Forsyth Medical Center 
For All Women
Hysterectomy
| Hysterectomy, surgical removal of the uterus, is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the United States. |
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Hysterectomies are commonly performed for:
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Traditional abdominal hysterectomy typically requires a four-to-six day hospital stay, followed by four-to-six weeks recuperating at home.
Laparoscopy makes it possible to perform this procedure in a minimally invasive manner. Patients usually go home one or two days after surgery and are able to resume normal activities within a week or two.
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Do you have questions about hysterectomy? Visit our Health Library for answers. |
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Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery uses a thin, telescope-like instrument called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision at the belly button. The laparoscope is connected to a tiny video camera that projects a view of the operative site onto video monitors in the operating room. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to allow your surgeon a better view of the operative area. Three or four additional small incisions are made near the laparoscope through which the surgeon inserts specialized surgical instruments. The surgeon uses these instruments to detach the uterus and seal its supporting blood vessels. The uterus is removed through the vagina. Following the procedure, the small incisions are closed with sutures and covered with Band-Aids. After a few months, the incisions are barely visible.
