Abnormalities of the endocrine system treated by general surgery include disorders of the pancreas and adrenal glands in the abdomen and the thyroid and parathyroid glands in the neck. These are often very complex conditions requiring extensive investigations. If surgery is required it is often quite refined and takes longer than some other forms of surgery. This usually means a short stay in hospital.

Conditions of the gut dealt with by general surgery include disorders of the oesophagus, stomach, small bowel, large bowel, rectum and anus. These range from complex conditions such as ulceration or cancer in the bowel through to fairly minor conditions such as haemorrhoids. Many of the more major conditions such as bowel cancer will require surgery, or sometimes treatment with medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Haemorrhoids are a condition where the veins under the lining of the anus are congested and enlarged. Less severe haemorrhoids can be managed with simple treatments such as injection or banding which can be performed in the clinic while larger ones will require surgery. Some of these procedures can be performed with a laparoscope e.g. bowel resection.

A hernia exists where part of the abdominal wall is weakened, and the contents of the abdomen come out through this defect. This is most commonly seen in the groin area but can occur in other places. Surgical treatment is usually quite straightforward and involves returning the abdominal contents to the inside and then reinforcing the abdominal wall in some way. This is corrected laparoscopically or via open surgery.

Obesity Surgery is surgery for morbid obesity and is done by the keyhole method. This is the surest way of losing excess weight and keeping it off. There are several procedures available including gastric band, gastric bypass, and gastric sleeve. These are high risk operations and require lots of motivation and commitment as well as lifestyle changes. Click here for information about laparoscopic band surgery Click here for information about laparoscopic gastric sleeve Click here for information about gastric bypass Testimonial's from people who have had this surgery: "I have struggled with being overweight for most of my adult life. When I found out about weightloss surgery I made an appointment with Habib. From our first consultation through to post-surgery I can confidently say that Habib is one of the most professional and caring surgeons I have met. I didn't feel the need to get a second opinion as I was so comfortable being in his care and I knew I would get the outcomes I desired. My surgery was very successful and my recovery speedy. This is attributed to Habib's high level of skill and experience in this field. He genuinely cares for his patients and is passionate about losing weight and moreso, achieving a healthy, active and happy lifestyle. If asked, I would do this again in a heartbeat. I am only a few weeks post-op but already feeling so positive and looking forward to a happier, healthier me. Thank you Habib for giving me the opportunity to turn my life around !" A.J. "At my fathers 60th birthday celebration I saw a close family friend for the first time in 6 months, I knew she had undergone a “gastric sleeve resection” but never would I have imagined how fabulous she would look. The following day I booked an appointment to see Habib. Little was I to know how this amazing man was going to change the rest of my life! Habib has a passion for his patients and for what he does, this is clear in his pre and post op care. He will treat you with total respect and honesty and will give you all the support and guidance you require. 14 months on, and 40 kilos off, I am a changed woman. I love life more than I have in a very long time. Not only do I look amazing and feel great, but I am happy, healthy and active. Habib is a very humble man, and I don’t think he will ever truly understand the difference he has made to his many patients. I only wish I had met Habib sooner!" J.D.

Skin conditions dealt with by general surgery include skin cancers, melanomas, sebaceous cysts, lipomas and other tumours and other lesions of the skin and underlying tissues. These are often fairly simple conditions that can be dealt with by performing minor operations under local anaesthetic (the area of skin being treated is numbed). Often these procedures are performed as outpatient or day case procedures; some may need reoperations to get adequate clearance.

General surgery covers some disorders of the liver and biliary system. The most common of these is pain caused by gallstones. These are formed if the gallbladder is not working properly and the standard treatment is to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). This procedure is usually performed using a laparoscopic (keyhole) approach under general anaesthetic and a one night stay in hospital. There are no long term effects after the removal of the gallbladder.