A general surgeon is a surgeon who is specialized in treating the disorders related to stomach, liver, intestines, appendix, breasts, thyroid glands, salivary glands and skin. Common procedures performed by a general surgeon are appendicectomy, vasectomy, thyroid gland surgeries, breast biopsy and breast surgery, colon cancer surgery, laparoscopy, hernia repair, laparotomy and surgical treatment for varicose veins.