General Surgery
Trust UNC Health Southeastern’s general surgeons for care that helps you reach your best possible health outcome and have a smooth recovery.
Your General Surgeon
General surgeons specialize in:
- Diagnosing and treating health conditions that affect many different areas of the body
- Guiding patients through the process of having a procedure
- Leading surgical teams
Our general surgeons received specialized training, have a wide range of experience, and do research to give you the latest and best care. They’ll help you understand what to expect, and they’ll follow up after a procedure to make sure you get back to feeling your best.
Tests & Treatments
Your primary care doctor may refer you to a general surgeon for:
- Breast surgery – Includes lumpectomy (tumor removal) and mastectomy (breast removal) to treat cancer
- Colonoscopy – Screens for colon cancer and can remove polyps (lumps that could be cancer) from your large intestine
- Endoscopy – Inserts a thin tube with a light and camera into your digestive tract to look for problems
- Gastrointestinal (GI) surgery – Cares for your digestive system (esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines)
- Skin procedures – Include removal of cysts, warts, moles, and other skin lumps, often in your doctor’s office, a more convenient and affordable location than a hospital
- Thyroid surgery – Removes part or all of the thyroid gland if you have thyroid cancer or a nodule (lump) that makes it hard to swallow or breathe
- Trauma surgery – Treats serious injuries in the emergency department
- Vascular surgery – Treats varicose veins, spider veins, and other conditions in your blood vessels
Colon Resection
Your doctor may need to remove part of your colon (large intestine) if you have colon cancer or severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This procedure is called colon resection or colectomy. A surgeon takes the unhealthy part of your intestine out of your body and then attaches the remaining, healthy ends of the colon together. Rest assured, you should be able to return to your normal lifestyle in two or three weeks.
Gallbladder Surgery
If you have gallstones, surgery can relieve your stomach pain and indigestion. A surgeon will perform a common treatment called cholecystectomy, which takes the gallbladder out of your body. You’ll be able to live a healthy, normal life even without the organ—and feel much better.
Hernia Repair
Hernia surgery treats an organ that’s bulging uncomfortably in or near your belly. Your surgeon will put the organ back in place and may use stitches or mesh to keep it there. Usually, surgery takes about an hour, and you’ll go home the same day.
Less Invasive Surgery for a Faster Recovery
Your general surgeon will take the least invasive approach to your procedure so you recover as soon as possible. That often means making only small incisions instead of one large incision. To perform minimally invasive treatment, UNC Health Southeastern surgeons may use:
- Da Vinci® Xi – Advanced, robotic technology that makes surgery more precise than ever
- Laparoscope – Thin tube with a light and camera that shows the inside of your body on a high-definition screen in the operating room
Minimally invasive surgery affects less tissue, so you’ll feel less pain after surgery. You can even look forward to getting back to your daily activities more quickly.
Follow-Up Care
After any procedure, follow your surgeon’s instructions on how to care for yourself and any incisions. Your doctor may tell you to:
- Avoid lifting things for several weeks
- Walk often to reduce pain and keep blood flowing well
- Attend follow-up appointments to talk about your recovery and ask questions
If you can’t go back to work right away, ask us for help completing Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms to give your employer.
