A hysterectomy is an operation / surgery to remove the uterus from a woman’s body. There may be several different reasons why uterus may have to be removed apart from cancerous ones. A good urologist or urogynecologist / urogynaecologist will suggest hysterectomy when he/she has run out of all available treatment options for your problem.

Non-cancerous reasons for hysterectomy include:

  1. Uterine Fibroids that hurt, bleed and cause other problems.
  2. Prolapse – Uterine Prolapse is a condition when the uterus slides from it’s actual position into the vaginal canal. This too occurs for different reasons including weak muscles around the uterus.
  3. Endometrosis
  4. Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
  5. Chronic Pelvic Pain
  6. Adenomyosis – thickening of the uterus

Following are the different types of Hysterectomy surgeries that are performed at our Urology Clinic, Chennai:

Hysterectomy - Anatomy of Female Uterus - Urogynecology Clinic, Chennai

Different Surgical Approaches to perform Hysterectomy

Traditional Hysterectomy / Conventional Method

Open or Conventional or Traditional method of Hysterectomy involves cutting (making incision) the abdomen between 6 to 12 inches, depending on the patient and the procedure to be done. This procedure is done under general anesthesia.

Recovery time – 3 to 4 weeks.

Traditional Open Hysterectomy - Removal of Uterus doctor in Chennai

Vaginal Hysterectomy

Vaginal Hysterectomy involves removing the uterus through vagina. This surely is a better way to remove uterus than making incision to the abdomen but the surgeon will not have a good view of the organs surrounding the uterus. You must definitely see an expert in this hysterectomy procedure to prefer this method.  Comparatively quick healing, lesser blood loss.

Recovery time: 2 weeks – 3 weeks.

Robotic / Robot Assisted Radical Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Some times, this is also called 3D Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery.  Performed by highly trained surgeons using state-of-the-art robotic platform / machine which provides a clear view of all the organs of the uterus and also the surrounding organs for more precise and perfect surgery.

This procedure is performed in 2 ways:

 

Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

Part Vaginal, part Laparoscopic – Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy.  Surgery in the abdomen area is performed with the laparoscope and the remaining surgery involving vaginal incision, excision of cervical tissues is performed trans-vaginally. (through vagina).

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

The entire procedure is performed using laparoscopy. Small (typically less than an inch) incisions are made in the abdomen area. These incisions are sometimes called key holes and this type of hysterectomy is called ‘Key hole surgery’. This procedure is relatively less painful, causes lesser blood loss and quick recovery.

Recover time – 2 weeks.

Benefits of Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy:

  1. Very less pain compared to traditional or vaginal approach.
  2. Less blood loss
  3. Less complications as the surgeon can see the internal organs
  4. Less scar due to smaller incisions
  5. Quick recovery and short in-patient stay
  6. decreased risk due to infection

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy specialist in Chennai

In this type of Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy, key holes are made on the adbomen (similar to what is shown above) to remove the uterus (and other reproductive parts depending on the need).

These incisions leave very small and light scars on the abdomen.

Scarless Hysterectomy Clinic in Chennai - Urogynecology

Scarless surgery – Only one incision on the navel is made to remove the organs. This typically leaves no scar on the abdomen as no incisions are made. Usually preferred by unmarried women and women who doesn’t want any scars to show up on their abdomen.