Disclaimer: This is only my experience. I choose going natural. I have used organic, integrative, functional, holistic Naturopathic doctor's advice along with my MD’s since the early 1980's. Personally at 71, I can't imagine an operation. After numerous months of trial I found a system that works well.
Good luck. I have tried laxatives and they are not consistent and have side effects like bloating, etc. And all say for occasional use. They disrupt and make the system unbalanced if taken continuously. I liked a response from a co-redundant colon person: “It’s physical” so regular constipation suggestions may not work.
Last Dec the doc had me do a non sedated colonoscopy. He could get through the colon as I watched on TV. I had had a baby years ago (natural and could stand pain) so figured I could stand it – it was no big deal. Most people in world don't get put out. Very interesting and it helped allow the scope to get through because I relaxed. Look up Osmotic gradients (MMC which is the electroactivity in the GI tract during meals and fasting) and Migrating motor complex. If too much water is pulled into the colon, diarrhea results. If not enough water is pulled into the colon constipation results. We gotta balance the moisture in our long pipes! Balance of minerals and your electrolyte is important.
OptiMag and K2+ Potassium are great supps and be sure to include prunes, squash, sweet potatoes, rhubarb etc in your diet. I like to soak ground 2T chia and 2 T flax seeds in prune juice overnight, then take half in the next morning and half that night. Throw sugar out, processed and refined foods and drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning - boys scouts. Standard American Diet is not helpful. Coffee and Smooth Move are my back ups. I don't like coffee but it usually works if my regularity is less than optimal. Thankfully I seldom need coffee. Calcium carbonate seems to be the most constipating. I depend on blood work from time to time to make sure my minerals are balanced. Good luck, @farmersmith