UNC Health My Chart Search Menu You are here: Home Care & Treatment General Surgery In this Section General Surgery Call Us Call 910-739-0022 to ask Southeastern Surgery Center’s friendly staff a question about your care. Trust UNC Health Southeastern’s general surgeons for care that helps you reach your best possible health outcome and have a smooth recovery. Your General Surgeon General surgeons specialize in: Diagnosing and treating health conditions that affect many different areas of the body Guiding patients through the process of having a procedure Leading surgical teams Our general surgeons received specialized training, have a wide range of experience, and do research to give you the latest and best care. They’ll help you understand what to expect, and they’ll follow up after a procedure to make sure you get back to feeling your best. Tests & Treatments Your primary care doctor may refer you to a general surgeon for: Breast surgery – Includes lumpectomy (tumor removal) and mastectomy (breast removal) to treat cancer Colonoscopy – Screens for colon cancer and can remove polyps (lumps that could be cancer) from your large intestine Endoscopy – Inserts a thin tube with a light and camera into your digestive tract to look for problems Gastrointestinal (GI) surgery – Cares for your digestive system (esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines) Skin procedures – Include removal of cysts, warts, moles, and other skin lumps, often in your doctor’s office, a more convenient and affordable location than a hospital Thyroid surgery – Removes part or all of the thyroid gland if you have thyroid cancer or a nodule (lump) that makes it hard to swallow or breathe Trauma surgery – Treats serious injuries in the emergency department Vascular surgery – Treats varicose veins, spider veins, and other conditions in your blood vessels Colon Resection Your doctor may need to remove part of your colon (large intestine) if you have colon cancer or severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This procedure is called colon resection or colectomy. A surgeon takes the unhealthy part of your intestine out of your body and then attaches the remaining, healthy ends of the colon together. Rest assured, you should be able to return to your normal lifestyle in two or three weeks. Gallbladder Surgery If you have gallstones, surgery can relieve your stomach pain and indigestion. A surgeon will perform a common treatment called cholecystectomy, which takes the gallbladder out of your body. You’ll be able to live a healthy, normal life even without the organ—and feel much better. Hernia Repair Hernia surgery treats an organ that’s bulging uncomfortably in or near your belly. Your surgeon will put the organ back in place and may use stitches or mesh to keep it there. Usually, surgery takes about an hour, and you’ll go home the same day. Less Invasive Surgery for a Faster Recovery Your general surgeon will take the least invasive approach to your procedure so you recover as soon as possible. That often means making only small incisions instead of one large incision. To perform minimally invasive treatment, UNC Health Southeastern surgeons may use: Da Vinci® Xi – Advanced, robotic technology that makes surgery more precise than ever Laparoscope – Thin tube with a light and camera that shows the inside of your body on a high-definition screen in the operating room Minimally invasive surgery affects less tissue, so you’ll feel less pain after surgery. You can even look forward to getting back to your daily activities more quickly. Follow-Up Care After any procedure, follow your surgeon’s instructions on how to care for yourself and any incisions. Your doctor may tell you to: Avoid lifting things for several weeks Walk often to reduce pain and keep blood flowing well Attend follow-up appointments to talk about your recovery and ask questions If you can’t go back to work right away, ask us for help completing Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms to give your employer. Your Guidebook Download our Guide to Surgery [PDF] to learn how to get ready and what to expect after your procedure at UNC Health Southeastern. Your Patient Portal Manage your care online anywhere, any time. Use MyChart on your smartphone or computer to: Ask your doctor a question Check test results Schedule appointments Request prescription refills Need help to sign up? Visit www.sehmychart.org or call (910) 671-5006, (910) 734-3657 or (910) 671-9393. Recent News Monoclonal Antibody Treatments Move Back to Heath Mall November 29, 2021 Project to impact parking/patient discharge Nov. 29-30 November 29, 2021 New Southeastern Pharmacy Health Mall Hours November 22, 2021 UNC Health Southeastern offers Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccine for all adults November 22, 2021 Understanding Pre-Diabetes November 22, 2021 View More Foundation Donate Volunteer News & Media Contact Us UNC Health Southeastern 300 W 27th St. Lumberton, NC 28358 910-671-5000 Employee Internal Access Provider Resources Pricing Transparency Compliance Hotline Our Partners: Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance Coastal Connect, Inc Notice of Privacy Practices [PDF] Non-Discrimination Policy [PDF] Non-Discrimination Notice [PDF] Aviso de no Discriminación [PDF] Copyright 2021 UNC Health. All rights reserved.