What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Minimally invasive surgery, also called laparoscopic surgery, is surgery your doctor performs using specialized tools that they insert through a few small incisions.

In some procedures, you won’t need any incisions. For example, uterine fibroids can be removed with minimally invasive surgery by inserting the tools through your cervix.

All of the surgical tools used in laparoscopic surgery are contained in long narrow tubes that easily fit through the tiny incisions. Then your doctor controls the tools from outside your body.

The key piece of equipment is the laparoscope, which contains lighting and a high-definition camera. It transmits magnified images to a monitor, giving your doctor a close-up view of the surgical site.

What is the da Vinci® Surgical System?

In addition to specializing in minimally invasive surgery, the doctors at Hill Country OB/GYN also have extensive training and experience using the da Vinci Surgical System.

The da Vinci is an advanced device used to perform robotic-assisted laparoscopic procedures. With the da Vinci, your doctor can perform minimally invasive surgery with enhanced precision.

The laparoscope and surgical tools are affixed to robotic arms that are completely controlled by your doctor from a nearby computer console.

The robotic arms intuitively respond to the doctor’s hand and finger movements, yet they perform dexterity and a range of motion that exceeds human hands.

What are the Advantages of Minimally Invasive Surgery?

The small incisions used for minimally invasive surgery cause significantly less trauma than a single, long incision. As a result you:

• Heal faster

• Develop minimal scarring

• Have a lower risk of infection

• Have less postoperative pain

• Return to normal activities sooner

Minimally invasive surgery is often done as an outpatient procedure. When minimally invasive surgery is performed in the hospital, your stay is much shorter compared to open surgery.