It’s normal to feel anxious when you need gynecological surgery, but with recent advances in medical techniques, procedures can be less invasive with faster, easier recovery. Philadelphia’s renowned gynecological surgeon Sonya Lee, MD, Gynecology Specialist of Philadelphia have expertise in minimally invasive surgery. To learn more about how minimally invasive gynecologic surgery can help you, call Gynecology Specialists or book an appointment online today.
Minimally Invasive Surgery Q & A
What is minimally invasive gynecologic surgery?
Dr. Lee is an exceptionally skilled surgeon with years of experience. She knows that you, like most of their patients, prefer to avoid surgery if at all possible. That’s why she explores every non-surgical treatment option first.
If your condition requires surgery, Dr. Lee will use the most advanced, minimally invasive techniques in the field. Minimally invasive surgeries use smaller incisions, cause less pain, and allow you to heal faster than traditional open surgeries.
How do gynecologists use minimally invasive surgery?
Dr. Lee specializes in minimally invasive procedures to treat a variety of gynecological problems. Many other doctors still rely on open surgeries because they often lack experience with more advanced techniques.
The team at Gynecology Specialists know that most people are candidates for minimally invasive surgery, and they can even perform many of these procedures on an outpatient basis.
Gynecology Specialists use minimally invasive techniques to manage the following common conditions:
Pelvic pain
Fibroids
Endometriosis
Abnormal or heavy bleeding
Ovarian Cysts
Sterilization
Hysterectomy
What is a minimally invasive hysterectomy?
Many gynecologists still perform abdominal hysterectomies, which require large incisions on your abdomen and are very painful to recover from. However, most patients are good candidates for a minimally invasive hysterectomy.
Dr. Lee practices laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomies (LAVH) and transvaginal hysterectomies (TVH). In both of these procedures, she removes your uterus through a small incision in your vagina instead of a large incision on your abdomen.
In a LAVH procedure, the doctors use a special instrument, or a laparoscope, that allows them to view your pelvic organs through a camera. A TVH procedure doesn’t use a laparoscope.
What are the benefits of minimally invasive procedures?
Minimally invasive surgeries offer several advantages over traditional, open surgeries. Less scarring, pain, and recovery time are a few of the most significant advantages of minimally invasive surgery. Other benefits include:
Less trauma to your organs and tissues
Decreased strain on your immune system
Less bleeding
Reduced need for painkillers
Reduced hospital time
Sometimes can be done as outpatient procedures
If you have women’s health issues and want to learn more about whether minimally invasive gynecologic surgery is right for you, call Gynecology Specialists of Philadelphia or book an appointment online today.Specialists often performs these procedures on an outpatient basis. Conditions we manage with minimally invasive techniques include:
Abnormal or Heavy Bleeding There are many causes of abnormal bleeding, including hormone imbalances, chronic medical conditions, fibroids, polyps, and certain types of cancer.One treatment for heavy bleeding we use is the NovaSure endometrial ablation procedure, which is a simple and effective choice for many of our patients.
Fibroids Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumors of the uterus. Hysterectomy is not the only treatment option for fibroids. Depending on their size and number, we can identify and treat fibroids using hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or uterine artery embolization (UAE). Click here for more information.
Pelvic Pain Pelvic pain can be caused by infections, ovarian cysts, scar tissue from prior surgery, endometriosis, and fibroids. It is also caused by many gastroenterologic, musculoskeletal, and psychological disorders. We use minimally invasive techniques to help pinpoint the causes of pelvic pain.
Endometriosis Endometriosis occurs when the normal lining of the uterus grows on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other pelvic structures. A laparoscopic procedure is necessary to definitively diagnose endometriosis. It can be treated with medications or with surgery, however. Click here for more information.
Ovarian Cysts Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on the ovaries. Most cysts are a normal part of ovulation and don’t require treatment. Occasionally, a cyst becomes complicated. When it does, we can remove it using laparoscopic surgical techniques.
Hysterectomy We specialize in laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomies (LAVH) and transvaginal hysterectomies (TVH) in which the uterus is removed through the vagina.We recommend this technique to our patients because it offers superior results with smaller incisions, less post-operative pain, and shorter recovery times. The transvaginal method has many advantages over robotic surgery, including fewer incisions and shorter operating times. Click here for more information.
Sterilizations We suggest hysteroscopic tubal ligations and Essure micro-inserts, which require no incisions and no general anesthesia, to our patients who are ready for permanent birth control.
