Doctor-Reviewed Health Guides: Conditions, Procedures & Health News

Gum graft surgery is a periodontal procedure that treats receding gums by grafting healthy tissue, from the patient's palate or a tissue bank, over exposed roots. It restores the gum line's volume and protection, helping prevent cavities, reduce sensitivity and halt gum disease progression. Most patients recover within one to two weeks.

Gum contouring is a surgical dental procedure that reshapes the gum line by removing excess tissue that makes teeth look short or uneven. A dentist or periodontist sculpts the gums with a scalpel or laser for a balanced smile. It suits people with excessive gum display or overgrowth, recovery takes under seven days, and results are permanent.

Gene therapy is a treatment that changes or replaces disease-causing genes to restore normal cell function, using techniques such as gene addition, editing and silencing, often delivered through viral vectors. Focused mainly on single-gene disorders, it offers an alternative to lifelong symptom management, with long-term benefits for conditions such as sickle cell disease and spinal muscular atrophy.

G-CSF treatment is the use of a protein that triggers the bone marrow to produce and release neutrophils, a primary type of white blood cell. It is essential for patients whose immune systems are weakened by chemotherapy or stem cell transplants. Given by injection or IV, it reduces the risk of severe infections and helps keep cancer treatment on schedule.

The Glenn procedure is heart surgery for infants, typically at 3 to 6 months, to treat single ventricle heart defects. It connects the superior vena cava to the pulmonary arteries so upper-body blood gets oxygen without passing through the heart. It is a second-stage operation; reported early survival is 96% to 99%, depending on the center and the child's condition.

Glaucoma surgery includes procedures ranging from quick in-office laser treatments to operating room surgeries, all aimed at lowering intraocular pressure. By improving the eye's natural drainage or creating new pathways for fluid, they protect the optic nerve. They are an effective option when medications are insufficient, often reducing reliance on eye drops while significantly slowing disease progression.

Gastric bypass surgery is a bariatric procedure that shrinks the stomach to about the size of an egg and connects it directly to the middle of the small intestine. This rerouting limits calorie absorption and triggers metabolic changes that suppress hunger. It is generally considered for adults with a BMI over 35, or over 30 with weight-related health issues.

The Gaskin maneuver, often called the all fours method, is a technique used during vaginal delivery to resolve shoulder dystocia, when a baby's shoulder becomes wedged behind the mother's pelvic bone. Moving the mother onto her hands and knees increases space in the pelvis to free the shoulder. It is low-risk and often avoids more invasive procedures.

Focal therapy for prostate cancer is a treatment that uses heat, cold or electric current to destroy tumor cells in one area of the prostate while sparing healthy tissue. It suits cancer confined to the prostate, with intermediate risk the best fit. It has lower sexual and urinary side-effect risks than surgery but a higher risk of cancer returning.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a rehabilitation treatment that uses small electrical currents to stimulate specific nerves and muscles. By triggering muscle contractions, it helps restore walking, grasping and swallowing in people with spinal cord injuries, stroke or multiple sclerosis, and supports breathing and bladder control. It is painless and helps build strength and long-term independence.

Fulguration, also known as electrofulguration, is a medical procedure that uses high-frequency electrical sparks from alternating current to heat and destroy targeted tissue. It is widely used in urology, gynecology and dermatology to treat benign, precancerous and cancerous growths. Minimally invasive and performed under local or general anesthesia, it serves both for tissue removal and for controlling bleeding.

Foreskin restoration is a process that recreates the appearance of a foreskin after circumcision, without restoring the original foreskin or its inner lining. It is done by gradual tissue stretching over months or years, or by skin-graft surgery. Risks include skin and nerve damage and surgical complications. It is not widely accepted among urologists, so consult a provider first.

The Fontan procedure is a heart surgery for children born with only one working ventricle that sends oxygen-poor blood from the lower body straight to the lungs. It is the last of several staged surgeries, usually done between ages 2 and 5. It is not a cure, but more than 8 in 10 people live 30 years or longer.

Fertility preservation is the process of saving reproductive cells or tissues for conceiving a biological child later, typically by freezing eggs, sperm or embryos (cryopreservation). It is often recommended before chemotherapy, radiation or surgery that could damage reproductive organs. It is also an option for people who wish to delay parenthood for personal or professional reasons.

Fat freezing, or cryolipolysis, is a nonsurgical technique that uses controlled cooling to destroy fat cells in a targeted area, which the immune system then clears over months. Average fat reduction is 15% to 28% about four months later. It suits people near their goal weight with stubborn bulges, not obesity, and needs no downtime.

A femoral nerve block is an injection of anesthetic near the femoral nerve in the upper thigh that blocks pain from the front of the thigh and knee. It is used for thigh and knee surgery, knee replacement recovery and hip or femur fractures, reducing opioid needs. Serious complications are rare, but temporary quadriceps weakness raises fall risk.

Family therapy is a form of talk therapy that improves interactions, relationships and behaviors among family members. It helps resolve conflicts, manage transitions such as divorce or grief, and support a member with a mental health or behavioral condition. A licensed professional, often a marriage and family therapist, leads it, building communication skills and a supportive environment.

Face transplant surgery, or vascularized composite allograft, is a rare procedure for people with severe facial trauma or disfigurement that grafts donor skin, muscle, bone and nerves over 10 to 36 hours. Candidates must meet strict criteria, including being aged 18–60. Success depends on lifelong immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection plus intensive physical and psychological rehabilitation.

Psychodynamic therapy is a form of talk therapy focused on uncovering the unconscious roots of emotional distress. Through open-ended conversations with a licensed therapist, patients explore childhood experiences, repetitive thoughts and hidden feelings. Bringing these into awareness helps people identify unhealthy patterns, break harmful habits and build self-esteem, making it useful for resolving deep-seated issues.

Facial feminization surgery is one surgery or a series of procedures that reshape bone, cartilage and soft tissue to make facial features look more traditionally feminine, such as hairline lowering, rhinoplasty and jaw reduction. It is not recommended under age 18 or when health conditions make surgery dangerous. Most healing takes two to six weeks, and results are permanent.

First aid is the initial help or medical care given to someone with an acute injury or illness, from cleaning a minor cut to acting fast in a life-threatening emergency. Its goals are to save lives, limit suffering and speed recovery. Skills include stopping bleeding, CPR, using an AED and helping someone choking, and everyone should learn them.

Dental veneers are custom-made porcelain or composite resin shells that fit over the front of the teeth to conceal cracks, chips, stains and gaps. They camouflage cosmetic flaws rather than repairing structural damage. The procedure typically requires two visits and some enamel removal, producing a natural-looking, stain-resistant smile that can last 10 to 15 years with good hygiene.

Dental sealants are preventive treatments consisting of thin resin or glass ionomer coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars. They seal deep grooves where food and bacteria get trapped, significantly reducing the risk of tooth decay. They are most effective when applied as soon as permanent teeth erupt, typically between ages 6 and 14.

AV node ablation is a permanent procedure that uses heat or cold energy to destroy the atrioventricular (AV) node, which carries electrical signals between the heart's upper and lower chambers. It stops irregular heartbeats from atrial fibrillation or SVT. Because the heart can no longer signal itself to beat, every patient needs a permanent pacemaker.