At Virginia Women's Center, every member of our team is dedicated to providing care that revolves around you. Learn more about our commitment to medical excellence, compassion and patient satisfaction.
Our Mechanicsville office has recently relocated. Our new office is located in the Bell Creek area of Mechanicsville and the address is 7515 Right Flank Road. Directions are available here.
At Virginia Women's Center, we currently have four clinical research studies enrolling: two HPV studies, a vaginal atrophy study and an overactive bladder study. For more information, visit our clinical research page.
laparoscopic surgery
Laparoscopic surgeries are minimally invasive procedures that use a light-transmitting device, called a laparoscope. In laparoscopy, physicians perform surgery through small incisions that are usually 2 cm or less. In order for the physician to visualize the surgery site, a camera is attached to a lens and is placed inside the patient's abdomen. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to make the area easier to see and the camera's images are projected on a monitor in the operating room. For some procedures, physicians are able to perform surgery through one incision in the belly button. This technique is appropriately named single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) and has the benefit of fewer potential scars.
Minimally invasive surgical procedures have several advantages to the patient versus traditional "open" surgeries, where large incisions are used. Some of these advantages include: shorter recovery time, less postoperative pain, less blood loss and fewer postoperative infections. In general, patients who undergo minimally invasive procedures are able to resume their normal activities more quickly than those who have had traditional "open" surgeries.
Some of the conditions that can be treated laparoscopically include:
- Fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
- Endometriosis
- Bleeding problems
- Pelvic pain
Some of the procedures that can be performed laparoscopically include:
- Sterilization
- Hysterectomy
- Removal of abnormal tissue (i.e. fibroids, cysts or scar tissue)
If you are interested in learning more or are wondering whether you are a candidate for this type of surgical approach, please speak with your VWC provider. This approach is not appropriate for every patient and, just like any surgery, is associated with risks including damage to nearby organs, blood vessels, nerves, bladder, bleeding and infection. In addition, minimally invasive approaches of all kinds include the risk of conversion to an "open" procedure, or one that has to occur through a larger incision.
Additional links:
- In-office procedures
- Minimally invasive surgeries
- Hysteroscopic procedures
- Surgery with daVinci® Surgical System
- Learn more about preparing for laparoscopic surgery