What Does a General Surgeon Do? Procedures, Conditions & When You Need One

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There isn’t one surgeon who performs all surgical procedures, but general surgery is one of the most comprehensive surgical specialties. 

General surgeons are highly skilled physicians with extensive medical skills. They can evaluate, diagnose, manage, and surgically treat many common and complex medical conditions throughout the body. 

You may see a general surgeon for issues such as a hernia, gallbladder disease, GERD, appendicitis, thyroid nodules, lipomas, skin cancer moles, or other medical conditions affecting the liver, pancreas, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract. 

In this guide, the surgical team at The Surgical Clinic in Middle Tennessee explains what a general surgeon does, what conditions and procedures fall within general surgery, when you may need to see a surgeon, and how general surgery differs from other specialties.

What Does a General Surgeon Do?

A general surgeon is a physician who evaluates, diagnoses, and treats a wide range of conditions that may require procedural or surgical care. Their scope commonly includes conditions involving the abdomen, digestive tract, breast tissue, skin, soft tissues, and certain endocrine glands, such as the thyroid, adrenal glands, and parathyroid.

In addition to performing surgery, general surgeons often manage the full continuum of care, from initial evaluation and diagnostic workup to treatment planning, surgery if needed, and postoperative follow-up. This may include reviewing imaging and test results, monitoring symptoms, discussing treatment options, and deciding if a condition can be managed conservatively or requires a procedure.

Some general surgeons also perform diagnostic and endoscopic procedures, such as exploratory laparotomy, colonoscopy, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

What Conditions Does a General Surgeon Treat?

General surgeons treat a wide range of conditions affecting the abdomen, digestive tract, breast tissue, skin, soft tissues, and certain endocrine glands.

Seeing a general surgeon for one of these conditions does not always mean you need surgery. Sometimes, they may recommend monitoring, further imaging or testing, or referral to another specialist based on your condition and symptoms.

What Surgeries Do General Surgeons Perform?

General surgeons perform a broad range of procedures, from diagnostic procedures and planned operations to urgent surgeries requiring prompt intervention.

The most common surgeries performed by general surgeons include:

Many of these procedures can be performed using minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery, which use smaller incisions. In other cases, an open surgical approach may be recommended.

Sometimes, a general surgeon also performs diagnostic procedures such as exploratory laparotomy, colonoscopy, or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (EGD) to evaluate symptoms, screen for abnormalities, obtain biopsies, or determine whether surgery is needed.

General Surgeon vs Specialist: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between a general surgeon and a surgical specialist is that general surgeons are trained to manage surgical conditions across multiple body systems, while specialists focus on a specific organ system, disease category, or type of treatment.

The word “general” refers to a wide range of training and expertise. It does not mean a general surgeon is less skilled than one with a more narrowly focused practice.

General surgeons are trained to treat many conditions involving the abdomen, digestive tract, breast tissue, skin, soft tissue, and certain endocrine glands. They also play a critical role in emergency care, treating serious conditions such as a perforated ulcer, strangulated hernia, bowel obstruction, perforated appendix, or abdominal sepsis when urgent surgery may be needed.

The scope of a general surgeon’s practice can vary based on the community and hospital where they work. For example, at The Surgical Clinic, our general surgeons in Columbia and at Summit tend to have broader practices that may include gastrointestinal, breast, endocrine, and emergency surgery. In downtown hospitals, we tend to have more specialized practices, whether that be surgical oncology, robotics, bariatric surgery, acute care surgery (Helou and Rosen), foregut surgery, or hernia repair.

A specialist, who may or may not be a surgeon, focuses on a specific area of the body, a disease category, or a highly specialized type of treatment. For example, vascular surgeons focus on blood vessels and circulation-related conditions; bariatric surgeons specialize in weight-loss and metabolic surgery; surgical oncologists treat cancers that require surgical intervention; and plastic surgeons focus on reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. 

Often, a general surgeon is the first point of contact when a condition may require surgery. After evaluating symptoms and reviewing test results, they may recommend treatment within their scope of practice or refer you to another surgical specialist when more focused expertise is needed.

It’s also important to know that a general surgeon is different from a primary care physician. Both are doctors, but primary care physicians only manage general health concerns. General surgeons are highly skilled and trained to manage both common and complex health concerns and to perform procedures and surgeries when needed.

When Should You See a General Surgeon?

You may need to see a general surgeon if your primary care physician or specialist has referred you, you are experiencing ongoing symptoms that may require surgical evaluation, or you have been diagnosed with a condition that may need surgical repair, such as a hernia, gallbladder disease, thyroid nodule, GERD, or a suspicious skin growth.

While many patients are referred by a primary care provider or another physician, direct scheduling may also be available depending on the condition and the location.

Often, a general surgeon consultation is part of a planned visit. Other situations require urgent evaluation. Symptoms like sudden or severe abdominal pain, suspected appendicitis, acute gallbladder attack, a painful bulge that cannot be pushed back in, severe rectal bleeding, or trauma may need prompt assessment by a general surgeon and sometimes emergency surgery.

General Surgery Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common surgery for a general surgeon?

General surgeons perform many surgeries. The most common varies depending on the surgeon’s practice and the conditions they treat. Nationwide, gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is a very common general surgery. Hernia repair, appendix removal (appendectomy), skin excision, hemorrhoid removal, and GERD/reflux surgery are also surgeries commonly performed by general surgeons.

Do I need a referral to see a general surgeon?

Whether you need a referral to see a general surgeon depends on your health insurance plan and the surgeon’s office policies. Many patients are referred by a primary care doctor, urgent care provider, or specialist, but direct scheduling may be available depending on your condition, the surgical clinic, and your insurance provider.

Should I go to the ER or schedule an appointment with a general surgeon?

It depends on the severity and suddenness of your symptoms. A scheduled consultation with a general surgeon is usually appropriate for planned procedures, a stable hernia, a new lump that isn’t causing pain or concern, managed digestive conditions, or recurring gallstones that aren’t causing a severe attack.

However, you should go to the ER immediately if you have symptoms that are sudden, intense, or alarming, such as severe abdominal pain that comes on suddenly, suspected appendicitis, significant bleeding, trauma, or a hernia lump that is suddenly painful or causes nausea.

What’s the difference between laparoscopic and robotic surgery?

Both laparoscopic and robotic surgery are minimally invasive techniques that use small incisions. Laparoscopic surgery uses handheld instruments and a camera, while robotic-assisted surgery uses surgeon-controlled robotic instruments that may offer enhanced precision and visualization.

Find a Board-Certified General Surgeon in Nashville and Middle Tennessee

If you are experiencing symptoms that may require surgical evaluation by a general surgeon or have been referred for a consultation, The Surgical Clinic is one of Middle Tennessee’s most respected surgical practices, with numerous surgical specialties, including general surgery.

Staffed with over 40 board-certified surgeons across locations throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee, our general surgeons provide evaluation and treatment for a wide range of surgical conditions, from hernias and gallbladder disease to thyroid, liver, pancreas, colon, soft tissue concerns, and more.

If you need to schedule a consultation with a general surgeon in Middle Tennessee, view The Surgical Clinic’s physicians directory to find a general surgeon near you.