What Does a Surgeon Do?

Answer:
There are many medical conditions, diseases, and injuries

that must be treated by surgery. A surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in performing operations.

Surgeons treat injuries and diseases by operating on a patient. In surgery, patients are usually put under general anesthesia by an anesthesiologist, and the surgeon repairs injuries, or performs necessary or preventative surgery. Minor surgeries can be performed using local anesthetic, leaving the patient awake for the procedure.

A surgeon can perform general surgery or specialize in a specific surgical area. Neurological surgery is one area; neurological surgeons, or neurosurgeons perform surgery on the brain and treat the nervous system. Plastic surgeons perform cosmetic or reconstructive surgery on patients, and orthopedic surgeons deal with musculoskeletal treatment and surgery. Otolaryngologists may perform surgery on the ears, nose, or throat, and cardiovascular surgeons or cardiothoracic surgeons deal with the heart and cardiovascular system.