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General Surgery

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Depend on the UC San Diego Health general surgeons who have the experience and expertise to prevent complications and help you achieve the best surgical outcome.

Our general surgeons are trained to use state-of-the-art technology and techniques to treat common and complex conditions in various parts of the body.

What's a General Surgeon?

General surgeons are doctors who specialize in surgical procedures for a range of injuries and diseases. They evaluate your condition to determine whether you need surgery and explain the process, including recovery.

General surgeons differ from others like cardiac surgeons, who specialize in heart surgery, thoracic (lung) surgeons or neurosurgeons, who specialize in brain surgery.

UC San Diego Health general surgeons can perform all kinds of surgeries — from complex, open surgeries to minimally invasive procedures. We diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and deformities of the:

Abdomen
Blood vessels
Breast
Digestive tract
Head and neck
Skin
Urinary tract

Common General Surgery Procedures

Select UC San Diego Health for a variety of surgeries, including:

Appendectomy to remove the appendix
Biopsy surgery to remove a small part of tissue to see if cancer is present
Cancer surgery to remove tumors
Colon and rectal surgery
Esophageal procedures
Emergency and trauma surgery
Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy)
Gastrointestinal (GI) surgery
Hernia repair
Thyroid procedures such as thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy
Varicose vein treatment

Minimally Invasive Approach

Whenever possible, your UC San Diego Health care team uses minimally invasive techniques like robot-assisted surgery and advanced imaging techniques like fluorescence-guided surgery to reduce pain, scarring and recovery time following surgery.

High-Quality, Coordinated Care

Feel confident that our surgeons will help you achieve the best results by using the most advanced technology. When you choose UC San Diego Health for surgery, you’ll know what to expect before, during and after surgery.

Clinical Trials

Access leading-edge clinical trials at UC San Diego Health. You may benefit from a new treatment before it’s widely available. Talk to your doctor about your options to participate in a clinical trial for your condition.