General Surgery

General surgery is a specialty that focuses primarily on the abdominal organs; stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder.  General surgery also includes the esophagus and the repair of hernias.  General surgeons can also sub-specialize in breast surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy) and endocrine surgery (thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands).

Laparoscopic Procedures

Laparoscopic surgery is a specialty within general surgery.  Minimal access techniques employ the use of small cameras and small instruments inserted through 0.5-1.0 cm incisions.  Because of the smaller incisions, patients usually go home the same day and have a shorter and less painful recovery period.