It is no secret that technology has advanced beyond belief.

This is also true when it comes to medicine.

Can you believe that just 20 years ago DNA evidence and profiling was regarded as "too confusing" and inadmissible in a court of law? We certainly have come a long way since.

Perhaps 20 years ago, having a camera inside one's body would have been regarded as a plot in a science-fiction movie.

Also read: Avoid a trip to the doctor later by following some of these useful tips

Yet fast forward to 2016 and you can actually have a camera inserted inside your body to visually detect any abnormalities and help doctors make the right diagnosis.

Yes, this means that you can actually have a screen shot of what your insides look like.

To get an insight into this fascinating procedure, surgeon Selepe Motuba explains when and how cameras get into the body.

"In medical terms, the process of inserting a camera in the human body is called a scope. There are many reasons why doctors would insert a camera into the human body, and these are the procedures:

GASTROSCOPY - Looking into the stomach by inserting a flexible camera via the mouth.

COLONOSCOPY - Looking into the colon or large bowel via the anus.

LAPARASCOPY - Looking into the abdominal cavity via a small hole on the anterior abdominal wall.

ARTHROSCOPY - Looking into a joint.

THORACOSCOPY - Looking into the chest.

Motuba says the last three procedures above are commonly known as "keyhole surgery".

He explains that these procedures are required for diagnosis as well as treatment of particular conditions. Motuba gives examples of what conditions could call for a camera evaluation.

The gall bladder stones that are symptomatic, which means they are causing the patient pain, are removed via a laparascopy.

The removal of the whole gall bladder is also done via a laparascopy.

A cancer of the colon (large bowel) can also be removed via a laparascopy if the cancer has not yet spread.

Motuba explains the cameras are usually tiny and noninvasive.

"The cameras can be in either 10mm and 5mm lenses, which is relatively small. The camera is a rigid instrument that can be introduced into cavities (small spaces) and viewed on a screen just like a television.

"Other smaller rigid instruments helpful in the particular procedure are also introduced and the entire operation is done actually looking at the screen by the operating team. These procedures are usually done under a general anaesthetic, and the patient is fully asleep and given medication for pain so that there is absolutely no pain experienced by the patient during the procedure."

He says the cameras and instrumentation are usually stainless steel or titanium to ensure a minimal chance of any side effects.

When it comes to the cost of having a camera inserted into your body, Motuba says it can be a bit pricey, but that it comes with a lot of advantages.

"The procedure is generally more expensive than conventional methods, but the patient's recovery time is much quicker, with less pain. Hence this is by far and large the most preferred method of treatment nowadays," he says.

As with any medical procedure, Motuba says there can be problems that arise from having a camera inserted into the body, but that the complications are fairly minimal.

"There are well recognised complications with any keyhole surgery and the patients have to be informed about them prior to the procedure.

"But what is key is that the surgeon should be well-trained and experienced.

"One important factor that the patients have to be told and understand is that there is always the possibility of converting back to the old conventional method during the actual surgery.

"Patients should be aware that this is not necessarily failure on the surgeon's side, but in the best interest of the patient to avoid complications," he says.