Surgery
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Surgery is an operation to investigate or treat a disease or injury. Ask your surgeon to explain what you can expect and any risks involved. Take time to understand the information when deciding about surgery.
Information in your language
Information in your language about
- Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
A 'tummy tuck', or abdominoplasty, is cosmetic surgery to remove fat and excess loose skin from the abdomen.
- Appendectomy
An appendectomy is usually carried out on an emergency basis to treat appendicitis.
- Brachioplasty (arm lift surgery)
An 'arm lift' is surgery to reshape or reconstruct the underside of the upper arm from the armpit to the elbow.
- Brain surgery
Brain surgery is performed for a number of reasons, including alterations in brain tissue, brain blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid.
- Breast reconstruction and mastectomy
Some women choose to have breast reconstruction surgery to give a similar appearance to the look of their original breast in normal clothes.
- Cosmetic implants - buttock, fat and pectoral
Buttock and pectoral implants involve surgery to insert shaped silicone pieces into skin cavities.
- Craniotomy
A craniotomy is an operation to open the skull (cranium) in order to access the brain for surgical repair.
- Endoscopy
An endoscope or fibrescope is a long, usually flexible tube with a lens at one end and a video camera at the other.
- Eyes - laser eye surgery
During laser eye surgery, a computer-controlled laser is used to remove microscopic amounts of tissue from the front surface of the eye.
- Hair transplant surgery
Hair transplant surgery involves taking skin from parts of the scalp where hair is growing and grafting it to the thinning or bald areas, or areas of trauma.
- Heart bypass surgery
After heart bypass surgery, eat a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals and cold-water fish.
- Heart disease - angioplasty and stent procedures (video)
People with coronary heart disease talk about the medical procedures that followed their heart attack and diagnosis.
- Kidneys - dialysis and transplant
People with kidney failure need dialysis or a transplant to stay alive.
- Knee replacement surgery
Knee replacement surgery removes a diseased knee joint and replaces it with an artificial joint.
- Laminectomy
A laminectomy is a surgical incision into the vertebra to obtain access to the spinal cord.
- Laparotomy
A laparotomy is a surgical incision into the abdominal cavity used to examine the abdominal organs and aid diagnosis.
- Myomectomy
A myomectomy is an operation performed to remove fibroids from the uterus.
- Obesity surgery
Obesity surgery is an effective, durable, evidence-based treatment for severe obesity and its associated health problems.
- Tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that involves making a cut in the trachea (windpipe) and inserting a tube into the opening.
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) - for benign prostate disease
Surgery on the prostate gland can have many side effects, including erectile problems and urinary incontinence.
- Blood donation
Donated blood is used to help people who are sick or injured, or for medical research.
- Blood transfusion
Donated blood is screened for blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis, syphilis and HIV.
- Corneal transplantation and donation
Corneal transplant surgery would not be possible without generous donors and their families, who have donated corneal tissue so that others may see.
- Kidney donation
Kidneys are often donated after death but more people are choosing to donate one of their kidneys while still alive (living kidney donation).
- Organ and tissue donation
Discover the facts about organ and tissue donation, decide about becoming a donor and discuss your decision with the people close to you.
- Organ and tissue transplantation
Transplantation varies depending on the transplant organ or tissue so speak with your medical team about surgical procedures, recovery and medications.
- Arthroscopy
Most people can resume normal activities around three weeks after an arthroscopy.
- Biopsy
Before a biopsy, you need to discuss a range of issues with your doctor or surgeon.
- Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy can be used to look for cancer of the colon (bowel cancer) or colon polyps, which are growths on the lining of the colon.
- Endoscopy
An endoscope or fibrescope is a long, usually flexible tube with a lens at one end and a video camera at the other.
- Laparoscopy
The advantage of laparoscopy is that only a small incision is required, which is why it is also known as 'keyhole surgery'.
- Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
A 'tummy tuck', or abdominoplasty, is cosmetic surgery to remove fat and excess loose skin from the abdomen.
- Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, aims to improve the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both.
- Body contouring surgery
Body contouring is surgery to remove sagging skin and extra fat, and improve the shape and tone of underlying tissue.
- Brachioplasty (arm lift surgery)
An 'arm lift' is surgery to reshape or reconstruct the underside of the upper arm from the armpit to the elbow.
- Breast augmentation surgery (breast implants)
Breast implants are inserted under the skin to create larger breasts.
- Breast reduction for men
Breast reduction for men is surgery to correct overdeveloped or enlarged breasts.
- Breast reduction for women
Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body.
- Brow lift
A brow lift is cosmetic surgery to correct a sagging forehead and repair frown lines.
- Cosmetic genital surgery - labiaplasty and phalloplasty
Cosmetic genital surgery involves reshaping the labia, vulva or penis to alter their size or shape.
- Cosmetic implants - buttock, fat and pectoral
Buttock and pectoral implants involve surgery to insert shaped silicone pieces into skin cavities.
- Cosmetic procedures
Cosmetic surgery carries risks and, in some cases, the results are not what you may anticipate.
- Cosmetic Surgery in Private Hospitals (English)
Thinking of getting liposuction, breast augmentation or tummy tuck? It is illegal to perform liposuction or cosmetic surgeries in an unregistered setting.
- Cosmetic Surgery in Private Hospitals (Khmer)
Thinking of getting liposuction, breast augmentation or tummy tuck? It is illegal to perform liposuction or cosmetic surgeries in an unregistered setting.
- Cosmetic Surgery in Private Hospitals (Korean)
Thinking of getting liposuction, breast augmentation or tummy tuck? It is illegal to perform liposuction or cosmetic surgeries in an unregistered setting.
- Cosmetic Surgery in Private Hospitals (Mandarin)
Thinking of getting liposuction, breast augmentation or tummy tuck? It is illegal to perform liposuction or cosmetic surgeries in an unregistered setting.
- Cosmetic Surgery in Private Hospitals (Thai)
Thinking of getting liposuction, breast augmentation or tummy tuck? It is illegal to perform liposuction or cosmetic surgeries in an unregistered setting.
- Cosmetic Surgery in Private Hospitals (Vietnamese)
Thinking of getting liposuction, breast augmentation or tummy tuck? It is illegal to perform liposuction or cosmetic surgeries in an unregistered setting.
- Cosmetic treatments - injectables
Cosmetic injections into the skin can be used to reduce wrinkles.
- Facelift (meloplasty)
A facelift is a type of cosmetic surgery that removes or tightens facial skin to make a person look younger.
- Facial implants
Facial implants are used by people who want to restore or improve the normal shape of their face.
- Hair transplant surgery
Hair transplant surgery involves taking skin from parts of the scalp where hair is growing and grafting it to the thinning or bald areas, or areas of trauma.
- Liposuction
Liposuction is invasive surgery and is not a substitute for weight reduction or a cure for obesity.
- Medical tourism and insurance
People may choose to travel overseas to seek medical or surgical treatment that is unavailable in their home country. This is called medical tourism, and it's a booming industry worldwide. People thinking about medical tourism should carefully consider the risks, their legal options if something goes wrong, and what their insurance covers.
- Otoplasty (external ear surgery)
Ear correction surgery, or otoplasty, is usually done to move prominent ears closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears.
- Rhinoplasty (nose surgery)
Rhinoplasty may be performed for cosmetic reasons or to correct a structural problem.
- Assisted reproductive technology – IVF and ICSI
IVF (in-vitro-fertilization) and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) are assisted reproductive treatment (ART) procedures in which fertilisation of an egg occurs outside the body.
- Caesarean section
A caesarean section is usually performed when it is safer for the mother or the baby than a vaginal birth.
- Contraception - tubal ligation
Sterilisation is a permanent method of contraception.
- Contraception - vasectomy
Having a vasectomy does not affect a person's ability to produce sex hormones, enjoy sex or reach orgasm.
- Dilatation and curettage (D&C)
A dilatation and curettage (D&C) is an operation performed on women to lightly scrape away the womb lining.
- Hysterectomy
The conditions that prompt a hysterectomy can often be treated by other means, and hysterectomy should only be a last resort.
- Brain surgery
Brain surgery is performed for a number of reasons, including alterations in brain tissue, brain blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid.
- Day surgery
Day surgery, also known as same-day surgery, is performed when a patient can be safely discharged from hospital on the same day they are admitted.
- General anaesthetics
An anaesthetic is a drug or agent that produces a complete or partial loss of feeling.
- Planned surgery (elective surgery)
Planned surgery (also known as elective surgery) refers to planned surgical procedures that can be booked in advance.
- Surgery
Ask your doctor or surgeon about the benefits, risks and possible side effects of surgery.
Reviewed on: 14-02-2020