Laproscopic surgery is also commonly referred to as minimally invasive surgery. The procedure replaces invasive procedures that have in the past required large incisions, multiple stitches or staples, and long recovery times.
The laproscopic procedure is very simple. Your surgeon will use a small video camera and tiny surgical instruments to perform your medical procedure. The incisions made for the surgery will only measure approximately ½ inch each, through which small surgical tubes will be placed in order for the camera and tools to fit through. The camera will throw a picture of the surgical area on the screen, allowing the doctor to see inside of your body in order to perform the procedure.
All laproscopic procedures vary in nature but you can expect to have a much different experience than you would have had with a traditional surgery. Here are some things you can expect.
Decreased Pain
You will still experience some sort of pain after your surgery but the amount and type of pain will be significantly different than you would have experienced if you had a larger incision. You may have some pain at the site of the incision, internal pain where the procedure was performed, or some pain in your back/shoulder area because of the anesthesia. Talk to your doctor about the pain, but expect it to dissipate faster than if you had experienced a more invasive procedure.
Minimal Exposure to Water
Your surgical tech or nurse will likely talk to you before or after the procedure about how to care for your wound after surgery. Your wound will have a dressing on it for at least 24-48 hours and should not be removed. After that, you should be able to take a shower or bath but will have to be very careful about making sure the wound is not soaked too long or exposed to high levels of water pressure. These could lead to increased risk of infection.
Decreased Recovery Time
Believe it or not, those who have a laproscopic procedure are usually able to return to work much faster than those who have traditional surgical procedures. If you work at a desk, you may be able to go back to work in just a few short days. If you have a more active job, you may have to wait a couple of weeks.
Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your upcoming laproscopic procedure. Despite your fears about surgery in general, you will find that a laproscopic procedure is much easier to recover from than anything else!
