By Geoffrey Bowers, MD, FACOG, Gynecologic Surgeon – Virtua Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

It’s not unusual for women to put up with years of heavy bleeding, excessive cramping, or pain during sex or while going to the bathroom. But you don’t have to endure these aggravating symptoms. Pelvic conditions like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, cysts, and prolapse often can be treated through innovative surgical solutions.

At Virtua, we provide the full gamut of minimally invasive procedures that resolve your issues and avoid large, open incisions and long hospital stays.

Minimally Invasive Procedures: Few or No Incisions

Minimally invasive procedures utilize a few fingernail-size openings, miniature cameras, and specialized tools designed to better visualize and operate within the pelvic area. Sometimes, no incisions are made at all. These procedures may be performed in the hospital, a surgery center, or a doctor’s office. Often, women go home the same day as the procedure.

Types of minimally invasive gynecologic procedures include:

• Hysteroscopic surgery: A type of “incisionless” procedure, a camera and tools are passed through the cervix to see and remove fibroids and cysts inside the uterus, as well as treat endometriosis.
• Laparoscopic surgery: Three or four small incisions made in the abdomen allow the surgeon to remove ovarian cysts, the fallopian tubes, fibroids (myomectomy), the uterus (hysterectomy), or endometrial adhesions.
• Robotic-assisted surgery: Sitting at a console, the surgeon uses sophisticated controls that smoothly transfer their hand movements to instruments inserted through several small incisions. The robotic system provides magnified, high-definition 3D views that allow the surgeon to perform the most delicate procedures, including myomectomy, hysterectomy and pelvic floor and bladder repair, as well as endometrial adhesion, ovary (oophorectomy), and ovarian cyst removal.
• Transvaginal surgery: Using a small incision in the vagina, the surgeon may perform a hysterectomy, remove fibroids and ovarian cysts, and treat issues such as vaginal, rectal, or bladder prolapse.
• Vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES): Specialized instruments placed through the vagina into the pelvic cavity give the surgeon access to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

With all of these procedures, patients benefit from less postoperative pain and a faster return to their normal activities. And because incisions are small—and with some of these approaches, not visible externally—there is less scarring and a more positive cosmetic result.

Complex GYN Surgery Designed for You

Because many women develop fibroids by age 50, doctors have focused on improving their treatment. Radiofrequency ablation uses heat energy to shrink the fibroid and relieve symptoms. Women avoid surgery and recover faster, usually in a day or two.

Types of radiofrequency ablation include:

• Sonata®—Delivers energy from a device inserted through the vagina and cervix into the uterus.
• Acessa®—Applies heat through a needle inserted into the abdomen.

Your surgeon will talk to you about your goals and create a treatment plan that meets your needs.

Though these multiple approaches, we are able to provide the most complex care, including for people who have complications related to obesity, heart or pulmonary conditions, and previous abdominal surgeries. There’s no need to leave South Jersey for your care.

Get Back to the Life You Enjoy

Virtua gynecologic surgeons perform complex and advanced minimally invasive procedures to treat noncancerous GYN conditions. Call 856-247-7600 to make an appointment.