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

Prostate brachytherapy is a minimally invasive radiation treatment for localized prostate cancer in which 50 to 100 tiny radioactive seeds are permanently implanted in the prostate. They release low-dose radiation over 10 to 12 months to destroy cancer cells while limiting exposure to the bladder and rectum. Data show a 97% prostate cancer–specific survival rate 17 years after treatment.

A prostatic urethral lift is a procedure that treats urinary problems from an enlarged prostate. A urologist inserts small implants through the urethra to pull back the prostate lobes and widen the urinary channel. It typically takes less than an hour under local anesthesia, and patients often go home the same day, with improved flow while preserving sexual function.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is a surgical procedure in which a spine surgeon removes a damaged lower back disk and replaces it with a spacer containing bone graft, fusing two or more vertebrae to stabilize the spine and relieve nerve pressure. It usually takes two to three hours, followed by a short hospital stay and strict activity restrictions.

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a refractive surgery in which an excimer laser reshapes the cornea to improve how the eye focuses light. During the outpatient procedure, the surgeon removes the corneal epithelium before using the laser, then applies a bandage contact lens while it regrows. PRK suits people who cannot have LASIK because of corneal thickness or dryness.

A pharyngectomy is the surgical removal of throat tissue to treat hypopharyngeal or oropharyngeal cancers, either partially for localized tumors or totally for advanced cases, sometimes including the voice box. It aims to stop cancer from spreading but requires specialized recovery, including swallowing therapy and communication aids. Recovery ranges from two weeks for robotic surgery to three months.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a non-surgical treatment for conditions like achalasia that cause swallowing difficulties. Under general anesthesia, an endoscope passed through the mouth tunnels into the esophageal wall and cuts the lower esophageal sphincter muscles. This permanently loosens the muscle to improve swallowing, and most patients report significant relief, with recovery of 10 to 14 days.

Paracentesis is a procedure that uses a needle and thin catheter to drain fluid built up in the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen. A small sample can find the cause, or a larger amount can be drained to relieve symptoms. It takes about 20 to 45 minutes after numbing. Complications are rare, but report fever or redness at the site.

Otoplasty, also known as cosmetic ear surgery, is a surgery to correct structural ear abnormalities or repair injuries. During a one-to-three-hour procedure, a surgeon makes an incision and reshapes the ear. Otoplasty does not affect hearing. A protective dressing stays on for about a week, and full recovery can take up to eight weeks.

Oral surgery is any operation inside the mouth on the teeth, gums, tongue or oral cavity, such as tooth extractions, wisdom tooth removal, dental implants and bone or gum grafts. It is usually done with local anesthesia. Most people feel normal in two to three days, though full healing takes longer. Call your provider for uncontrolled pain or fever.

An orchiectomy is a surgical procedure that removes one or both testicles. It treats and prevents testicular cancer, treats prostate and male breast cancer, and removes testicles damaged by trauma. It usually takes 30 to 60 minutes under general anesthesia, with same-day discharge. Removing both testicles ends sperm production and lowers testosterone, which may need hormone treatment.

A nonsurgical butt lift is a noninvasive alternative to surgical butt augmentation that needs no general anesthesia or incisions. Done in a medical office in under an hour, it uses dermal fillers such as Sculptra to add volume, or laser and light therapy. There is no recovery time, but results are not permanent: fillers usually last up to two years.

Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is a surgery in which a surgeon makes incisions to realign a broken bone, then holds it with rods, screws, wires or plates. It is used for severe fractures that will not heal correctly in a cast alone. Recovery ranges from several weeks to a year or longer, and risks include infection and nonunion.

A myringotomy is a surgery in which an ENT surgeon makes a tiny hole in the eardrum to relieve pressure and drain middle ear fluid, taking about 15 to 20 minutes. It is common for children with frequent ear infections or glue ear, often with ear tube placement. Most people recover within days; report fever, bleeding or lasting dizziness.

A neck dissection is a major operation that removes cervical lymph nodes to check for and sometimes treat cancer spread, ranging from selective to radical removal. Done under general anesthesia, it usually requires a hospital stay of two to five days. Risks mainly involve nerves, such as numbness or a drooping shoulder, and many complications are temporary.

The MMR vaccine is a live, weakened vaccine that trains the immune system to fight measles, mumps and rubella. Two doses are 97% effective against measles and rubella and 86% effective against mumps. Side effects are usually mild, such as soreness or fever. It should not be given to people who are pregnant, immunocompromised or severely allergic.

A mini gastric bypass is a weight loss surgery that creates a small, tube-like stomach and connects it to the middle of the small intestine. It restricts food intake, reduces absorption and lowers hunger hormones. It uses one connection instead of two, carries a higher bile reflux risk than a traditional bypass, and requires lifelong vitamins and monitoring.

Maxillofacial surgery is surgery that treats conditions of the mouth, jaw, face and neck, including jaw fractures, cleft lip and palate, TMJ disorders and head and neck cancers. Most operations use general anesthesia. Recovery ranges from a week or two for extractions or implants to several months for jaw surgery. Call your provider for fever, pus or uncontrolled pain.

A liver biopsy is a diagnostic procedure in which a provider uses a hollow needle to take a tiny sample of liver tissue for a pathologist to examine. It identifies disease, assesses damage and stages scarring from F0 to F4. It can be done through the abdomen, a neck vein or surgery. Life-threatening complications are rare, estimated at 0.1%.

Limb salvage surgery is a complex reconstructive operation to save an arm or leg that would otherwise face amputation because of bone cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, severe infection or major trauma. Surgeons remove disease and rebuild the limb with grafts, prostheses or tissue transfers. It can offer better function than amputation but means longer recovery and possible revision surgery.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive brain procedure in which a thin laser probe placed through a tiny skull opening uses MRI-guided heat to destroy unhealthy tissue. It treats brain tumors, radiation necrosis and drug-resistant epilepsy. It takes about two to five hours under general anesthesia, and most people go home in one to two days.

Lateral internal sphincterotomy is a surgery that treats chronic anal fissures by making a small incision in the internal anal sphincter to stop spasms and improve blood flow. The 30-minute outpatient procedure lets the tear heal permanently, with a 95% success rate. Recovery involves a few days of manageable discomfort and a full return to activities within two weeks.

A laminectomy is a spinal surgery that relieves pressure on nerves by removing the lamina, the bone at the back of the vertebrae, creating more space in the spinal canal. It treats pain, numbness and weakness from stenosis, bone spurs or herniated disks. It lasts one to three hours under general anesthesia, with a reported 90% success rate.

An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a thin, inflatable device placed in the thoracic aorta to assist heart function. It deflates when the heart pumps and inflates when the heart rests, improving circulation to the body and heart. Providers use it to treat cardiogenic shock, heart failure and complications after major cardiac surgery, providing critical mechanical support.

A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and, most likely, the cervix, sometimes with the fallopian tubes and ovaries. It ends pregnancy and periods and treats conditions such as heavy bleeding, fibroids, endometriosis and cancer. Most people recover in about four to six weeks, and if the ovaries are removed, menopause starts immediately.