Blog Archive

No one wants to discover a strange growth in their body. Fortunately, not all of them are life-threatening issues. One common example is lipomas. When you have a lipoma, a lump of fatty tissue develops just underneath your skin. You can often move them around, and they’re typically rubbery to...

It’s hard to confuse the signs of a pilonidal cyst with another problem. That’s because they always form in the crease of the buttocks near the tailbone. They can also cause intense discomfort. Pilonidal cysts are fairly common, especially in young men. However, embarrassment over the condition often prevents people...

A hernia occurs when internal tissue bulges out of position because of a hole or a weakened support structure. And while hernias don’t always require surgery, they don’t go away on their own. In order to get complete healing, hernia repair is required. Scott A. deVilleneuve, MD, of Surgical Associates...

Finding any strange lump or bump on your body can be alarming. Fortunately, not all of them are a cause for concern. That’s often the case with lipomas, which are fatty growths that are typically not cancerous.  Still, if you notice changes in your body — such as new lumps...

No one looks forward to “going under the knife.” But, it can be easier to face if it involves laparoscopic techniques, and it’s a common procedure, such as gallbladder surgery. Laparoscopic techniques allow doctors to perform surgeries with smaller incisions than are used with traditional surgeries. This allows for less trauma...

It’s alarming to have a medical problem, especially if it causes strange lumps, bulges, or pain. However, we have encouraging news if your symptoms arise from a hernia. If you have a hernia, tissue in your body is bulging out of position into an area it doesn’t belong, which occurs...

Every time a scar appears on your skin, you’re seeing your body’s natural ability to heal in action. They occur when your system repairs itself, replacing damaged skin with new tissue. But that doesn’t mean all scars are one in the same. In fact, there are numerous types that vary...

An estimated 20% of Americans develop skin cancer by the time they reach age 70, and more than 9,500 receive a diagnosis each day. Most alarmingly, more people learn they have skin cancer every year than all other forms of the disease combined.  However, there’s good news, too. While these numbers may seem bleak,...

Pilonidal cysts can seem like an embarrassing problem. After all, they cause a painful bump or pimple near the tailbone in the crease of the buttocks. But there’s good news. These cysts are incredibly common and straightforward to treat. If anything, trying to ignore them can cause more harm than...

A hernia is a condition in which an organ pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue that’s trying to hold the organ in place. If this occurs in the abdomen, it’s called an inguinal hernia. And specifically, this condition occurs when an organ pushes through...

Few people spend much time thinking about their gallbladder. Of course, when it functions properly, there’s little reason to. However, this pear-shaped organ is part of the digestive system, so it can cause significant distress when disease sets in. The gallbladder can become plagued by several issues that fall under...

Pilonidal cysts are a very common problem, especially for men 20-35 years of age. They occur when an abscess forms in the upper crease of the buttocks, near the tailbone. This makes them incredibly painful, especially when sitting down. But only around 70,000 cases get reported each year, because people...

A wound describes any break or injury in your skin or other bodily tissues. Wounds can vary in severity from minor scrapes and scratches that require bandaids to cuts, punctures, and surgical incisions that require sutures.  Whether big or small, all wounds need healthy tissue to heal. Without it, wounds...

People often associate hernias with the abdomen or pelvis, but they can occur almost anywhere in the body. A hernia is a condition in which tissue that’s supposed to hold an organ or another body part in place fails to do so, which allows the part to bulge through into...

A lipoma is a type of tumor — but don’t let that scare you. These slow-growing fatty lumps aren’t cancerous, and they usually don’t require any medical treatment. However, they can be uncomfortable or unsightly, depending on their size and location. Scott A. deVilleneuve, MD, at Surgical Associates of North Texas in McKinney,...

It’s easy to forget how complex the human body is. After all, we can only see what’s happening on the outside. However, on the inside, your organs, muscles, and other systems are hard at work. Furthermore, there’s an intricate structure that holds all these parts in place. And, while strong,...

The gallbladder may be small, but it can cause major problems if disease sets in. This small pouch stores bile, which is released to help your body digest fats and absorb nutrients. If a blockage occurs or the organ gets inflamed or infected, this can cause significant pain. Scott A. deVilleneuve,...

If you have a painful pimple or bump in the crease of your buttocks near your tailbone, it’s likely a pilonidal cyst. These are common problems, especially among men. Unfortunately, if they’re not treated, this can lead to abscesses, pain, and chronic issues. Scott A. deVilleneuve, MD, of Surgical Associates of North...

It’s hard to imagine something so small being so powerful or important. However, that’s exactly the case when it comes to the thyroid gland. Your thyroid is only about 2 inches wide and tips the scales at about 20-60 grams. For perspective, a tennis ball weighs around 56-60 grams. Yet,...

Like most things in life, there are no hard and fast answers when it comes to treating a hernia. That’s because hernias come in several shapes and sizes. As a result, the only way to know if your hernia requires surgery is through a comprehensive evaluation with an experienced surgeon....

Have you found yourself looking at a mole and wondering what’s normal and what’s not? That’s a common challenge for most people trying to check their skin for signs of cancer.  An estimated 1 in 5 Americans develops this type of cancer by the time they turn 70. Fortunately, detecting...

Diverticulitis involves your colon. It occurs when small, sac-like pouches — or diverticula — develop in the top layer of colon tissue and become infected or inflamed.  Common signs of diverticulitis include: Swelling or bloating Constipation or diarrhea Abdominal pain, cramping, or tenderness Treatment for diverticulitis varies based on the...

Did you know that one of the most common surgeries in the United States involves removing the gallbladder?  Your gallbladder sits below your liver and stores bile, which helps your body digest fat. If bile gets trapped in the gallbladder, this can cause infection and inflammation. In most cases, blockages...

An estimated 1 in 1,000 people develop a lipoma. These fatty growths can occur at any age, but they’re most common in people ages 40-60. While most lipomas aren’t a cause for concern, sometimes they can lead to problems and require surgical removal. At Surgical Associates of North Texas in...

Undergoing medical procedures can feel overwhelming, especially when they have names like “colon resection.” However, this procedure simply describes removing a portion of your large intestine, which is also known as the colon or large bowel. But why have this procedure, and what are the benefits? Scott A. deVilleneuve, MD,...

There are different skin cancers, but melanoma is the most serious form. This type occurs in the cells that make melanin, which is the pigment responsible for giving your skin its color. Less often, you can develop melanoma in your eyes, and, even more rarely, inside your body, such as...

You have a thin lining inside your digestive system. Small bubbles can form in this area when pressure builds up, creating bulges known as diverticula.  It’s fairly common to have diverticula in your colon, especially once you reach age 40. This condition is known as diverticulosis and often comes with...

You can experience a hernia in numerous parts of your body. They occur when internal organs bulge through a weak area of tissue meant to hold it in place. For example, when a small amount of your stomach pushes through a hole into your diaphragm, you have a hiatal hernia....

Your gallbladder may be a small organ, but it can cause big problems. It stores bile, a substance produced by the liver, which your system uses to digest fatty foods.  The gallbladder can also become diseased, a catch-all term that describes various issues, such as gallstones, blockages, inflammation, or infection....

Skin cancer is by far the most common cancer in the United States. For perspective, one in five Americans develop skin cancer by age 70, and more than two people die from the disease each hour. There are several types of skin cancer, but melanoma is the most serious and...

When you undergo surgery or sustain an injury, there’s often a visual reminder of the incident after you heal: a scar. Scars form where your body tries to fix damaged skin. There are several types, and they can look flat, raised, sunken, lumpy, or discolored. Scars can also cause discoloration...

You may not be familiar with the term “lipoma,” but these fatty, rubbery growths are quite common. In fact, an estimated 1 in 1,000 people has one somewhere on their body. They can be present at birth or develop at any age, though they’re most common in people ages 40-60....

It’s usually easy to detect a pilonidal cyst, because they typically appear in the upper crease of the buttocks near the tailbone. This common problem affects more than 70,000 Americans each year, especially men in their 20s. Unfortunately, many people find their symptoms embarrassing, which keeps them from talking to...

Most people have heard of the thyroid gland, but few people know much about it until something goes wrong. As a top-ranked surgeon in McKinney, Texas, Scott A. deVilleneuve, MD, sees thyroid disorders on a regular basis at Surgical Associates of North Texas. In this blog, he explains what the...

When you have a hernia, tissue inside your body pushes through a weakened area meant to contain it. This problem can lead to a variety of symptoms, including a noticeable bulge, pain, and nausea. In more serious cases, the herniated tissue can even get deprived of blood. These dangerous situations,...

Most people rarely think about their gallbladder until it starts causing uncomfortable symptoms, such as pain, nausea, vomiting, or chronic diarrhea. Unfortunately, when these problems arise, they often need surgical intervention.  At Surgical Associates of North Texas in McKinney, Texas, Scott A. deVilleneuve, MD, is an expert in minimally invasive...

In some people, marble-sized pouches — called diverticula — can form on the outer layer of the digestive tract. This is because the inner layer can push through naturally weak spots in the outer layer. Diverticulitis occurs when these diverticula tear, which can cause inflammation and even infection. This digestive...

If you have a hernia, your internal organs or other tissues push through an opening in the muscle or soft tissues meant to keep them in place. For example, you have a hernia if your intestine breaks through a hole in your abdominal wall. While hernias usually don’t cause life-threatening...

The length of your recovery will vary from procedure to procedure. However, they all have one thing in common: the healing process. And because of that, it’s essential to take the right steps after undergoing surgery to help your body recover as smoothly as possible. As a top-ranked general surgeon,...

Diverticulitis is a condition in which small, bulging pouches form in the wall or lining of the colon due to natural weaknesses in the tissue. Unfortunately, these pouches can become more common with age. And, if these marble-sized pouches tear, they can cause inflammation, irritation, or infection, and you can...

In the past, having surgery meant large incisions, a higher risk of infection, and lengthy recovery times. But advancements in surgical techniques have enabled surgeons to see and fix things inside of your body without the need for invasive approaches.  Now, thanks to minimally invasive surgery, you can expect to...

Soft tissue masses — or tumors — are fairly common and can vary significantly depending on their location and type. They can develop nearly anywhere in your body, including within or between ligaments, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. You can also have soft tissue masses grow around other structures in...

It can be hard to resist spending as much time in the sun as possible during summer. Unfortunately, exposure to UV radiation not only causes premature aging, but it also significantly increases your risk of developing skin cancer. But, don’t worry, you don’t have to spend the entire summer hiding...

Everyone seems preoccupied with COVID-19 at the moment, and it’s for a good reason. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus. When infected, you can experience respiratory symptoms similar to a cold or flu, including fatigue, fever, and dry cough. Your symptoms can range from very...

It can be hard to feel your best if you have a noticeable scar, especially if it’s in a highly visible location, such as your face. And, while most scars can fade over time, some can be disfiguring or even impact your ability to move.  Fortunately, Scott deVilleneuve, MD, at...

Have you noticed a bump near your tailbone in the upper crease of your buttocks? These growths, known as pilonidal cysts, develop when skin in the area fills with dead skin cells, hair, or oil. Sometimes, these cysts are small and painless. But, if they become inflamed or infected, they...

There is a steady stream of late-night infomercials talking about bad mesh.  It probably won’t surprise you to hear that most of those commercials are sponsored and written not by anyone with any medical training, but rather by attorneys trying to scare up clients to add to their class-action lawsuits. ...

When it comes to melanomas and other types of skin cancer, you hear a lot about the dangers of sun exposure and UV rays. But it’s not just the harmful rays of sunlight that cause melanoma, and melanomas don’t develop overnight. You might think that now that winter’s here and...

Although there are many different types of hernias, there are a few basic characteristics that are similar no matter the type of hernia.  A hernia is basically a hole or weakness in the fascia which allows protrusion of what it is normally holding in. Hernias most commonly occur in your...

You may be facing a thyroidectomy for several reasons. But, whether you need all of your thyroid removed or just a portion, you’re in safe hands at Surgical Associates of North Texas.  As a top-ranked surgeon in McKinney, Texas, Dr. Scott deVilleneuve uses the most advanced thyroid surgery techniques available,...

A hernia can be painful and debilitating. It’s estimated that each year in the United States, 800,000 people are diagnosed with a hernia. Hernias are more common in men than women. About 25% of males and about 2% of females develop an inguinal (groin) hernia in their lifetimes. Most people...

Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that sits below your liver on the right upper-side of your abdomen. Although it plays an important role in your digestive system, acting as a storage reservoir of bile produced by the liver, it is possible for you to live without it. This is...

The disparity between men and women when it comes to hernias, specifically inguinal hernias, is staggering — one quarter of men will develop this type of hernia, while only 2% of women fall prey. The reason for these skewed numbers comes down to a surprisingly small difference in anatomy. Here...

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, outpacing all other cancers combined. Thankfully, most skin cancers are easily treated, but melanoma presents a more dangerous problem — a problem that grew by 50% in the U.S. in the last 10 years. In fact, experts predict...

While no surgery is routine, an inguinal hernia repair is one of the more common and successful general surgeries performed in the United States, with approximately 800,000 procedures done each year. While the majority of patients do well and have a relatively uneventful recovery, a small percentage (up to 15%...

Whether or not heavy lifting caused your hernia — and it may be an important factor — one thing is certain: After you develop a hernia, heavy lifting may speed up the natural progression of the process and can frequently lead to an increase in symptoms . That’s why the...

Surgery, no matter how routine, is always accompanied by questions and apprehension. If you need surgery for a hernia -- regardless of location -- you want to know what to expect during your recovery. Here at Surgical Associates of North Texas, we give you complete discharge instructions when you’re released...

A hernia is a condition where the connective tissue that holds your intestines in place (called the fascia) develops a hole or tear.  This allows the organs that it would normally be holding in to protrude through, causing pain and potentially becoming stuck, or incarcerated.  Because of the potentially severe...

A hernia is a catchall term for any internal organ that protrudes through a weak spot into areas where it doesn’t belong. While most hernias don’t pose an immediate threat, they can get worse and cause obstructions, strangulation of the tissue, as well as a considerable amount of pain and...

Cancer can be an uphill battle, where the odds never seem to be in your favor. Thanks to advanced surgical techniques, surgeons like Dr. Scott A. deVilleneuve are fighting back, and the odds are ever in their favor with incredibly high cure rates that figure between 94% and 99%. At...

A pilonidal cyst is a frequently painful condition that originates in the skin at the base of your spine/upper gluteal crease.  While often present for years before becoming symptomatic, once they do their treatment can be very problematic for several reasons including their often recurrent nature and difficult “pain in...

Hernias are much more common in men than in women which is why inguinal, or groin pain in a man is often originally suspected to be due to an inguinal hernia.  In women, however, this is often not the case. I is not unusual for a female who has a...

First off, in answering this question, you must determine the type of hernia that you are having repaired.  Second, you need to know the general class (laparoscopic/minimally invasive or open) of repair that you had.  For our purposes here, we will divide the discussion into the two main hernia types,...

If you enjoy playing soccer on a weekend or bouncing a basketball around in the evening you might be at risk of a sports hernia.  So, what is a sports hernia? Well, it’s not a hernia in the true sense of the word as there’s no bulge or protrusion through...

A hernia diagnosis can cause anxiety as you wonder what’s next. It’s natural to have questions. First, know that hernias are extremely common and easily treatable — every year doctors in the United States repair more than 700,000 hernias. With the right surgical care, you can expect to fully recover...

Although scars form as a natural part of the healing process your body uses to repair and close wounds, they’re often an unwelcome reminder of a previous injury or surgical procedure. Many scars are removed for cosmetic reasons, but some require treatment because they interfere with range of motion, such...

When you think of muscles, you probably think of movement, one of their most important functions. Many people are unaware of a secondary role that muscles play in keeping your organs in place. The strength and density of muscle tissue is ideal for holding things where they belong. The dense...

The gallbladder stores bile, a digestive juice that’s released into the small intestine when you eat fat. Gallstones form when the bile abnormally hardens into small lumps of stone-like material.Gallstones form if the bile contains too much cholesterol or too much bilirubin, which is a fluid that forms after our...

Gallbladder symptoms can range from minor and annoying to excruciating and unbearable. In some cases, the symptoms are temporary, and an episode passes quickly. However, it is a frequent problem that the symptoms persist or recur, which indicates that the underlying problem needs to be treated.When gallbladder pain occurs, it’s...