Carolina Women's Health

Gone are the days when having gynecologic surgery meant days in the hospital and weeks – or even months – of recovery. With today’s technology and surgical techniques, most gynecologic procedures can be done in a minimally-invasive way, which means smaller scars, faster recovery times and most importantly, getting you back to your life faster. The physicians at Carolina Women’s Health are leaders in the upstate for minimally-invasive Gynecologic surgery. More than 95% of all of our gynecologic surgery is done using minimally invasive techniques.

Laparoscopy is a procedure in which a tiny camera is inserted in your abdomen, and is used for a variety of reasons. Sometimes laparoscopy is used simply to give your doctor a better view of what is going on inside your body. Other times, your doctor can complete a procedure at the same time. For example for those with endometriosis or ovarian cysts, if your doctor sees an area that needs to be removed, he or she can do it right then with the laparoscopic tools.

Usually, two or three incisions are made in your abdomen, including one in your belly button, to allow the surgical instruments to be used in your body. Recovery time for a laparoscopic procedure is one to two weeks.

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Fortunately, nearly all hysterectomies done for non-cancerous conditions are done using minimally invasive techniques.  As opposed to a traditional open hysterectomy that requires a sizable cut across the abdomen, there are options for hysterectomies done through the vagina, laparoscopic hysterectomies performed with tiny incisions in the abdomen, hysterectomies performed with robotic technology and even laparoscopic procedures performed through a single incision in the belly button (SILS hysterectomy). The laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomies have a dramatically faster recovery time, less scarring and less pain than an open hysterectomy. In fact, many women having one of these procedures can feel back to herself in as few as a few weeks and sometimes are able to return to work in 2-3 weeks.  Our physicians offer vaginal, laparoscopic, SILS (Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery), and DaVinci Robotic hysterectomy.

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Another common minimally-invasive procedure is endometrial ablation. This procedure is used to help dysfunctional uterine bleeding by destroying the cells that line the uterus. It can be performed in as little as 45 minutes, and women typically recover in just a few days.

Learn more about endometrial ablation >>