Undergo Expert Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery in the Sacramento Region

Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery is performed at Dignity Health to treat problems of the female reproductive system. Rather than using large incisions to reach the reproductive organs, surgeons go inside the body through the vagina or tiny incisions made in the abdomen.

People generally recover more quickly after minimally invasive surgery than after traditional, open surgery. Compared to traditional surgery, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery is associated with less pain, blood loss, and disruption to your life. Women who have minimally invasive gynecologic surgery can usually return to their usual activities about a week or two after the procedure. With traditional gynecologic surgery, full recovery often takes a month or more.

Experienced gynecologic surgeons at Dignity Health use minimally invasive surgery in the Sacramento region to treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Ovarian cysts
• Uterine fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Pelvic pain
• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Urinary incontinence
• Cancer, including ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers
• Uterine or bladder prolapse

If you’ve been diagnosed with one of these conditions, find a gynecologist at Dignity Health to see if minimally invasive gynecologic surgery is an option. We are leaders in using the latest technologies, such as da Vinci® Surgical System, to reduce pain and recovery times.

What to Expect from Gynecologic Surgery at Dignity Health

There are two main approaches to minimally invasive gynecologic surgery:

• Hysteroscopic surgery, or no-incision surgery. For some surgeries, especially surgeries affecting the uterus, doctors can reach the surgical site through the vagina and cervix.
• Laparoscopic surgery, requires the surgeon to make tiny incisions in the abdomen to reach the reproductive organs. Carbon dioxide gas is used to gently inflate the belly to make it easier to see organs and maneuver surgical tools. Surgeons insert tiny cameras, lights, and surgical instruments through the incisions. The camera and lights allow doctors to better see the inside of the body as they perform the surgery. Sometimes, doctors use a special surgical robot to increase their ability to reach and move the instruments within the body. This is called robot-assisted surgery.

Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery is performed in an operating room under general anesthesia. You will be “asleep” during the procedure. Your Dignity Health gynecologist or surgeon will explain your procedure to you well in advance, so you can feel as comfortable and prepared as possible.

Recovering After Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

After surgery, you will go to the recovery room, where nurses will monitor your vital signs and overall health as you “wake up” from anesthesia. From there, you will probably go to a regular hospital room for more monitoring. Most women go home within 24 hours of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. The length of your hospital stay will depend on the procedure, your overall health, and whether you have any complications. Your care team will provide you with any information you need to know about your recovery period, such as what activities to avoid or medications to take.