Tips for Choosing the Right Surgeon

One of the most difficult decisions you can make is choosing a surgeon. There are several factors you should take into consideration when choosing a surgeon. Extensive experience with the procedure that you are going to have is a must. Good training at a university institution is also essential. You should do research on your surgeon to find out where your surgeon did their residency training and medical school. Based on the type of procedure that you are going to have and the type of surgeon that you are looking for, there are several websites that can help you with your choice.

Take general surgery for an example. General surgeons perform procedures such as breast biopsies, gallbladder removal, appendectomies, hernia repairs, and emergency surgery on the abdomen. These surgeons have undergraduate training, four years of medical school, and five years of general surgery residency. The certification process for general surgeons includes both written and oral board examinations. After passage of both written and oral portions of the certification exam, a general surgeon becomes a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery. These surgeons are considered board-certified. After becoming board-certified, the surgeon will become a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). This process involves review of case lists for that surgeon to ensure that they have adequate experience in general surgical procedures.

Training in laparoscopic surgery is a must for general surgeons in today's medical environment. Laparoscopicsurgery has been a revolution in surgery on the abdomen and in other areas as well. Specialized training centers within residency programs help surgeons to learn the skills necessary to perform laparoscopic surgery proficiently. Many procedures that historically were done by an open technique are not done by laparoscopic technique. The most common procedure performed by general surgeons is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This involves removal of the gallbladder with three to four small incisions on the abdomen. Remove the appendix, repair of hernias, removal of the colon, removal of the spleen, and removal of the adrenal gland can all be performed laparoscopically by well-trained surgeons.

How do you make sure that your surgeon has adequate training in the type of procedure that you will be having? Make sure and do research on the surgeon. Most surgeons have website resources as well as referral sources on the hospital website. Ask plenty of questions at your consultation visit. Do not be afraid to ask your surgeon how many of this procedure they have done and do not be afraid to question what their training has been in the procedure, which you are considering. An informed patient who asks appropriate questions is the best advocate for patient safety and good outcomes during surgery.

To sum up, research on education residency training and specialist training are essential to finding a good surgeon. Word-of-mouth among friends and neighbors is also a powerful tool in finding out if your surgeon is well respected in the community. Certifications and such as board-certified and fellow American College of Surgeons are essential in the case of general surgery. If you do good research and ask appropriate questions, you should have a good surgical experience.