General surgery is a specialty that involves a wide variety of ailments. A general surgeon can diagnose and perform surgery to treat multiple conditions, especially those related to abdominal organs. Some of them include the spleen, liver, small and large intestines, appendix, stomach, and rectum. If you require general surgery, Dr. Nathan Tomita, a general surgeon at Sensei Surgery in Kailua Kona, HI, will be happy to help. Take a look at some of the reasons you may need to see a general surgeon.

You Are Suffering From Gastrointestinal (GI) Diseases

Your GI or digestive system is in charge of processing food, absorbing nutrients, and expelling waste. The whole system includes your mouth, stomach, esophagus, large and small intestines, appendix, gallbladder, pancreas, and liver. All these organs can develop an illness. However, the most common GI disease is gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD as it is commonly called. A reflux means returning or flowing back. In this case, it is the stomach acid that flows back to your esophagus. This backwash can irritate the mouth and lead to pain.

Most people experience this condition from time to time. And while the condition can be managed at home through over-the-counter medication or some lifestyle changes, for others, it is so severe that it may require a general surgeon like Dr. Tomita to ease the symptoms.

You Have Hernia

A hernia occurs when an organ or tissue squeezes itself through a weak area on the muscle. Most of the time, a hernia will appear in the abdomen, particularly an area that has undergone surgery, near or below the belly button, in the groin areas, or in the middle of the abdomen. Abdominal hernias can enlarge over time. Treatment includes general surgery to restore the protruding tissues to their original place.

You Need Weight Loss Surgery

A weight loss surgery performed by a general surgeon is called bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgeries can be done differently by either limiting your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, reducing the amount of food your stomach can hold, or combining both. Note that this type of surgery is not for every overweight individual. In most cases, it will be recommended when other weight loss methods like exercise and diet change have failed.

You Need an Elective Surgery

An elective procedure is one that you and your surgeon schedule early. Some great examples include hemorrhoidectomies and tonsillectomies.

These are some of the reasons you may need to visit our general surgeon in Kailua Kona, HI. The earlier you see a doctor, the earlier you can get treatment and get back to your life.

If you need to see a general surgeon, schedule your appointment with Sensei Surgery at (808) 313-8338. Dr. Nathan Tomita is a skilled surgeon and will provide the best possible care.