Dr. Mahmoud Tabbal

Directions Website Contact the practice

Dr. Mahmoud Tabbal Dr. Mahmoud Tabbal is a Consultant General, Hepatobiliary & Transplant Surgeon with 19+ years of experience in the USA, Canada, KSA, and Jordan.

Recently, he worked as the head of Hepatobiliary Surgery at King Fahad Specilaists Hospital.

24/08/2026

When patients ask me about robotic surgery, they usually aren’t interested in the robot.

They’re interested in what happens afterwards. How much pain will there be? How long will I be in hospital? When can I drive again, go back to work, exercise, or travel? Those are the questions that matter.

For many liver, gallbladder and pancreatic procedures, robotic surgery allows us to operate through much smaller incisions than traditional open surgery. That typically means less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker return to normal daily activities.

The technology is important because it gives surgeons greater precision. The benefit to patients is often a smoother recovery. That’s the part people remember.

Book a consultation: drmahmoudtabbal.com


Patients sometimes feel uncomfortable asking for a second surgical opinion. They shouldn’t.Two surgeons may agree comple...
23/08/2026

Patients sometimes feel uncomfortable asking for a second surgical opinion. They shouldn’t.

Two surgeons may agree completely on the diagnosis but recommend different ways of treating it. One may suggest open surgery, another a minimally invasive or robotic approach. Sometimes the question is whether surgery is needed at all, or whether it is needed now.

A second opinion isn’t about proving the first doctor wrong. It is an opportunity to understand the diagnosis, the options available, the risks and benefits of each approach, and why a particular treatment is being recommended.

Especially with major liver, pancreatic or complex abdominal surgery, you should feel comfortable that you understand the plan before you proceed. Good medicine should stand up to a second opinion.

Book a consultation: drmahmoudtabbal.com


Many patients arrive at their first appointment and say the same thing: “I should have come sooner.” Often, they’ve spen...
20/08/2026

Many patients arrive at their first appointment and say the same thing: “I should have come sooner.”

Often, they’ve spent weeks or months wondering whether the symptom is serious enough, whether it will go away on its own, or whether surgery is the only answer. The reality is that a first consultation is about getting clarity.

We talk about your symptoms, your medical history, any scans or tests you’ve already had, and what might be causing the problem.

Sometimes the answer is reassurance. Sometimes further investigations are needed. Sometimes surgery is part of the discussion.

But the goal of the appointment is understanding what is happening and what your options are. Most patients leave with far more information than they arrived with, and usually much less uncertainty.

Book a consultation: drmahmoudtabbal.com


One of the challenges with bile duct cancer is that it rarely announces itself clearly. The symptoms often look like som...
17/08/2026

One of the challenges with bile duct cancer is that it rarely announces itself clearly. The symptoms often look like something else.

A patient develops jaundice. Someone notices dark urine. There may be discomfort in the upper abdomen, itching, or unexplained weight loss. Many people assume it is a liver problem, gallstones, or a temporary digestive issue. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn’t.

The reason these symptoms deserve proper investigation is that bile duct cancer is often diagnosed late, not because patients ignore it, but because the early signs can easily be mistaken for more common conditions.

As surgeons, we are trained to look beyond the obvious explanation. If you develop jaundice or unexplained changes involving the liver or biliary system, don’t assume you already know the cause.

Get it checked. Book a consultation: drmahmoudtabbal.com


Every surgeon has enormous respect for organ donors and their families. Their decision gives patients a second chance at...
13/08/2026

Every surgeon has enormous respect for organ donors and their families. Their decision gives patients a second chance at life.

But whenever I think about liver transplantation, I also think about prevention. Many of the patients who eventually need a liver transplant started years earlier with conditions such as fatty liver disease, chronic hepatitis or progressive liver damage that initially caused few symptoms.

A transplant can be lifesaving. The better outcome is never needing one at all.

That is why early diagnosis matters. Finding liver disease before significant damage has occurred gives us the opportunity to monitor it, manage it and, in many cases, slow or prevent progression.

Organ donation saves lives. Early detection helps protect them. Book a consultation: drmahmoudtabbal.com


Every September, I see patients who tell me the same thing: “I know my liver tests weren’t perfect before summer.” A few...
10/08/2026

Every September, I see patients who tell me the same thing: “I know my liver tests weren’t perfect before summer.”

A few weeks of late nights, heavier meals, less activity and disrupted routines may not sound significant, but for someone who already has fatty liver disease, elevated liver enzymes or metabolic risk factors, it can be enough to push things further in the wrong direction.

The challenge is that the liver rarely complains. Most patients with fatty liver disease feel completely well.
There is usually no pain and no obvious warning sign that anything has changed.

That’s why I often recommend repeating blood tests and, where appropriate, an ultrasound after the summer period. You may feel exactly the same. Your liver may not.

Book a consultation: drmahmoudtabbal.com


One of the most common things I hear from hernia patients is: “I’ve been meaning to do something about it.” Usually, the...
06/08/2026

One of the most common things I hear from hernia patients is: “I’ve been meaning to do something about it.”

Usually, they have known about the hernia for months, sometimes years. The lump is there. It may be uncomfortable. It may not be causing much trouble at all.

The problem is that hernias do not repair themselves. In most cases, they gradually become larger over time, making surgery more complex than it would have been earlier. Occasionally, a hernia can become trapped, cutting off the blood supply to the tissue inside it. What could have been planned surgery becomes an emergency.

For patients who have been postponing treatment because of work, travel or family commitments, late summer is often a practical time to deal with it. Planned surgery is always preferable to emergency surgery.

Book a consultation: drmahmoudtabbal.com


One of the most common conversations I have in August starts with: “I meant to get this checked before I travelled.” It ...
03/08/2026

One of the most common conversations I have in August starts with: “I meant to get this checked before I travelled.”

It might be pain under the ribs after eating. A lump that has been there for a few months. Discomfort that comes and goes. Sometimes it’s jaundice that seemed to improve on its own.

Most of the time, people are hoping the symptom will settle down. Occasionally it does. Often it doesn’t.

Gallstones don’t disappear because you’ve been on holiday. Hernias don’t repair themselves. Liver and pancreatic conditions don’t stop progressing while life is busy.

If you’ve come back from summer with a symptom that was already there when you left, now is the time to have it checked. The earlier we investigate, the more options we usually have. Book a consultation: drmahmoudtabbal.com


31/07/2026

Yellowing of the skin or eyes should never be ignored.

This condition, known as jaundice, occurs when bilirubin builds up in the bloodstream because the liver or bile ducts are not functioning normally.

Sometimes the cause is straightforward, such as a gallstone blocking a bile duct. In other cases, it may indicate a more serious liver, pancreatic or bile duct condition.

The important point is this: jaundice is a symptom, not a diagnosis. If you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, seek medical advice promptly.

Book a consultation via the link in my bio.

24/07/2026

One of the most common things I hear is: “I feel fine. Do I really need a colonoscopy?”

Yes. The purpose of a colonoscopy is not simply to find cancer. It is to prevent it.

By identifying and removing polyps before they become cancerous, we can often stop the disease before it starts.

If you are 45 or older, screening should be part of your healthcare plan, even if you feel completely well.

Book a consultation via the link in my bio.

Address

Sheikh Zayed Road/Al Barsha/Al Barsha 1
Dubai
124412

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dr. Mahmoud Tabbal posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Dr. Mahmoud Tabbal:

Shortcuts

Sponsored

Share

Category