Surgeries & Procedures
At times women may need advanced gynecologic surgery to treat a condition, such as a caesarian section, abnormal bleeding, gynecologic cancer or fibroids. Our board-certified gynecologists are all experienced surgeons who have helped hundreds of patients with their needed surgery.
When appropriate, our OB-GYNs utilize minimally invasive surgery with advanced technologies such as the daVinci robotic system and laparoscopy for greater precision and quicker patient recovery times.
Common gynecologic surgeries
Endometrial ablation
Endometrial ablation is a short, safe office procedure reducing heavy periods by destroying the endometrial lining with no incisions & producing no scars.
Laparoscopy
An instrument called a laparoscope is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision to allow the surgeon to view the abdomen and its organs.
In order to insert the tools, the surgeon makes a quarter- to a half-inch incision under the belly button and up to three more similarly sized incisions at the belly’s hairline.
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove a woman’s uterus (or womb). Depending on the condition the hysterectomy is meant to treat, other reproductive organs may also be removed. Hysterectomies are performed by either traditional (or “open”) surgery or utilizing minimally invasive techniques.
Minimally invasive surgery
Minimally invasive procedures are an alternative option to open surgery. The surgeon uses small scope devices and tools to view and operate internally on the pelvis, abdomen, uterus and other organs.
The scope and other tools used with minimally invasive surgery allow the doctor to make minimal
incisions, which leave smaller scars, reduce the chance of clotting or infection, lessens post-surgery pain, and decrease recovery time compared to traditional surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery can often be performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning the patient gets to go home within the same day, as apposed to staying several days at the hospital to recover.
Robotic surgery
Robotic surgery is often used in combination with minimally invasive procedures to provide the doctor greater precision and flexibility during surgery, especially when removing growths or correcting problems in the pelvic area.
Performing robotic surgery requires extensive specialized training. The surgeon uses a computer system to control robotic surgical tools, including tiny cameras to view the internal structure of the pelvis, abdomen and uterus.
Hysteroscopy
An instrument called a hysteroscope is inserted through the vagina and cervix into the uterus to give the doctor a view inside of the uterus.
Because a hysteroscopy is performed through natural body openings (the vagina and cervix), it does not require any incisions, and so does not leave any visible scars.
Surgical risks & concerns
All surgeries carry some form of risk. The most common risk for surgery is bruising, infection and blood loss.
Minimally invasive surgery minimizes these risk but is not always the best solution for all conditions – open surgery will sometimes be the more effective option. Additionally, patients who are obese or who have had previous open surgery in the abdomen are not considered good candidates for minimally invasive procedures.
Whether or not minimally invasive surgery is available depends on the doctor’s experience and the facility having the correct equipment.
Robotic surgery may be performed for minimally invasive or open surgery. However, the availability of the robotic computer system and tools at the hospital or facility, as well as the doctor’s ability to operate the computerized controls, will determine if robotic-assisted surgery can be performed.
