Surgery

Our team has extensive experience that covers a wide range of surgical specialties. Our surgical specialties include:

Bariatric (weight loss) surgery

Bariatric surgery refers to several procedures designed to help you achieve and sustain long-term weight loss. Our bariatric surgeons use minimally invasive techniques to perform several weight loss procedures. Your bariatric surgeon will help determine if you qualify for bariatric surgery and which approach may be the most effective in helping you achieve your health goals.

Cosmetic and plastic surgery

We fully understand the place plastic surgery has in your health and wellbeing. These types of procedures have an impact on healing as well as appearance. We offer information, advice and a full range of cosmetic procedures.

You will talk with a specially trained nurse to determine if you qualify for plastic surgery. After your initial evaluation, you'll speak with a surgeon who will work with you to decide on a personalized treatment plan. Then you'll get the cosmetic or reconstructive surgery that fits your need.

General surgery

Despite its name, general surgery is a medical specialty and not a generalized term for all types of surgery. Doctors who specialize in general surgery have expertise in a wide range of procedures but typically focus on abdominal procedures.

General surgeons manage all facets of surgical care, from the preoperative through the postoperative stages.

Our general surgeons may also specialize in surgical procedures or specialties such as:

• Breast surgery — This surgery includes biopsy, lumpectomy or removal of lumps from the breast and breast removal.
• Endocrine surgery — These are procedures to repair or remove glands such as the thyroid, adrenal glands or pancreas and related surgeries.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) surgery — Our GI surgical services include minimally invasive GI procedures to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), colorectal cancer, hemorrhoids, and other digestive health conditions.
• Head and neck surgery — Our surgeons perform surgery to treat chronic, long-term neck pain, such as pinched nerves, and degenerative changes, such as osteoarthritis.
• Hernia surgery — A hernia is an abnormality that occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue. Once doctors diagnose a hernia, the standard procedure is to surgically repair the hernia using open surgery repair, laparoscopic repair or robotic repair methods.
• Surgeries of the extremities — This type of surgery repairs or treats illnesses of the shoulders, joints, legs, arms, hands and some vascular conditions in the legs such as varicose veins.

Gynecological surgery

Surgery may be an effective treatment option for gynecologic cancer, pelvic organ prolapse and other conditions affecting the female pelvic area. Many gynecological procedures can be completed using minimally invasive surgery.

Heart and vascular surgery

We offer comprehensive heart and vascular surgery programs. Our surgeons are trained in various surgical treatments, from interventional procedures to complex cardiovascular surgeries.

Lung and thoracic surgery

Lung and thoracic surgery may be necessary to identify the stage of lung cancer, examine the chest cavity or remove a lung nodule, among other reasons. In many cases, our pulmonary specialists are able to use minimally invasive techniques.

Neurosurgery

Our neurosurgeons deliver effective neurosurgical care for the brain and central nervous system conditions. They also collaborate with our orthopedic surgeons for spine surgery. Whether performing brain surgery or repairing a spinal cord injury, we use advanced technology to enhance surgical planning, imaging and navigation.

Ophthalmologic (eye) surgery

Our specialists in ophthalmologic surgery offer advanced support and surgical options for our patients with eye or vision troubles. Our team performs eye surgery for eye injuries and conditions as well as advanced laser surgery for vision correction.

Orthopedic surgery

Our orthopedic programs provide comprehensive surgical care for all types of musculoskeletal diseases, disorders and injuries. Many of our hospitals also offer joint replacement programs complete with preoperative education classes and postoperative rehabilitation.

Spine surgery

Injuries and disorders of the spine require highly specialized care. Our orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons deliver high-quality spine care for some of the most complex cases. We use innovative, minimally invasive technology.

Transplant surgery

At our Virginia Transplant Center at Henrico Doctors' Hospital, our kidney surgeons and clinicians specialize in kidney transplant surgery, living kidney donations and paired exchange kidney transplants. Our transplant referral patients average 90 days from referral to listing, which becomes lifesaving time for you and your family.

Our transplant team performs testing to qualify you as a transplant candidate. Once qualified, you'll be prepared for the transplant process and listed as a transplant candidate. Once you complete transplant surgery, you'll enter a recovery period followed by long-term monitoring and access to support resources.

Urologic surgery

When urologic surgery is necessary, such as treating prostate cancer, we can often use minimally invasive techniques. Our surgeons also use this advanced technique to operate with extreme precision in delicate areas, such as those within the urinary tract system.

Our health system specializes in minimally invasive surgery. This technique uses small incisions to insert miniature cameras and instruments to complete surgical procedures. This type of advanced surgery allows our physicians to access hard-to-reach areas inside the body with extreme precision.

Minimally invasive surgeries include endoscopic, laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries. Each approach allows surgeons to see a high-definition view of the surgical area. They also allow for less pain and scarring and a shorter hospital stay.

Robotic surgery allows us to offer you less intrusive procedures so you can quickly get back to your normal activities. Our surgeons continuously collaborate on emerging technologies and techniques to deliver enhanced experiences that reduce hospital stays and lessen recovery times.

We provide robotic surgery options for many types of procedures, including:

• GI surgery
• General surgery
• Gynecologic surgery
• Head and neck surgery
• Joint replacement surgery
• Spine surgery
• Thoracic surgery
• Urologic surgery

Below, you'll find general information to help you prepare for surgery and an idea of what to expect after surgery. Your surgeon and care team will provide more instructions and guidelines for your specific procedure. However, please do not hesitate to ask questions about preregistering for your procedure, details about your surgery or postoperative care.

For your convenience, you can preregister for your procedure online.

Before your surgery

Follow these general guidelines to prepare for your surgery unless you are directed otherwise:

• Talk to your doctor if you are on blood thinners.
• Stop eating and drinking the night before your surgery. This includes gum and throat lozenges. You may brush your teeth on the morning of your procedure, but do not swallow any water.
• Take your prescribed medications, as discussed with your physician, with just enough water to swallow them.
• Do not smoke after midnight.
• Bathe or shower prior to your procedure.
• Do not apply deodorant, lotion or makeup on the day of surgery.
• Wear comfortable clothing, and remove all jewelry and body piercings before coming to the hospital.
• Leave valuables, credit cards and money at home.
• Bring containers for eyeglasses, dentures or hearing aids.
• If you experience a change in your health, such as a cold, cough or fever, within 24 hours of your scheduled surgery, contact your physician immediately.
• Make plans for someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery.

After your surgery

Below is general information about what to expect after your surgery:

• Your physician will talk with your designated caregivers about your procedure.
• Depending on the use of anesthesia during your procedure, you may be taken to a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) where your blood pressure will be continuously monitored as you recover.
• As your anesthesia wears off, sounds may seem louder than normal, and you may experience blurred vision, dry mouth or chills. While these are usually normal responses, tell your nurse how you are affected.
• If you are experiencing pain, inform your nurse so they can provide appropriate pain management solutions.
• Your care team will determine when it is appropriate for you to return home (if you had outpatient surgery) or be moved to a postoperative room to continue your recovery.
• Before you are discharged, you will receive written instructions about caring for yourself at home, information on who to call with questions about your recovery and a time and date for your follow-up appointment.