Epidermoid cyst These are small bumps that develop just beneath the skin on your face, neck, trunk and sometimes your genital area. They are slow-growing and often painless. Although many people refer to epidermoid cysts as sebaceous cysts, true sebaceous cysts are...

Splenectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your spleen. The spleen is an organ that sits under your rib cage on the upper left side of your abdomen. It helps fight infection and filters unneeded material, such as old or damaged blood cells. The most common reason...

Colonoscopy is a procedure that enables an examiner (usually a gastroenterologist) to evaluate the inside of the colon (large intestine or large bowel). The colonoscope is a four foot long, flexible tube about the thickness of a finger with a camera and a source of...

A gastroscopy is a procedure where a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope is used to look inside the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and first part of the small intestine (duodenum). It's also sometimes referred to as an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The endoscope...

A mastectomy is an operation to remove the breast. It’s used to treat breast cancer in women or men. It can also be used to reduce the risk of cancer developing in the breast. If your GP refers you urgently because they think you have cancer, you have the right to be…

Thyroidectomy is the removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. It produces hormones that regulate every aspect of your metabolism, from your heart rate to how quickly you burn calories....

Anti-reflux surgery is a treatment for acid reflux, also known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD is a condition in which food or stomach acid come back up from your stomach into the oesophagus. Reflux often occurs if the muscles where the oesophagus...

Umbilical hernia repair surgery is a procedure that fixes umbilical hernias. An umbilical hernia* is a bulge or pouch that forms in the abdomen. This type of bulge occurs when a section of the intestine pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles, near the...

What is an inguinal hernia? An inguinal hernia is a lump in the inguinal region (in the groin area) which is usually more prominent when the patient coughs or stands. In some cases pain is also experienced. Inguinal hernias usually develop as a result of a weak place...

What are haemorrhoids? Piles, or haemorrhoids, are swollen veins in the rectum that supply the anal canal (anus) with blood. Piles are separated into two categories, namely internal and external. Their position is normally four, seven and eleven o’clock on a watch....

Colectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of your colon. Your colon, also called your large intestine, is a long tube-like organ at the end of your digestive tract. Colectomy is used to treat and prevent diseases and conditions that affect the colon,...

An appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix. It’s a common emergency surgery that’s performed to treat appendicitis, an inflammatory condition of the appendix. The appendix is a small, tube-shaped pouch attached to your large intestine. It’s located in the...

Gallbladder removal surgery, also known as a cholecystectomy, is a very common procedure. The gallbladder is a small, pouch-like organ in the upper right part of your tummy. It stores bile, a fluid produced by the liver that helps break down fatty foods. You don't...