Many women are candidates to undergo minimally invasive surgery when they need hysterectomy. This involves making small button-hole incisions through which to insert laparoscopy camera and micro-instruments to complete the procedure, rather than a large open incision. This approach decreases blood loss, surgical risk, and recovery times.

At Selah, our surgeons are well-trained and experienced in this type of surgery, performing hundreds of successful procedures every year. We sometimes observe that women are not given this option for surgery elsewhere because they are told their uterus is too large or bulky from fibroids to accommodate this surgery.

We are always happy to provide a second-opinion consultation to confirm this assessment or to offer the minimally invasive approach when it is appropriate. Even an enlarged uterus can often be removed laparoscopically by an experienced surgeon.

There are many reasons that a woman may experience persistent pelvic pain. Sometimes the reason cannot be easily distinguished from exams, imaging, or lab work. This can lead to frustration, disappointment, and ineffective treatment plans.

When conservative treatment has failed, we recommend a minimally invasive surgery using a laparoscopic camera to investigate the cause by direct visualization of internal organs and structures. This can be therapeutic in itself if scar tissue or endometriosis is found and treated surgically, and it can help direct a more logical and effective treatment approach.

This type of surgery typically is a same-day outpatient surgery.

Abnormal bleeding or structural causes of infertility can be evaluated and treated via hysteroscopy. This involves a short procedure in which the cervix is dilated so that a fiberoptic camera can be introduced into the uterus to directly visualize and treat any abnormalities. This is used to find and treat the causes of post-menopausal bleeding, heavy periods, polyps, and uterine abnormalities such as a septum. This is also used when performing

One of the most effective treatment for stress incontinence (leakage of urine with coughing, sneezing, exercise, or sex) is a surgical sling placement procedure.

At Selah, we perform this minimally-invasive procedure often, placing a supportive fabric mesh to support the bladder opening through a small incision in the vagina.

To learn more about Stress Urinary Incontinence, check out this free resource guide.

Heavy or bothersome irregular periods can be effectively treated by an ablation procedure. This is a same-day minimally-invasive procedure to treat the uterine lining tissue with radio-frequency energy (sound waves) in order to remove the lining. This is a highly effective way of reducing or eliminating menstrual bleeding.

To learn more: Six things to know about the novasure procedure

Using a hysteroscopic device called Myosure™, growths or abnormalities inside the uterus, such as polyps or fibroids, can be removed simply with a minimally-invasive procedure.

This allows for effective treatment of these problems without removal of the entire uterus (hysterectomy). Treating the problem in this way may preserve or restore fertility, or allow a woman to avoid the longer recovery time and discomfort of hysterectomy.

For more information: http://www.myosure.com