A surgeon is a highly trained medical professional who’s qualified to perform surgery. There are many types of surgeons, including general surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons. Your primary care provider may refer you to a surgeon if you need specialized care or treatment.
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A surgeon is a doctor with additional training in performing operations. This means they use the latest tools and technologies to find and fix issues inside your body. Your primary care provider may refer you to a surgeon if you need surgery or other types of specialized care.
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There are many different types of surgeons, each with their own area of expertise. For example, a neurosurgeon operates on your brain while a cardiac surgeon works on your heart. No matter their specialty, all surgeons are prepared to manage your care before, during and after your surgery.
Surgeons are responsible for:
Despite their title, surgeons often also provide nonsurgical treatments. For example, they might prescribe pain medications, advise your diet or refer you to physical therapy.
If you need surgery, your surgeon will help you understand why. They’ll also explain the best type of operation and approach for you. You may need traditional (open) surgery, where a surgeon makes cuts (incisions) to access the inside of your body. Or your surgeon may recommend a type of minimally invasive surgery such as laparoscopy or robotics.
Your surgeon will develop a care plan tailored to your needs and see it through from start to finish.
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The American College of Surgeons recognizes 14 types of surgeons, each with their own specialties (listed below). Some surgeons choose to further specialize in a more focused area within their fields.
It takes years of extensive, rigorous training to become a surgeon. All surgeons in the U.S.:
Surgeons — like all other medical professionals — engage in continuing education throughout their careers. This means they do things like attend conferences and take classes to keep up with the latest knowledge and technologies in their field.
It can be hard to trust someone else with caring for your body — especially when that care involves surgery. There’s no surefire way to ease the nerves you might feel when you or a loved one needs an operation. But learning more about the different types of surgeons and the training they receive may help you feel a little more confident and comfortable with what’s happening.
You can’t always choose or talk to your surgeon in advance. But when you can, it’s a good idea to ask lots of questions. Find out what surgeries they’ve done in the past. Ask what they’ll do to make this surgery safe and successful. Learn about how they’ll support your post-op care. The more information you get in advance, the less anxious you’ll be on your surgery day.
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For non-urgent operations, it’s also reasonable to ask for a second opinion.
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Last reviewed on 07/03/2025.
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