A laparoscopy is usually a short operation. You usually don't have to stay in the hospital overnight. You can go back to work or school after a few days.
You usually need a general anesthetic. This means you're asleep during the operation. Or you can have a local anesthetic instead. A local anesthetic means you stay awake, or have a mild sedative to make you drowsy. But most people prefer to be asleep.1
The surgeon makes a small cut just under your bellybutton. Your belly is then filled with a harmless gas through a small tube. This separates your organs and makes everything easier to see. A small camera and light go in next, through the same cut. This lets the surgeon see the inside of your pelvis on a television screen.
The surgeon makes another cut just below the first. This is for a special instrument that helps the surgeon get a good look around.
After the operation, the gas is let out and the small cuts are sewn up.
You may feel some pain the next day. Many women get pain in their shoulders. This is because the tips of your shoulders share the same nerve supply as one of the breathing muscles in your abdomen (the diaphragm). If this muscle gets touched during surgery, you'll feel pain in your shoulders after the operation.
Staff at the hospital will advise you what painkillers to take at home, if you need them.
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This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved. |
