General Surgery • Hernia • Gallbladder • Greater Houston
General Surgeon Serving Houston, TX
Hernia, Gallbladder & General Surgery for Greater Houston
Houston patients who need a general surgeon can see Dr. Murtaza Shakir, a board-certified general surgeon and surgical oncologist, at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas. He evaluates and treats hernias, gallstones and gallbladder disease, appendicitis and other conditions that may need an operation.
Consultations take place at our two offices on the Grand Parkway, in Katy and Sugar Land, which are convenient for patients from West Houston, Southwest Houston and the surrounding suburbs. New patients are welcome.
Double Board Certified
American Board of Surgery: General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology.
Fellowship Trained
Two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
Houstonia Top Doctor
Recognized by Houstonia Magazine among Houston’s top general surgeons.
What Does a General Surgeon Treat?
A general surgeon diagnoses and operates on conditions of the abdomen, abdominal wall, digestive organs, skin and soft tissue. For most Houston-area patients, that means hernias, gallbladder problems and appendicitis, along with lumps, cysts and other problems that may need surgery.
Because Dr. Shakir is also board certified in Complex General Surgical Oncology, he treats selected cancers of the colon, rectum, liver and pancreas, which is less common for a community general surgeon.
Conditions Dr. Shakir Commonly Treats
- Hernias: inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional and recurrent
- Gallstones and gallbladder disease
- Appendicitis
- Acid reflux and hiatal hernia that has not responded to medication
- Skin lesions, lipomas and cysts
- Hemorrhoids
- Surgical oncology for colon, liver and pancreatic cancer
When Should You See a General Surgeon?
Most patients reach a general surgeon through one of a few familiar routes. A consultation is usually the right next step if any of these sound like you:
You Have a Diagnosis in Hand
- An emergency room visit found gallstones or an inflamed gallbladder
- A CT scan or ultrasound showed a hernia
- Your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist referred you for a surgical opinion
- Imaging found a mass or lesion that may need to be removed
You Have Symptoms That Keep Returning
- A bulge in the groin or near the belly button, with or without pain
- Upper right abdominal pain after meals, sometimes spreading to the back or shoulder
- Pain or pressure when you lift, cough or strain
- A lump under the skin that is growing or bothering you
When not to wait for an appointment: go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 for severe or worsening abdominal pain, a hernia bulge that becomes hard, tender or discolored and will not go back in, fever with abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or repeated vomiting.
Hernia Repair for Houston Patients
A hernia is treated by a general surgeon, and repair is the only way to close the opening in the abdominal wall. Some small hernias that cause no symptoms can be watched, but hernias do not heal on their own and many slowly enlarge.
Dr. Shakir repairs inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional and recurrent hernias using open, laparoscopic or robotic techniques. Patients from West Houston and Southwest Houston are seen in Katy or Sugar Land for the consultation, imaging review and surgical planning.
Hernia surgeon for Houston patients • Read about hernia repair • Robotic hernia repair • Inguinal hernias
Gallbladder Surgery for Houston Patients
A general surgeon removes the gallbladder, an operation called cholecystectomy. Surgery is usually recommended when gallstones cause repeated attacks of pain, inflammation (cholecystitis), pancreatitis or blockage of the bile ducts. Gallstones found by accident that cause no symptoms often do not need removal.
Most planned gallbladder removals are performed laparoscopically through small incisions, and robotic surgery is an option in selected cases. Many patients go home the same day.
Gallbladder surgeon for Houston patients • Read about gallbladder surgery • Laparoscopic removal • Recovery
Open, Laparoscopic or Robotic: How Is the Approach Chosen?
No single technique is best for every patient. Dr. Shakir performs all three and recommends the approach that fits your condition, anatomy, prior surgery and health, rather than defaulting to one method.
Open Surgery
A single incision over the problem area. Still the right choice for some small hernias, certain emergencies and complex abdominal wall reconstruction.
Laparoscopic Surgery
Several small incisions and a camera. The standard approach for most gallbladder removals and many groin hernia repairs.
Robotic Surgery
A minimally invasive technique with wristed instruments and 3D visualization, useful for many ventral, incisional and recurrent hernias.
Meet Dr. Murtaza Shakir
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is a board-certified general surgeon and surgical oncologist who cares for patients from across Greater Houston at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas.
- Board certified by the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery and in Complex General Surgical Oncology
- Medical degree from Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan
- Five-year General Surgery residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio
- Two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
- Recognized by Houstonia Magazine among Houston’s top general surgeons
Patients often mention that he takes time to explain the diagnosis and the operation before surgery, and that he follows their recovery closely afterward.
Where Do Houston Patients Go for Their Appointment?
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas does not have an office inside the city of Houston. Houston patients are seen at the practice’s Katy or Sugar Land office, both on the Grand Parkway. The same surgeon and the same services are available at either location, so most patients simply choose the office closer to home or work.
Katy Office
410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D
Katy, TX 77494
Often the more convenient choice for patients from West Houston, the Energy Corridor, Cinco Ranch, Fulshear, Cypress and Sealy.
Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
(713) 955-9191
Sugar Land Office
17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Often the more convenient choice for patients from Southwest Houston, Missouri City, Stafford, Richmond, Rosenberg, Sienna and Riverstone.
Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
(713) 955-9191
Live farther out? We also have pages for patients in Fulshear and Richmond, or see all locations.
Many Major Insurance Plans Accepted
We accept patients with many major insurance plans, including participating Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.
AetnaCignaUnitedHealthcareBlue Cross Blue ShieldOther Insurance Plans Accepted
What Patients Say About Dr. Shakir
★★★★★
“I was referred to him after an ER visit, and I am glad to have been directed to Dr. Shakir. His bedside manner is awesome… Dr Shakir answered every question I had and explained in detail my procedure and recovery.”
Monica L. · Referred after an ER visit
★★★★★
“I have been experiencing excruciating pain on and off for the last 6 months. I was diagnosed with gallstones. Dr Shakir is an amazing surgeon, he removed my gallbladder and I haven’t had any issues since.”
Kristin Stoever · Gallbladder surgery
★★★★★
“I was recommended to Dr Shakir by my physician and from my first visit, I was impressed with his professionalism and his skills in understanding that generally, people are nervous when it comes to surgery.”
Paul Fortune · Referred by his physician
What Happens at Your First Consultation?
A first visit with Dr. Shakir is an evaluation, not a commitment to surgery. He reviews your symptoms, examines you, goes over any imaging and explains whether an operation is recommended now, later or not at all.
If surgery makes sense, you will talk through the approach, the expected recovery and how the practice coordinates scheduling and insurance authorization.
Bring With You
- Reports or discs from any CT scan, ultrasound or MRI, including ER imaging
- A list of your medications, especially blood thinners
- Your insurance card and photo ID
- A referral, if your insurance plan requires one
- Questions you want answered before deciding
Questions From Houston Patients
Is there a general surgeon office in Houston?
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas does not have an office inside Houston city limits. Houston patients see Dr. Murtaza Shakir at the practice’s Katy office (410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D) or Sugar Land office (17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320).
What kind of doctor should I see for a hernia?
A general surgeon evaluates and repairs hernias. Your primary care doctor may diagnose a hernia first, but repair is a surgical procedure, so a general surgeon decides whether and how it should be fixed.
Which doctor removes a gallbladder?
A general surgeon removes the gallbladder, a procedure called cholecystectomy. Most planned gallbladder removals are performed laparoscopically, with robotic surgery used in selected cases.
I went to the ER and they found gallstones. What happens next?
If you were discharged from the emergency room, the usual next step is an appointment with a general surgeon (see what happens after the ER finds gallstones). Bring your ER paperwork and imaging reports. Dr. Shakir will review whether the gallstones are causing your symptoms and whether gallbladder removal is recommended. Return to the ER for fever, jaundice or pain that does not settle.
A CT scan showed a hernia. Do I need surgery?
Not always. Small hernias that cause no symptoms can sometimes be watched, while hernias that are painful, enlarging or contain fat or bowel usually warrant repair. A surgical consultation weighs the hernia type, size and your symptoms before recommending surgery. Read more: a CT scan showed a hernia.
Can one general surgeon treat both hernia and gallbladder problems?
Yes. Hernia repair and gallbladder removal are two of the most common operations general surgeons perform, and Dr. Shakir treats both at the Katy and Sugar Land offices.
Is robotic surgery better than laparoscopic surgery?
Robotic surgery is not automatically better. It can be helpful for certain ventral, incisional and recurrent hernias, while laparoscopic surgery works very well for most gallbladder removals. Dr. Shakir recommends the approach that suits your condition.
Do I need a referral to see Dr. Shakir?
Many patients are referred by their primary care doctor or an emergency room, but some insurance plans, often HMO plans, require a referral. Our staff can help you check your plan. See insurance information.
Helpful Reading Before Your Visit
Schedule a General Surgery Appointment
Talk with Dr. Shakir about a hernia, gallbladder problem or other surgical concern at our Katy or Sugar Land office. New patients are welcome.
This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For severe abdominal pain or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated September 30, 2026.