Surgeries
Surgery, also called an operation, can be performed for a myriad of reasons. While some surgeries are performed to alleviate or prevent pain, others are done to improve a certain body function or lessen a symptom of a condition.
Some surgeries are also performed with the intention of discovering medical problems, while others, are performed to save lives. A surgeon may perform a biopsy (the removal of a piece of tissue from a body with the purpose of further examination) and discover cancerous cells for example or more seriously, a surgeon may have to perform a bypass heart surgery on a patient suffering from heart disease.
Surgeries involve incisions, or cuts in the body. Fortunately, some of the operations today require much smaller cuts than they used to. Such operations are minimally invasive and are called laparoscopic surgeries. Large incisions are becoming less commonplace and surgeons are now using smaller tools and thin tubes with cameras to see and perform surgeries successfully.
According to The World Bank, around 4852 surgical procedures (per 100,000 population) were performed in South Africa in 2012 [1]. Below are some of the different types of surgical procedures that the private hospitals we partner with excel in.
Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Once the knee is severely damaged from injury or arthritis, it can be difficult to perform simple everyday activities, such as taking the stairs or a simple walk around town. For some individuals, the pain persists even when seated or lying down.
Should you experience knee pain, your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatments such as walking supports, physiotherapy sessions or even medication. However, if these measures do little to alleviate your pain, knee replacement surgery may be considered if you are a suitable candidate for the operation and if your situation really does call for such a major intervention. It is important to note that generally, this surgery is mainly reserved for persons over the age of 50.
Joint replacement surgeries, such as that of the knees are an effective way to relieve pain, alleviate and dramatically improve leg deformities allowing you to perform daily activities with greater ease.
You can expect to stay in hospital for about 3 days after receiving such surgery. Upon discharge, your surgeon will refer you to a physiotherapist whom you will be expected to visit regularly for post-operative exercise sessions. After about 6 weeks after your operation, you should be walking comfortably with minimal assistance.
Eye Surgery
The natural lens in your eye plays an essential role in focusing images onto your retina. When you develop a cataract, light rays cannot focus as clearly, resulting in a blurry image.
While eye glasses or contact lenses may help you if you have early cataracts, they cannot assist in sharpening your vision should there be an advanced cataract present. In such a case, the best treatment would be to remove the natural lens in your eye and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
IOLs are tiny, lightweight clear silicon or plastic discs that come with numerous other advantages, aside from correcting your cataract. One obvious advantage is that unlike with contact lenses, you don’t have to clean and reinsert an IOL. An IOL will remain following a surgery, giving you clearer vision daily at all times.
Today, patients are provided with a wide range of options for IOLs before they are inserted in their eyes. This common procedure is performed in about 45 mins in the hands of an experienced and skilled ophthalmologist and recovery usually lasts about 2 to 3 weeks.
Breast Lift, Augmentation and Reduction Surgery
Among the most common breast surgery procedures are breast augmentation, breast reduction and breast lift.
Breast augmentation surgery is the most popular type of cosmetic breast surgery that is performed to increase the size of the breast using saline or silicone gel implants. Most breast augmentation procedures are done to make smaller breasts larger, restore fullness (which may have been eroded due to aging or pregnancy) and balance asymmetrical breasts.
Conversely, a breast reduction surgery is performed to reduce the size of the breast by removing excess breast tissue. Patients may choose a breast reduction for a number of reasons. Some may do it because their large breasts are the cause of back and shoulder pain they may be experiencing.
Breast reductions are also performed on men who suffer from gynecomastia – a common disorder of the endocrine system where there is a non-cancerous increase in the size of male breast tissue.
Unlike the other two procedures, a breast lift does not affect the overall size of the breasts, but simply improves their shape and restores their firmness. During the procedure, the skin and surrounding tissue are lifted to offset the sagging of the breasts that occurs due to gravity or even breastfeeding.
Discectomy
A herniated disk in your spine can compress and irritate surrounding nerves, causing pain, weakness and numbness to your neck, back and possibly your arms and legs. A discectomy is a lower back surgical procedure that corrects this by removing the damaged portion of a herniated disk therby relieving the pressure on the nerve tissue and alleviating the pain experienced.
If conservative and nonsurgical treatments for your back pain cease to help, your doctor may recommend a discectomy. Nowadays, surgeons opt for discectomies that are as minimally invasive as possible, these involve small incisions and a tiny video camera for monitoring.
Post-surgery, patients are usually not advised to assume a seated position nor carry any objects weighing more than 500 grams for the 6 weeks that follow the date of surgery.
As with most bone-related surgeries, the patient would be expected to attend physiotherapy sessions to best optimize on the results of the surgery. Physiotherapy assists the patient in fully regaining strength, flexibility and function of the part of the body that was operated on.
Why Choose Us?
The surgeons we partner with are among the most reliable and experienced in South Africa, providing high quality care and service to all our patients. The hospitals in which they practice perform volumes of complex and delicate surgical procedures, using innovative procedures, cutting edge technology and the most up to date research.
The Surgeons are closely knit and work as a team to solve their patients’ problems. This helps bring a wide array of ideas, experience and knowledge together, thereby providing superior quality answers and solutions.
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