How Does a Hysterectomy Using Minimally Invasive Surgery Work?

While you would have preferred not to need a hysterectomy in the first place, you recognize that this is your best path forward to improve your health and wellness. It may be of some comfort to know that you’re joining a large group — about 400,000 hysterectomies are performed each year in the United States, mostly for benign issues. 

The team here at Women’s Clinic of the Rio Grande Valley, under the expert direction of gynecologic surgeon Dr. Fernando Otero, has helped many of our patients navigate the hysterectomy process with great success. 

While this success is largely based on our extensive experience, our expert use of minimally invasive surgical techniques is also key.

What does “minimally invasive” mean?

It used to be that surgeons needed to make a large incision in order to access the surgical site with their hands, not to mention get a better view. With minimally invasive surgery, which is also called laparoscopic surgery, we can avoid making large incisions because we have advanced technology solutions for both requirements — visual and manual access.

First, we only make small incisions through which we thread a tiny, lighted camera. This camera delivers high-definition, 3D images of the surgical site that we can view on a screen. Not only can we gain visual access to the surgical area, our view is even better because we can magnify the images — something we can’t do when we’re performing open surgery.

Next, we can perform the necessary work, in this case removing your uterus and perhaps other reproductive organs, using specialized tools that we also thread through small incisions.

These instruments translate the movements of our hands with accuracy and precision and complete the work with the least amount of collateral damage.

Two minimally invasive approaches to a hysterectomy

In general, there are two minimally invasive approaches to a hysterectomy, either through the vagina or the abdomen.

Vaginal approach: We can reduce or eliminate the need for any incision by going in through your vagina to perform your hysterectomy.

Abdominal approach: We enter through your lower abdomen using 3-4 incisions, each less than an inch long.

Whenever we can, we try to go in vaginally to perform a hysterectomy, but there are times when we need access to other organs, in which case we go use an abdominal approach.

In either case, using a minimally invasive approach to your hysterectomy offers incredible benefits, such as:

• Reduced risk for infection
• Minimal blood loss
• Less postoperative pain
• Shorter hospital stay

If you have more questions about minimally invasive surgery for your hysterectomy, we’re here to help. We believe in patient education, and we want to work with you to find the best solution for your surgical needs.

To get started, please contact one of our offices in McAllen or Edinburg, Texas, to schedule a consultation