General Surgery & Skin Procedures
Dr. Baker Henson provides comprehensive general surgery care, focusing on minimally invasive techniques for abdominal issues and precise surgical management for skin and soft tissue conditions. Our goal is to provide safe, effective treatment with the fastest possible recovery time.
Gallbladder Surgery (Cholecystectomy)
The gallbladder is a small organ that stores bile produced by the liver. When gallstones form or the gallbladder becomes inflamed (cholecystitis), it can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and digestive issues. Dr. Henson typically performs this procedure using minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic techniques, removing the gallbladder entirely to prevent future issues.
Post-Operative Instructions for Gallbladder Removal:
- Diet: You can live a normal life without a gallbladder. However, immediately after surgery, stick to a low-fat diet. Slowly reintroduce higher-fat foods over a few weeks to allow your digestive system to adjust to bile flowing directly from the liver to the intestines.
- Activity: Walking is encouraged to prevent blood clots. Avoid lifting anything heavier than 10-15 pounds for about 4 weeks.
- Bowel Habits: It is normal to experience some loose stools or diarrhea in the weeks following surgery as your body adjusts.
Skin & Soft Tissue Surgery
Dr. Henson is highly experienced in the surgical excision of various skin lesions and underlying soft tissue masses, prioritizing complete removal while minimizing cosmetic impact.
Melanoma & Skin Cancers
Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer. Treatment typically involves a "wide local excision" to remove the cancer along with a margin of healthy tissue to ensure no cancer cells remain. In some cases, a sentinel lymph node biopsy may also be performed to check if the cancer has spread.
Lipomas
A lipoma is a slow-growing, benign (non-cancerous) lump of fatty tissue situated just beneath the skin. While harmless, they can be removed if they become painful, grow large, or for cosmetic reasons. This is often done as a quick outpatient procedure.
Post-Operative Instructions for Skin/Soft Tissue:
- Incision Care: Keep the surgical site clean and dry. Leave the initial dressing in place for the first 48 hours unless instructed otherwise.
- Showering: You may usually shower after 48 hours. Let warm, soapy water wash over the area, but do not scrub the incision. Pat dry with a clean towel.
- Signs of Infection: Contact the clinic immediately if you notice increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or foul-smelling drainage from the incision site.