Surgery
Having surgery can be a scary event, both for the individual undergoing the procedure and for the patient's friends and family. Arming yourself with information about the surgery before it happens can help settle your nerves. Figure out what to expect from a specific procedure, how to select a doctor and hospital, how to prepare your home, and where to seek support.
Expand All Guide SectionsSurgery Basics
If you or a friend or family member is exploring the idea of surgery, you probably have many questions as well as some doubts and reservations. Thoroughly researching medical conditions can be reassuring. In addition, you'll know exactly what to ask when you visit your doctor or surgeon. The Web has many of the resources you'll need to prepare for an upcoming surgery.
Dulcinea's Insight
- As with any health-related information on the Web, be mindful of the credibility of a particular source before you use it for reference or advice. Our findingDulcinea Health Web Guide can help you assess the credibility of a medical Web site.
- Just typing "surgery" into a search engine will likely yield many results about plastic surgery. Be as specific as possible when you run a general search to ensure that you get relevant, credible sites.
- You can find videos online that show actual surgeries being performed and others that demonstrate surgeries using 3-D images. Be aware that some of these depictions may be too graphic for certain audiences.
- You can often find helpful information on medical Web sites, such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or the American College of Surgeons. While the content is generally geared toward doctors, there are often "patients and consumers" sections at these sites, which use simpler medical terminology to explain surgical procedures and recovery.
Dulcinea's Picks
To answer basic questions about surgery ...
The American College of Surgeons
is primarily for surgeons, but the Public Information page is useful to anyone seeking surgical information. Read about various surgical procedures, review some frequently asked questions about surgery, and learn how to find a qualified surgeon.
MedlinePlus
discusses what you need to know about surgery and provides surgical news updates. Look at "Specific Conditions" and "Related Issues" for information on different types of surgeries.
MSN Health and Fitness
has published an extensive guide to surgery, addressing such issues as preparing for and recovering from surgery, hospital-acquired infections, children and hospitals, and choosing a hospital.
ehealthMD
offers information on many types of surgeries. Choose a surgical procedure from the drop-down menu to find an overview of the surgery, including why the procedure is performed, how to prepare for the surgery, and what to expect during the recovery process.
To watch surgery videos ...
MedlinePlus
has a large variety of one-hour surgery videos divided by type: for example, women's health; blood, heart and circulation; bones, joints and muscles; and ear, nose, and throat. You'll even find some robot-assisted surgeries. You'll need RealPlayer or a Flash player to view these videos on your computer, but you'll find links to free downloads of these applications when you reach the MedlinePlus page.
The University of California, San Diego Medical Center
has videos of experts discussing various surgical procedures, including plastic surgery, robot-assisted surgery, urinary incontinence surgery, and more.
To help you decide whether to have surgery ...
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides this document, "Having Surgery? What You Need to Know." The article provides questions you should ask yourself and your doctor when you're considering surgery but it isn't an emergency.
CNN.com
has an article called "5 operations you don't want to get-and what to do instead." The author argues that some surgeries might be performed unnecessarily and explains when there may be viable alternatives.
For news updates ...
Topix
gathers news from 50,000 sources around the Web. Content is organized into a variety of categories, including a section on surgery that's loaded with surgical news updates. Don't let the unrelated ads and polls distract you from the news; stick to the left side of the page for relevant content.
Choosing a Surgeon and Hospital
Choosing a surgeon and medical facility that you're comfortable with is a critical decision after ... read more »
Preparation for Surgery
Your doctor, of course, will always be your best source of medical advice, but the Web also ... read more »
Surgery Support Groups
If you need to share your feelings or concerns about a surgical procedure, ... read more »
Children and Surgery
Surgery for children can pose unique challenges and concerns. The Web can answer some questions you ... read more »
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