Our Surgical Services in Cape Town

Consultations & In-Room Services

Dr. Yolandi Loots provides expert consultations for a wide spectrum of surgical conditions. Her approach is patient-centered, beginning with attentively listening to your concerns and understanding your medical history. Patients are usually referred by their General Practitioner (GP) or another specialist physician, ensuring a collaborative approach to your care. Patients can also self-refer and book a consultation with our friendly staff.

What to Expect During Your Consultation:

• Detailed Discussion: A thorough conversation about your symptoms, medical history, and any previous treatments or investigations.
• Physical Examination: A relevant physical examination pertinent to your condition, conducted with utmost professionalism and respect for your comfort.
• Review of Results: If you have previous test results, X-rays, or scans, Dr. Loots will review these with you.
• Clear Explanations: Dr. Loots believes in clear communication. She will explain potential diagnoses and discuss all suitable treatment options, including the benefits and risks associated with each.
• Personalized Treatment Plan: Together, you will develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and preferences. Shared decision-making is a cornerstone of her practice.
• Further Investigations: If necessary, Dr. Loots may recommend further investigations, such as blood tests, imaging studies (like ultrasound, CT, or MRI), or biopsies, to establish a definitive diagnosis.
• Opportunity for Questions: You will have ample opportunity to ask questions and ensure all your concerns are addressed.

Convenient In-Room Procedures & Diagnostics:

Many diagnostic procedures and minor treatments can be performed conveniently in Dr. Loots's well-equipped rooms, ensuring comfort and efficiency for patients.

• Variety of biopsies and excision of skin lesions: Including removal of moles, cysts, and other skin concerns, often under local anaesthesia. These procedures are crucial for diagnosing skin conditions and removing problematic lesions.
• Breast biopsies: Including needle biopsies (taking a small tissue sample with a fine needle) and cyst aspirations (draining fluid from a breast cyst). These are key diagnostic steps for evaluating breast lumps or abnormalities. (Further details under the Breast Surgery section).

The goal of our in-room services is to provide comprehensive care, from initial consultation and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up, all within a supportive and accessible environment.

Breast Surgery

Dr. Loots offers comprehensive assessment and surgical management for a wide range of breast conditions. With a sensitive and patient-focused approach, she provides care for both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) breast diseases.

Diagnostic & Benign Breast Procedures:

• Evaluation of Breast Abnormalities: Thorough assessment of breast lumps, pain, nipple discharge, or changes identified on mammograms or ultrasounds.
• Needle biopsy: A minimally invasive procedure using a fine needle to collect a small tissue sample from a breast lump or suspicious area for examination.
• Cyst aspirations: A procedure to drain fluid from a breast cyst, which can relieve discomfort and help confirm the cyst is benign.
• Excision/incision biopsy: Surgical removal of a breast lump or suspicious tissue for diagnostic purposes. An incision biopsy removes a part, while an excision biopsy removes the entire lump.
• Benign Breast Disease Management: Treatment for conditions such as fibroadenomas, breast cysts, and other non-cancerous concerns.

Breast Cancer Surgery:

• Lumpectomy or Wide Local Excision: Removal of the cancerous tumor and a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue, conserving the breast.
• Mastectomy: Surgical removal of the entire breast. Types include: Simple mastectomies, Skin and/or nipple sparing mastectomies. The procedures are often done in collaboration with specialised reconstructive surgeons.
• Prophylactic/Risk Reduction Mastectomy: Preventative removal of one or both breasts to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in high-risk individuals.
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: A minimally invasive procedure to identify and remove the first lymph node(s) to which cancer cells are likely to spread from a primary tumor.
• Axillary Node Clearance: Removal of more lymph nodes from the armpit, typically if cancer is found in the sentinel nodes or is more advanced.

Other Breast-Related Procedures:

• Chemo port placement: Surgical insertion of a small medical appliance under the skin, providing easy and long-term access to veins for chemotherapy treatments.

Understanding the emotional impact of breast conditions, Dr. Loots ensures patients are fully informed and supported throughout their diagnosis and treatment journey. She works closely with a multidisciplinary team to provide holistic care.

Thyroid and Neck Surgery

Dr. Loots specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the thyroid gland and parathyroid glands. She employs precise surgical techniques to achieve the best possible outcomes while prioritizing patient safety and recovery.

Conditions Treated & Procedures:

• Thyroid Nodules: Evaluation and management of solitary or multiple thyroid nodules, including fine-needle aspiration biopsy when needed.
• Goiters: Surgical treatment for enlarged thyroid glands (goiters) that may cause compressive symptoms or cosmetic concerns.
• Thyroid Cancer: Surgical procedures for thyroid cancer include:
  • Thyroidectomy: Surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. A total thyroidectomy removes the entire gland.
  • Thyroid Lobectomy: Surgical removal of one lobe (half) of the thyroid gland, often for smaller, localized cancers or benign nodules.
• Lymph Node Biopsy (Neck): Removal of one or more lymph nodes in the neck to diagnose or stage conditions like infections, inflammations, or cancer.

A thorough pre-operative assessment, including imaging and sometimes hormonal evaluation, is conducted to tailor the surgical approach to each patient's specific condition, ensuring optimal care and minimizing risks.

Endoscopic Procedures (In-Rooms Suite)

Dr. Loots performs a range of endoscopic procedures in a comfortable and modern In-Rooms Endoscopy Suite located at Cape Town Mediclinic. This facility is designed for patient convenience, offering personalized care and a more relaxed environment for these important diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Procedures Offered:

• Gastroscopy (Upper Endoscopy / OGD): A procedure to examine the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) using a thin, flexible tube with a camera (endoscope). Used to investigate symptoms like persistent heartburn, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, or bleeding. Biopsies can be taken if needed.
• Colonoscopy: Examination of the entire colon (large intestine) and often the end of the small intestine. This is crucial for detecting abnormalities such as polyps, inflammation, or tumors. It is an essential tool for colorectal cancer screening and investigating symptoms like changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, or abdominal pain.
• Sigmoidoscopy: Examination of the lower part of the colon (sigmoid colon) and rectum. It's a less extensive procedure than a colonoscopy and may be used for specific indications.
• Polypectomy: The removal of polyps (small growths) from the lining of the digestive tract, commonly performed during a gastroscopy or colonoscopy to prevent them from becoming cancerous.

Our dedicated endoscopy team prioritizes patient comfort and safety, providing clear instructions before and after your procedure.

Other General Surgeries

In addition to her specialized areas, Dr. Loots is skilled in a variety of general surgical procedures, addressing common and complex conditions with expertise and care, often utilizing minimally invasive techniques where appropriate.

Common General Surgeries Performed:

• Appendectomy (laparoscopic or open): Surgical removal of the appendix, usually to treat appendicitis. Can be done via keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery or a traditional open incision.
• Cholecystectomy (laparoscopic or open): Surgical removal of the gallbladder, most commonly for gallstones. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard minimally invasive approach.
• Surgery for bowel obstruction and perforation: Emergency or planned procedures to relieve blockages in the intestines or repair holes (perforations) in the bowel wall.
• Hernia repair (inguinal, incisional, and abdominal wall) (laparoscopic or open): Surgical correction of hernias (where an organ pushes through a weak spot in muscle or tissue) in various locations, including groin (inguinal), at previous surgical sites (incisional), or in the abdominal wall. Both open and laparoscopic techniques are used.
• Colostomy, ileostomy, and stoma reversals: Creation of a stoma (an opening on the abdomen for waste elimination) or reversal of a previous stoma when appropriate.
• Excision of lymph nodes / Lymph node biopsy (groin, neck, axilla, abdomen): Surgical removal of lymph nodes from various body areas for diagnosis (biopsy) or treatment, often related to cancer staging or management of certain infections or inflammatory conditions.
• Incision & drainage (hematomas, abscesses): Procedures to release collections of blood (hematomas) or pus (abscesses) from under the skin or within body cavities to relieve pain and promote healing.
• Surgery for cancer of the digestive tract: A broad category that includes operations for cancers of the stomach, small intestine, colon, and rectum, often involving removal of the affected part of the organ and nearby lymph nodes.
• Excision of soft tissue tumors: Surgical removal of abnormal growths (tumors) found in soft tissues like muscle, fat, or connective tissue.
• Excision of benign and cancerous skin lesions: Surgical removal of various skin growths, including non-cancerous moles or cysts, as well as cancerous lesions like melanoma or basal cell carcinoma.

Each patient receives a comprehensive evaluation to determine the most appropriate surgical approach. Dr. Loots emphasizes clear communication, ensuring patients understand their condition and the proposed treatment plan, focusing on effective treatment and swift recovery.