Frequently Asked Questions About Surgery

Call our office at (909) 757-8425, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or request an appointment through our contact page. Our patient coordinators will find a time at the location most convenient for you.

It depends on your insurance. Most PPO plans and Medicare let you schedule directly without a referral. HMO plans and medical groups usually require a referral and authorization from your primary care physician before your visit. Our staff can help you check what your plan requires.

Yes. Physicians can fax referrals, recent notes and imaging reports to (909) 757-8392, or call our office at (909) 757-8425. We work closely with referring doctors and send consultation notes back after your visit.

We have two offices serving the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley:

• Upland: 400 N Mountain Ave, Suite 215, Upland, CA 91786
• Glendora: 353 W Foothill Blvd, Ste 200, Glendora, CA 91741

Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Patients come to us from Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Claremont, Montclair, Chino, Fontana, San Dimas, Azusa, Covina and surrounding cities.

Our team includes Dr. Ali Abidali, DO, a general surgeon with fellowship training in abdominal transplant surgery; Dr. Sana Qureshi, MD, a double-board-certified colorectal and general surgeon; and Dr. Arjun Patel, DO, a general surgeon with fellowship training in foregut and bariatric surgery. All three perform minimally invasive and robotic surgery. Meet our team.

Please bring a photo ID, your insurance card, a list of your current medications and allergies, and any referral paperwork. If you have had imaging (CT, ultrasound, MRI), lab work or a prior surgery related to your condition, bring the reports or ask your doctor to send them before your visit.

We accept Medicare and most major PPO plans, including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and Health Net.

We work with Optum, Emanate Health, Lakeside Medical Group, Regal Medical Group, Prospect Medical Group, Capital Health Physicians, Chaffey Medical Group, Chaparral Medical Group, ProMed Health Care, Greater Covina Medical Group, Healthcare LA IPA and IEHP (Inland Empire Health Plan).

Possibly. Plans and networks change often, so call us at (909) 757-8425 with your insurance card handy and we will verify your coverage before your appointment.

Yes. Our team verifies your benefits and submits the authorization request to your insurance or medical group. We will let you know once your procedure is approved and what your expected out-of-pocket costs may be.

Minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery is done through a few small incisions, usually less than an inch each, using a camera and slim instruments. Compared with traditional open surgery, it typically means less pain, smaller scars, a shorter hospital stay and a faster return to normal activities.

No, your surgeon is in control the entire time. With da Vinci® robotic surgery, the surgeon sits at a console next to you and guides the robotic instruments, which add a magnified 3D view and steadier, more precise movements. Our surgeons use robotic surgery for hernias, gallbladder removal, GERD and hiatal hernia repair, colorectal surgery, and stomach and adrenal procedures.

Most patients are, including many who have had previous abdominal surgery. Your surgeon will review your health history, imaging and condition at your consultation and recommend the safest approach for you, whether robotic, laparoscopic or open.

In most cases, yes. Insurance covers the procedure being performed, such as a hernia repair or colon resection, whether it is done robotically, laparoscopically or open.

Not always, but hernias do not heal on their own and usually grow over time. Small hernias without symptoms may be watched. Surgery is recommended when a hernia causes pain, gets larger or limits your activity. Seek emergency care if a hernia becomes firm, very painful or can't be pushed back in, especially with nausea or vomiting. Learn more about advanced hernia repair.

We repair inguinal (groin), umbilical (belly button), ventral and incisional hernias, as well as hiatal and paraesophageal hernias. We also specialize in complex and recurrent hernias that have come back after a previous repair, including abdominal wall reconstruction.

After minimally invasive or robotic hernia repair, most patients go home the same day and return to desk work and light activity within one to two weeks. You will usually avoid heavy lifting for about four to six weeks. Larger or complex repairs may need a longer recovery, and your surgeon will give you a personalized plan.

Common signs of gallstones or gallbladder disease include pain in the upper right or middle abdomen, often after fatty meals, along with nausea, bloating or pain that spreads to the back or right shoulder. Repeated attacks are a common reason to remove the gallbladder. Learn more about gallbladder surgery.

Yes. Your liver continues to make bile, which flows directly into your intestine. Most people return to a normal diet after recovery, though some notice looser stools with very fatty foods for a few weeks. Most patients go home the same day as their laparoscopic or robotic gallbladder removal.

Surgery may be an option if heartburn or regurgitation continues despite medication, if you want to stop taking reflux medicine long-term, or if you have a hiatal hernia, trouble swallowing or damage to your esophagus. Learn more about GERD treatment.

A hiatal hernia happens when part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest. It often causes reflux, chest pain or difficulty swallowing. A paraesophageal hernia is a more serious type that can lead to twisting or blockage of the stomach. Surgical hiatal hernia repair returns the stomach to its normal position and strengthens the diaphragm.

Our double-board-certified colorectal surgeon treats colon and rectal cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), polyps and other colon and rectal conditions, often using robotic surgery through small incisions. Learn more about colorectal surgery.

Most adults at average risk should begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45. You may need to start earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, or symptoms such as rectal bleeding or a change in bowel habits. Learn more about colonoscopy and endoscopy.

You will receive sedation, so most patients are comfortable and remember little or nothing of the procedure. Because of the sedation, you will need someone to drive you home afterward.

Yes. We diagnose and treat hemorrhoids, anal fissures, fistulas, abscesses and other causes of rectal pain or bleeding. Many patients improve with office-based or minimally invasive treatment. Learn more about anorectal care.

Rectal bleeding is often caused by hemorrhoids or a fissure, but it can also be a sign of polyps or colorectal cancer. It should always be evaluated by a doctor, especially if you are over 45 or the bleeding keeps happening.

Yes. Most lipomas, sebaceous cysts and other small lumps are removed in our office under local anesthesia, and you can go home right after. We remove the entire cyst wall or capsule to lower the chance of it coming back, and close the skin carefully to minimize scarring. Learn more about lumps and bumps and skin lesion removal.

Removal is often covered when the lump is painful, growing, infected or needs to be checked for cancer. Removal for appearance alone may not be covered. We will check your benefits before your procedure.

Yes. Our surgeons perform biopsies and surgical removal of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, with reconstruction using skin flaps or grafts when needed. Learn more about skin cancer treatment.

Most breast lumps are not cancer, but every new lump should be checked. Our surgeons evaluate breast lumps, perform biopsies, and treat both benign conditions (such as fibroadenomas and cysts) and breast cancer with lumpectomy or mastectomy. Learn more about breast surgery.

Protecting your voice is a priority. Our surgeons use nerve monitoring during every thyroid surgery to help protect the nerves that control your vocal cords. Learn more about thyroid surgery.

Yes. We treat diabetic foot ulcers, pressure sores and complex surgical wounds using debridement, negative-pressure (wound VAC) therapy and biologic grafts, while addressing underlying causes like poor circulation. Learn more about advanced wound care.

We also perform liver surgery, spleen surgery, adrenal surgery, small bowel surgery, stomach surgery and temporal artery and muscle biopsies. See all our services.

Smaller procedures, such as lipoma and cyst removal, are often done right in our office. Larger operations are performed at local hospitals and surgery centers. Your surgeon and surgery coordinator will tell you where your procedure is scheduled and help you with every step.

You will receive written instructions before your procedure. In general, expect to stop eating and drinking for a set time beforehand, review your medications with us (especially blood thinners and diabetes medicine), and arrange for an adult to drive you home. Follow your surgeon's specific instructions, as they vary by procedure.

Many minimally invasive procedures, including most hernia repairs and gallbladder removals, are outpatient, so you go home the same day. Larger operations, such as colon, stomach or liver surgery, usually involve a hospital stay of a few days.

It depends on your procedure and the type of work you do. After minimally invasive surgery, many patients return to desk work within one to two weeks, while jobs that involve heavy lifting may require more time off. We can help complete work or disability forms if you need them.

Call us at (909) 757-8425 if you have a fever over 101°F, redness or drainage from your incision, pain that keeps getting worse, or nausea that keeps you from eating or drinking. For chest pain, trouble breathing or heavy bleeding, call 911.

Yes. Most patients have a post-operative visit about one to three weeks after surgery so your surgeon can check your healing and review any pathology results.