Hysterectomy

What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your uterus. Depending on your condition and the reason for your hysterectomy, your surgeon may remove just your uterus or your other reproductive organs including your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and cervix.

Historically, hysterectomies required a large abdominal incision. Today, most hysterectomies are performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques like laparoscopy.

At Tangchitnob MD, you can also opt for robotically assisted hysterectomies with the use of the Da Vinci robotic surgery system, which can provide even greater surgical precision.

Why would I need a hysterectomy?

Drs. Dumrong and Edward Tangchitnob perform hysterectomies to correct health conditions that haven’t responded to other more conservative treatments. Some of the conditions that may need to be treated with a hysterectomy include:

• Cancer of the reproductive organs
• Uterine fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Uterine prolapse
• Hyperplasia
• Pelvic pain

These conditions are painful and often cause abnormally heavy bleeding which is not only disruptive to your life but also can lead to other symptoms like anemia and fatigue. In some cases, a hysterectomy is the best way to remove cancer and prevent future growth of abnormal cells.

What should I expect during and after a hysterectomy?

Your doctors will make every effort to ensure you are comfortable and safe during your hysterectomy. All procedures are performed with a general anesthetic. If you have a minimally invasive surgery such as robotically assisted surgery or a laparoscopic procedure, you may be released the same day to recuperate at home. If you need a traditional surgery, you may need to spend a little more time in the hospital.

Minimally invasive hysterectomies are performed with specialized surgical instruments that are inserted through small incisions in your abdomen. One of the instruments is a laparoscope that sends a video feed to a monitor in the treatment room so your doctor can see inside your body to perform the procedure.

After your hysterectomy is complete, your doctor closes your incisions with a stitch or suture. You may need to take a couple of days off to rest and recover, but you should be able to walk around soon after your anesthesia wears off. Your doctor will schedule a post-surgical follow-up appointment to check that you’re healing properly about a week after your surgery.

To learn more about your options for hysterectomies, call or schedule an appointment online today at Tangchitnob MD.

*Individual results may vary.