General Surgery

Why choose UCLA Health for general surgery?

Since the UCLA Health Department of General Surgery was founded in 1948, it has grown to be one of the largest and most renowned surgical departments worldwide. We serve as a major academic referral center for Southern California, with board-certified surgeons practicing in distinct subspecialty areas. Our surgeons use state-of-the-art technology and techniques to treat patients with routine and complex conditions.

Highlights of our program include:

Physician expertise: Our fellowship-trained surgeons are recognized clinical leaders both nationally and internationally. We provide world-class surgical care as well as high-quality education for trainees through our residency and fellowship programs.

Research and clinical trials: We continually learn about and implement the newest technologies and surgery techniques. Through collaboration between clinical and research teams, we offer effective, up-to-date treatment options to improve quality of care and life.

Subspecialty care: Our general surgeons practice in distinct subspecialty areas including colorectal surgery, trauma surgery, bariatric surgery, hernia surgery, endocrine surgery and gastrointestinal surgery. This advanced training ensures that you receive treatment from highly skilled, expert physicians with robust experience in their respective fields.

Our specialties

General surgeons are among the most broadly and thoroughly trained physicians, operating on the life-sustaining organs and soft tissues in the body. Our general surgery department encompasses a range of highly specific subspecialties. Each of these subspecialties requires years of rigorous training to develop expertise. Our general surgeons specialize in several types of surgery, including:

Bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, includes operations such as sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and one anastomosis gastric bypass. Surgery decreases the amount of food you can eat or number of calories you can absorb. For patients who are good candidates for weight loss surgery, the operation can help you lose 50-70% of excess weight.

Our bariatric surgeons have some of the best surgical outcomes in the nation. We have fewer reoperations, lower complication rates and shorter hospital stays than the national averages. Our patients report surgery satisfaction rates of greater than 95%, and we use advanced, state-of-the-art techniques.

Colorectal surgery

Colorectal surgeons treat both cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign) conditions that affect the small intestine, colon, rectum and anus. You may need colorectal surgery to treat conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diverticulitis or colon and rectal cancers.

Our colorectal surgeons use minimally invasive and robotic techniques that lead to safer, more effective surgical treatment. We are committed to advancing the field through research and clinical trials, delivering expert care with compassion.

Endocrine surgery

Specialists in the Endocrine Center treat a comprehensive range of diseases affecting the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. You may need endocrine surgery to treat cancer, remove a noncancerous (benign) tumor or manage a chronic condition. Our Endocrine Center does more endocrine surgeries every year than any other centers in California.

Endocrine surgeons collaborate with multiple specialists to offer targeted, advanced treatments for routine and complex conditions. We bring physicians with diverse areas of expertise together in one convenient location to provide the highest level of patient care.

Gastrointestinal surgery

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the pathway where food travels as it is digested. Gastrointestinal surgeons treat patients with conditions affecting the GI tract that require complex abdominal surgery. You may need GI surgery for gallstones, gallbladder disease, stomach cancer, tumors or bowel obstructions.

Our gastrointestinal surgeons provide state-of-the-art care for common and rare conditions. We are researchers as well as clinical leaders, continually discovering, implementing and perfecting new and effective treatment options.

Hernia surgery

A hernia occurs when an internal organ or other tissue bulges through the tissue that usually contains it. Often, people with hernias require surgery to move the tissue back to its usual position and close the opening.

Our general surgeons operate on hernias in the Lichtenstein Amid Hernia Institute, the only facility in the nation dedicated exclusively to research, education and surgical care of abdominal wall hernias. We are pioneers in hernia surgery and even created the “tension-free” surgical technique that the American College of Surgeons now considers the gold standard. Our surgeons also do many complex hernia repair for hernia recurrence.

Trauma surgery

Our trauma surgeons provide critical surgical care to patients with complex injuries. You may need trauma surgery for a severe fracture, blunt-force or penetrating injury, burn or internal injury. A general surgeon specializing in trauma care often treats several critical injuries at the same time, requiring a comprehensive set of skills and expertise.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a Level 1 trauma center staffed 24 hours a day with subspecialty-trained trauma surgeons and critical care specialists. We use the latest effective techniques to perform emergency — and often lifesaving — operations.

Meet our team

Our general surgeons are highly specialized in numerous procedures and techniques. As active researchers, we continually learn, develop and use the most up-to-date techniques to improve patient care and quality of life.