Topic Overview
Your surgeon will recommend one or more types of
hysterectomy (you may or may not have a choice,
depending on your condition). An abdominal hysterectomy requires a larger
incision. A vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy uses small incisions.
Abdominal hysterectomy. Two types of surgical
incisions are used for an abdominal hysterectomy.
- The midline incision is made from just below the
belly button (umbilicus) straight down the abdomen to just above the pubic
hairline.
- A transverse incision (bikini line) is made just above
the pubic hairline.
Vaginal hysterectomy. During a vaginal
hysterectomy, the incisions to remove the uterus are made on the inside of the
vagina.
Laparoscopic hysterectomy. To allow insertion
of a small viewing instrument (laparoscope) and surgical instruments,
small incisions are made in the abdomen.
The vaginal and laparoscopic techniques are sometimes
combined.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
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| Last Revised | January 9, 2012 |
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