What is a laparoscopic hysterectomy?

During a laparoscopic hysterectomy, the surgeon maneuvers instruments that are inserted through special ports in the patient's abdomen. Typically, three dime-sized incisions are needed to place the various laparoscopic devices inside the patients. One of those instruments is a tiny camera called an endoscope. The endoscope's view from inside the patient is displayed on a color video monitor that the surgeon views to conduct the procedure. In many cases this technique offers a better visualization of the body's internal structures than traditional open surgery.

What are the advantages of a laparoscopic hysterectomy surgery?

Because the incisions used in a laparoscopic hysterectomy procedure versus the "traditional" method are much smaller, there are several notable advantages including less pain for the patient, minimal scarring, fewer chances of complications, and a quicker recovery time.

Preparations for laparoscopic hysterectomy surgery?

Planning ahead for your surgery is important. Your care team will offer more specific instructions to you for preparing, but some good rules of thumb include the following:

  • Identify your caregiver for your recovery at home.
  • Eat a well-balanced diet.
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Lose weight if you're overweight.
  • Stop smoking.

How Long Does a Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Surgery Take?

Hospital stay from laparoscopic hysterectomy surgery

Typical patient stay can range from about 24 to 36 hours

Recovery time from laparoscopic hysterectomy surgery

Recovery time for a laparoscopic hysterectomy surgery is greatly reduced at around 2 weeks versus 4-6 weeks for open methods.

Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH)
Offered at McLaren Central Michigan

McLaren Central Michigan and the physicians of the Women's Medical Center offer Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH).

The LSH procedure uses a thin, lighted telescope-like instrument called a laparoscope, which acts like a video camera, along with small surgical instruments that are all inserted through three to four tiny incisions in the navel and abdomen. Using the instruments, the surgeon carefully separates the uterus and cervix from the vagina and removes it through the vagina. Because this type of surgery does not require the surgeon to make a large abdominal incision, a woman will not have the same kind of visible scar typical with most traditional "open" surgeries.

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