomes and risks.

What is an incisional hernia, what causes it and how is it treated. How is incisional hernia surgery performed and what can you expect during recovery from hernia surgery.

Find out what arthroscopic surgery is, how it is done and why it is so much safer than the traditional open surgery.

Information on breast reconstruction including the different breast reconstruction procedures, the reasons for each surgery, breast reconstruction with and without an implant and resuming normal sexual activity after breast reconstruction surgery.

What is bypass surgery and why do you need it? Find out about the different types of bypass surgery and what you can expect from each operation.

Find out why a decompressive craniotomy is done, what a decompressive craniotomy is, and when it is done to treat a brain injury.

Quadruple bypass heart surgery explained in detail. Find out what a quadruple bypass surgery is and why it is performed.

Surgery is not always something you can prepare for. Injuries and illness can happen when you least expect it. Find out what to expect when you need emergency surgery.

Hysterectomy surgery is a major health decision. Find out what to expect before a hysterectomy, after a hysterectomy the different types of hysterectomies. Learn what questions you should ask before a hysterectomy, what to do about bleeding after a hysterectomy and much more.

Anesthesia is given by a wide range of medical personnel, including anesthesiologists, CRNAs, anesthesia assistants and doctors of dentistry.

Share your experience waiting for an organ transplant, tell your organ donation story, or tell others your story about life after receiving an organ transplant. Tell your organ donation or organ transplant story!

LASIK or Lasix? What's the difference between Lasix and LASIK? Find out more here.

Learn more about the risks of LASIK surgery. What are the risks of LASIK surgery that you need to consider before having LASIK?

What is an eye transplant? Is eye transplant surgery possible or is it science fiction? Learn about eye transplant surgery now.

What is NOTES natural orifice surgery? Find out what NOTES surgery is, what NOTES stands for, how a NOTES natural orifice procedure is done and what you need to know before you have NOTES surgery. You may also want to know why NOTES procedures are considered scarless surgeries, if you are worried about scarring.

Considering hemorrhoid surgery? Find out what you need to know before deciding to have surgery as a treatment for hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, can be very uncomfortable and even painful. Learn more about hemorrhoid surgery, home treatments and ways to prevent hemorrhoids from forming.

What is a burr hole? Why does brain surgery typically start with burr holes? What happens during the burr hole procedure? Learn more about burr holes and why they are used here.

Do you have questions about brain death? Find out what brain death is, how brain death is pronounced and how brain death testing is performed.

Do you have questions about gender reassignment surgery, commonly known as a sex change surgery? Find out more about surgery to change genders, including the procedures involved, the costs and more.

What is Tommy John Surgery? Why does the ulnar collateral ligament need to be repaired? Find out what you need to know about Tommy John, or ulnar collateral ligament repair and reconstruction surgery.