Umbilical Hernia An incision (cut) is made underneath the navel (tummy button) and the hernia (part of the intestine that is bulging through the abdominal wall) is pushed back into the abdominal cavity. The weakness in the abdominal wall is repaired. Inguinal Hernia Laparoscopic: several small incisions are made in the abdomen and a narrow tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) is inserted. Small instruments are inserted through the other cuts, allowing the surgeon to push the hernia (part of the intestine that is bulging through the abdominal wall) back into its original position. The weakness in the abdominal wall is repaired. Open: an abdominal incision is made and the hernia is pushed back into position. The weakness in the abdominal wall is repaired. Herniotomy: an incision is made in a skin fold in the groin and the hernia sac is cut out.

A small incision (cut) is made in the groin on the side of the undescended testicle and the testicle pulled down into the scrotum. Sometimes a small cut will need to be made in the scrotum as well.

A long, narrow tube with a tiny camera attached (sigmoidoscope) is inserted into the anus and moved through the lower large intestine (bowel). This allows the surgeon a view of the lining of the lower large intestine (sigmoid colon). If necessary, a biopsy (small piece of tissue) may be taken for examination in the laboratory.

A fold of tissue (frenum) that attaches to the cheek, lips and/or tongue is surgically removed.

Laparoscopic: several small incisions (cuts) are made in the lower right abdomen and a narrow tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) in inserted. This allows the surgeon a view of the appendix and, by inserting small surgical instruments through the other cuts, the appendix can be removed.

The foreskin is pulled away from the body of the penis and cut off, exposing the underlying head of the penis (glans). Stitches may be required to keep the remaining edges of the foreskin in place.

Shave Biopsy: the top layers of skin in the area being investigated are shaved off with a scalpel (surgical knife) for investigation under a microscope. Punch Biopsy: a small cylindrical core of tissue is taken from the area being investigated for examination under a microscope. Excision Biopsy: all of the lesion or area being investigated is cut out with a scalpel for examination under a microscope. Incision Biopsy: part of the lesion is cut out with a scalpel for examination under a microscope.

Skin lesions such as cysts and tumours are removed by cutting around and under them with a scalpel.

A minor surgical procedure is performed to widen the urinary meatus or opening (where the urine exits the body).

A small cut is made in the scrotum and the fluid is drained from the hydrocoele sac (a fluid-filled mass that forms in the scrotum). The sac may either be removed or is folded back behind the testicle.

A small cut is made in the scrotum, the cord supplying blood to the testicle is untwisted and both testes are sutured (stitched) to the scrotum to prevent another torsion.

The fluid-filled cyst or sac (spermatocoele) that forms on the epididymis (a long tube that lies at the back of each testicle) is surgically removed.

An incision (cut) is made in the neck over the cyst (fluid-filled sac) and the cyst cut free from muscle and other tissue. The part of the hyoid bone (bone at the front of the throat) that the cyst is attached to is also cut out and removed along with the cyst.