Akron General offers a full array of surgical services to meet your needs. Below is a listing of services offered by the Department of Surgery at Akron General. To the right you'll find links to information about other specialized areas of surgery offered by Akron General.
General Surgery
Getting and keeping our patients well means providing a surgery program that fosters collaboration among a variety of specialists. As instruments, procedures and surgical technology become more specialized and sophisticated, so does the need for people to work with them - like the physicians that focus just on surgery. At Akron General, surgeons work closely with specialists and primary care doctors to correct a varying range and complexity of issues, including gallbladder, pancreatic and breast disease, endocrine surgery and more.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Advanced technology and less invasive surgical techniques help patients heal faster and feel better. In fact, many surgical procedures can be performed today using standard laparoscopic techniques. Many surgeons practicing at Akron General offer minimally invasive options, when appropriate, for procedures including bariatric surgery, appendix removal, gallbladder surgery, gynecologic and urologic procedures.
Single-Incision Surgery - virtually scar-free surgery
Minimally invasive surgery traditionally offers better patient outcomes than the open approach. Single-incision surgery dramatically extends these benefits. Like the advent of multi-port laparoscopy in the late 1980’s, represents the next major advancement in minimally invasive surgery.
Surgeons at Akron General performed the first single-incision, also called single-port, laparoscopic surgery in Summit County to remove the gallbladder. Also performed the first single-port total hysterectomy in the area. Only a handful of surgeons around the country are trained to do this type of procedure. The surgery requires just one incision – through the navel, or belly button. There is very minimal scarring and potentially faster recovery time because only one incision is required. Normally, surgeons remove the gallbladder using four incisions. Other types of single-incision surgeries offered at Akron General include hysterectomy, appendix removal and hernia repair. Hysterectomies can be performed traditionally, using a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal technique, or now using the single-incision approach. Not all patients are appropriate for this type of surgery. Call 330-344-AGMC (2462) for a list of surgeons now performing this procedure. Read more about this procedure on Ohio.com.
Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery
For people dealing with chronic sinus issues, surgery is sometimes the best option. Patients have the reassurance that Akron General Medical Center is experienced in sinus surgery, and nearly any type of Ear, Nose and Throat procedures, from basic outpatient tonsillectomies to the removal of tumors, to septum repairs and radical surgeries.
Patients can also be reassured that surgeons have access to the latest technologies for cutting-edge precision in the operating room - like a complex nerve monitoring system that guides surgeons away from nerves during delicate facial procedures. The Brain Lab, another technology offered by Akron General, uses a CAT scan to help surgeons precisely map the sinus cavities and other areas of the head. Because no two people are the same and differences are measured in millimeters, this state-of-the-art equipment means safety and better results for our patients.
Ophthalmic Surgery
Akron General Medical Center surgical suites are equipped to provide acute treatment and follow-up procedures for ophthalmic conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal lesions, tear duct obstructions and diabetic retinopathy. For patients suffering from retinal detachments, corrections are now being performed from inside the eye only. Ophthalmologists can also perform ocular plastic procedures to correct droopy eyelids and eyelids that are turned outward or inward that can be irritating or harmful to the eye. Ophthalmic surgery is typically performed by an opthalmologist - a physician specializing in a broad spectrum of eye care. Talk to your ophthalmologist about treatment options that may be right for you.
Oral Surgery
Oral surgery can help correct cosmetic, congenital or trauma-related issues of the jaw, mouth and teeth. Our staff is skilled in performing a range of procedures, such as treatment of fractures, resetting the jaws, and adult cleft palate and TMJ scar tissue repairs. For patients who might need additional observation because of a medical issue, maxillofacial surgeons can perform procedures at the Medical Center and at The Surgery Center at Akron General Health & Wellness.
Plastic Surgery
Patients seek plastic surgery both for cosmetic and for reconstructive reasons. Patients come to Akron General Medical Center for our capability in handling a varying complexity of issues - whether surgery is necessary to repair tissues from trauma or scars from a previous surgery, for breast reconstruction due to mastectomy, or to simply enhance natural appearances. Experienced plastic surgeons are also on hand to provide 24-hour consultation to trauma and Emergency Department physicians, when injuries are severe.
The Surgery Center at Akron General Health & Wellness, a joint venture between physicians and the Medical Center, is another outpatient option and a state-of-the-art facility, equipped for most cosmetic procedures for residents that want a facility close to home in Northeast Ohio. Customer satisfaction remains high because patients are seen with minimal waiting and return home quickly - where they prefer to be.
