What Does It Mean to Have "Minimally Invasive" Surgery?

While hearing you need surgery is never wanted news, it doesn’t have to be something to fear. Minimally invasive procedures are often performed in place of traditional surgery.

 At his private practice in Santa Monica, California, Dr. Trevan Fischer, a specialist in complex general surgical oncology and researcher on clinical trials at the Saint John's Cancer Institute, uses state-of-the-art techniques, including minimally invasive surgeries. Whether your issue is cancer or another health problem like a hernia, he can help.

Minimally invasive surgery

Minimally invasive surgery has been used since the 1980s. 

Unlike traditional surgery, which involves a large incision to see and access the inside of the body, minimally invasive surgery employs several smaller cuts. 

A specialized instrument with a camera is threaded into one of the incisions, providing a three-dimensional view of the surgical site projected onto a monitor in real-time. Tiny tools that react to the doctor's hand movements are inserted into the body through another cut and used to perform the procedure.

Types of surgeries

Minimally invasive surgery can be used for a variety of issues. Examples include hernia repair, gallbladder removal, and appendix removal. It can also be employed to treat a range of cancers and other ailments.

Benefits

There are many benefits to minimally invasive surgery. These include less trauma to the body and reduced blood loss. There is also a decreased risk of surgical complications and infection. A smaller incision also means less scarring.

Recovery is faster in people who have undergone a minimally invasive procedure and involves a shorter hospital stay. That means less downtime and a quicker return to daily life.

In addition, many individuals experience reduced pain and a decreased need for medication. Depending on the procedure, general anesthesia may not even be required.

Good candidates

Everyone can reap the benefits of minimally invasive surgery, but it particularly helps a few groups.

In traditional surgeries, obese patients have an increased risk of infections and other problems due to long incisions on a large amount of subcutaneous tissue. This technique reduces those chances.

People with chronic pain may also significantly benefit from this procedure because it requires less pain medication during the recovery process. 

Finally, minimally invasive procedures help people avoid complications, such as blood clots in the legs caused by spending too much time in bed, by allowing for a faster return to activity.

 If you have an issue that needs surgery, click to book an appointment or call the office today at 310-807-2688 to find out if minimally invasive surgery is right for you.