Making sure you choose the proper surgeon for your procedure and realizing how valuable their experience may be will help you have the best possible outcome. Learn more about the many surgical specializations, such as general surgery, cardiac surgery, and more, as you prepare for your treatment. This can help you choose the best surgical specialist for you.

General Surgery

General surgery is a specialty that uses surgery to treat disorders from practically any part of the body, including specific abdominal diseases like hernias and appendicitis. Most surgeons complete a general surgery residency program before deciding whether to practice general surgery in a hospital and surgery center or pursue additional specialty training.

Pediatric Surgery

This specialty involves using surgery to treat children’s health problems and frequently works in conjunction with other disciplines. It’s interesting to note that pediatric surgeons in pediatric hospitals also treat some individuals with conditions present at birth or infancy.

Orthopedic Surgery

In this field of medicine, surgery addresses problems with bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons in children and adults. Additional subspecialties include:

• Hand and feet surgery
• Replacement of a joint
• Orthopedic oncology
• Orthopedics for children
• Spine surgery
• Sports medicine
• Trauma surgery etc

Gynecology and Obstetrics Surgery 

OB/GYNs offer preventative care, birth control, and care for pregnant women and new mothers. These specialists are all surgeons capable of surgical and non-surgical treatment of female reproductive system problems.

Urology

Treating problems with the urinary tract is the focus of the medical and surgical specialty of urology. This can involve treating overactive bladder symptoms or minimally invasive procedures to remove kidney stones. Some urologists conduct small and big surgeries, such as prostate ectomies, to treat cancer.

Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat) 

This medical specialty uses surgery to address problems with the head, neck, and ENT (ear, nose, and throat).

Oncology

Cancer-related specialties that employ surgery to treat cancers throughout the body are collectively referred to as oncology. Otolaryngology, for instance, might handle cancer of the throat, and orthopedic surgeons might handle cancer of the bone. They might not have a focus on cancer as a specialty, but their training allows them to work in that field.

Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery focuses on using surgical methods to address heart conditions. Children with congenital defects may undergo surgery by pediatric cardiac surgeons to address those conditions. Adult-specific problems are more likely to include treating coronary artery disease and replacing defective heart valves.

Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery treats the brain and spinal cord, which comprise the central nervous system. Neurosurgeons perform this kind of surgery on the brain or the back to relieve back pain or treat nervous system cancer or other neurological diseases.

Vascular Surgery

The specialty of vascular surgery involves using surgery to correct problems with blood vessels. Varicose veins, vessels that don’t supply enough blood to the extremities, and trauma are treated cosmetically, surgically, and medically using this procedure.

The punchline

There are well over a dozen primary surgical subspecialties. You might require a doctor who practices in more than one of these specializations for your particular situation, or you might want a surgical team with a specific specialization.