LAPAROSCOPY SURGERY NEW YORK, NY
Laparoscopy Surgery in the Greater New York City Metro Area
Issues plaguing a woman’s reproductive system usually require a closer look at the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes. Our team at Manhattan Reproductive Surgery Center (MRSC) often utilizes laparoscopy in the Greater New York City Metro Area to diagnose and treat various ailments, including infections, tumors, ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic prolapse, blockages, and more. If you need diagnostic laparoscopy, scheduling an appointment with us may be done via phone or by filling out a request for an appointment. As the first stand-alone ambulatory surgical center focused on reproductive surgery in New York, our highly skilled surgeons provide an elevated patient experience with minimally invasive procedures. Come see us!
What Is A Laparoscopy? What’s It Used to Diagnose?
Laparoscopy is an outpatient procedure used to examine your abdominal and reproductive organs. During a laparoscopy, a laparoscope (thin fiber-optic scope with a camera) is inserted through a small incision in your abdomen. If other diagnostic imaging hasn’t identified the cause of your issue, a laparoscopy may be recommended to get a closer look at your uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. Diagnostic laparoscopies are often used to confirm conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis. They’re also helpful in looking for blockages in the fallopian tubes and other common causes of female infertility, as well as in diagnosing the cause of pain in the pelvic or abdominal region. We may also collect tissue samples (biopsies) during a laparoscopy.
Common Reasons for Undergoing a Laparoscopy
- Determine if you have blockages of the fallopian tubes or for other causes of infertility
- Examine a tissue mass
- Removal of fibroids (Myomectomy)
- Diagnosis & removal of endometriosis (stages 1-4)
- Removal of ovarian cysts (Ovarian Cystectomy)
- Laparoscopic lysis (removal) of adhesions and restoration of normal pelvic anatomy
The entire procedure takes about 30 to 90 minutes but maybe slightly longer if your doctor finds something we can treat right away. As with most medical procedures, the sooner we can assess and correct an issue, the better.
Why is it a Better Choice?
Unlike traditional open or robotic surgeries, our revolutionary laparoscopic techniques are low-risk and minimally invasive, offering:
- Faster recovery times
- Lower rates of infection
- Less visible scarring
Preparation for a Laparoscopy Procedure at MRSC
If you’re prepping for a laparoscopy at MRSC, we’ll ask you not to eat, drink, or smoke after midnight on the day before your procedure. We recommend wearing comfortable low-heeled shoes and loose-fitting clothing, as your abdomen may be tender or sore afterward. Do not wear jewelry or nail polish. We’ll likely need copies of any previous X-rays from other facilities, as well as records of your lab work, tissue specimens, and pathology reports. Before suggesting laparoscopy, we may order other diagnostic scans, including a pelvic ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
How Is a Laparoscopic Surgery Performed?
During laparoscopic surgery, you’ll be given a general anesthetic to relax and numb you. You’ll lie down on an operating table in a slightly tilted position. Tiny laparoscopic incisions are usually made near your navel (belly button), so we can insert a laparoscope through the abdomen. We’ll expand your abdominal area using a special type of gas. If we’re taking tissue samples or removing fibroids or scar tissue, we may make a second incision near your pubic hairline. After your laparoscopy, we’ll likely keep you under observation for about an hour. Some patients may need to stay at the hospital for a few hours, but most do not need to stay overnight. Once discharged, laparoscopy recovery at home begins.
What Should I Expect With Laparoscopy Recovery at Home?
You shouldn’t drive or drink alcohol within the first 24 hours. Minor discomfort after surgery is common. You may experience a swollen abdomen, sore throat, mild nausea, vaginal bleeding, or abdominal gas causing discomfort in the neck, shoulders, or chest that may be alleviated with a heating pad, warm shower, or brief walk. You may remove the bandage the next day, although we suggest replacing it with steri-strips for at least two to three days following your laparoscopic surgery. Many patients return to work in as little as three days. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled 2-8 weeks after your laparoscopy to ensure everything is healing properly and to minimize the risk of infections and other rare complications, which may include bleeding, inflammation of the abdominal wall, blood clots, or injury to your adjacent organs.
What Are the Benefits of Laparoscopic Surgery?
Generally, laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive, offering patients shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery, lower rates of infection, and less visible scarring than other surgical procedures. Laparoscopic surgery helps patients avoid large open wounds, resulting in less blood loss, pain, and discomfort. Most patients report feeling less pain while they wait for their scars to heal, which allows them to resume normal activities sooner rather than later. It was first used for gallbladder surgeries before being recommended for gynecology operations. Today, laparoscopic surgery may be used to remove fibroids, endometriosis (stages 1-4), and ovarian cysts or to restore normal pelvic anatomy.
Schedule a Manhattan Reproductive Surgery Center Appointment
Laparoscopy at our Greater New York City Metro Area surgical center usually takes about 30-90 minutes, unless the doctor finds something that must be treated right away. Please contact us to schedule an appointment for a consultation to determine if laparoscopic surgery is right for you. The sooner we can assess and correct an issue, the better your prognosis. You’re in good hands at Manhattan Reproductive Surgery Center. You may also view our helpful patient resources prior to your appointment.
Myomectomy
If you have fibroids and you are considering getting pregnant in the future, your doctor might suggest a myomectomy. This surgery removes the fibroids but protects the uterus to preserve your fertility.
A myomectomy can be performed three ways:
- Abdominal myomectomy is a conventional open surgery and may be best if you have many or large fibroids. This surgery allows your doctor to remove the fibroids through an incision in the lower abdomen. Recovery time rarely exceeds 4-6 weeks but varies depending on the complexity of the procedure.
- Laparoscopic myomectomy is a minimally invasive technique requiring only tiny abdominal incisions. This method is recommended for women who have a small number of subserous fibroids. Your surgeon will remove the fibroids using thin scopes that contain surgical and viewing instruments. Recovery is typically 2-4 weeks.
- Hysteroscopic myomectomy may be used for removal of submucous fibroids found in the uterine cavity. Your surgeon will use a special instrument called a hysteroscopic resectoscope which passes through the vagina and cervical canal to remove your fibroids. Recovery is typically 2-3 days.
The type of myomectomy procedure you have depends on the size of your fibroids and where they’re located. After surgery, most women experience relief of symptoms, such as excessive menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain as well as fertility
Ovarian Cystectomy
Ovarian cystectomy is a surgery to remove the cyst(s) from one or both of your ovaries while keeping the ovaries intact to preserve fertility.
An ovarian cyst is a sac of fluid that can develop inside the ovaries and usually develop as a result of your menstrual cycle. In most cases, ovarian cysts are harmless and disappear on their own- typically after a few months. However, some cysts can cause symptoms, hinder fertility or become cancerous.
If the cyst becomes large, persists or causes symptoms, your doctor might recommend surgery. Ovarian cystectomy is a surgery to remove the cyst(s) from one or both of your ovaries while keeping the ovaries intact to preserve fertility.
Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy is a minimally invasive surgery requiring only tiny abdominal incisions. Your surgeon will remove the cyst(s) through these incisions by using thin scopes that contain surgical and viewing instruments to extract the mass.
You can expect to recover in as little as 2 weeks.