How Are Hysterectomies Performed?

If you are about to have a hysterectomy, have you and your doctor considered the kind of hysterectomy you would like to undergo? Yes, there are differentoptions. If you have not done your research on this matter or your doctor hasn't discussed the options with you, you may be surprised to learn that there are other types of hysterectomy other than the popular abdominal hysterectomy.

Two Types of Hysterectomies

Abdominal Hysterectomy

So what are the different types of hysterectomy? First, there is the abdominal hysterectomy. This hysterectomy type means that the surgeon will perform the operation through an opening in your abdomen.

Vaginal Laparoscopic Assisted Hysterectomy

Second, you can undergo a vaginal laparoscopic assisted hysterectomy. This surgery is relatively new and gives women another option besides the abdominal hysterectomy. Vaginal laparscopic assisted hysterectomy cannot be used in cases where a woman's uterus is too big or keep the cervix from being removed.

Hospital Stays After Hysterectomies

Keep in mind that no matter what type of hysterectomy you choose, it will be done as an in-patient surgery. You will undergo a general anesthesia and will stay in the hospital for up to a week after the surgery so that doctors can observe you for possible complications.

Healing Differences of Abdominal and Laparoscopic Hysterectomies

Abdominal hysterectomies take quite some time to heal from. Most women are unable to lift anything heavy for up to eight weeks after the initial surgery. They are also unable to go back to work for that same amount of time.

Obviously, abdominal hysterectomies (even though popular) take a while to heal from, and with today's fast pace world, it's no wonder women are opting for other hysterectomy surgical types.

Vaginal laparoscopic assisted hysterectomies take much less time to heal. This means a woman can return to work or light physical activity as soon as two weeks after the surgery. This is quickly becoming the popular choice for women.

Which Surgery To Perform

There are many factors that determine what kind of hysterectomy you can actually undergo and which one the surgeon recommends. For starters, your surgeon may select an abdominal hysterectomy procedure based on his/her comfort level. Or he might opt to do the procedure based on the problem that has caused you to request a hysterectomy in the first place.

For example: you've been diagnosed with large tumors in your uterus. You'd like to have a vaginal laparoscopic assisted hysterectomy but your doctor will insist that an abdominal hysterectomy is best. Large tumors are not easily removed through the vagina and/or laparscopic incisions, so an abdominal surgery is best in this case.

No matter what surgery is done, the operation will separate the uterus from the tissue and ligaments that keep the uterus from moving as well as the scar tissue that is there. It's then removed by way of the abdomenal opening or vagina.

After your surgeon inspects the area for additional problems, surgical instruments are removed and incisions are closed. When you have an abdominal laparoscopic hysterectomy, cuts are closed using absorbable sutures and sterile tape. Open incisions require staples or sutures that must be removed by the surgeon weeks later.