Procedure Description:
Used for the treatment of persistent heavy vaginal bleeding, fibroids, prolapse,and some pelvic pain cases when fertility is no longer desired.

What To Expect:
This procedure allows for faster healing and recovery time than the abdominal approach. It is performed under general anesthesia or spinal anesthetic at the patient's choice. It takes about 1-2 hours to perform and requires an overnight stay.

Preprocedure:
Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the surgery. Antibiotics will be given at the hospital to decrease infection risks. A betadine douche is recommended the night before to reduce the risks of infection.

Postprocedure:
Recovery varies from patient to patient. Some patients are back to full activity within 2 weeks (except for lifting greater than 15 pounds and intercourse - need to wait 6 weeks).

Procedure Description:
A new sling prodedure developed in the mid '90's. There have been over 90,000 procedures using with a risk profile similar or better than most sling or incontinence procedures.

What To Expect:
This procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis for the correction of stress urinary incontinence. If performed as the only surgical procedure, it can be done with i.v. sedation and local anesthesia with the patient going home the same day. Two quarter inch incisions are made in the abdomen just above the pubic bone and a half inch incision in the vagina. Injections of local anesthesia are made in these areas to limit post-op pain. The procedure lasts about 30 minutes and has a complete 5 year success rate of ~85% with ~9-10% of partial success rate. Overall nearly 95% of patients with genuine stress incontinence see complete or partial improvement.

Preprocedure:
Eat nothing the morning of the surgery. Discuss all questions with your gynecologists before surgery.

Postprocedure:
No lifting greater than 15 pounds, no intercourse or tampons for four weeks. Light activities may be resumed the following day. Regular diet may be resumed following the surgery. Notify your doctor of any voiding difficulties.

Procedure Description:
Endometrial Ablation

What To Expect:
I use the Novasure ablation device. Approximately 90% of women will see a significant reduction in the amount of their menstrual bleeding with 45-50% becoming completely amenorrheic (no menstruation). The procedure takes about 30 minutes and involves going home the same day with return to work the next day in most cases. It is a good alternative to hysterectomy for many patients

Preprocedure:
Avoid aspririn for the week before. Nothing to eat after midnight the night before the surgery.

Postprocedure:
No tampons, douching, or sex for 2 weeks. Expect some vaginal discharge for a few weeks. Within a couple of hours you can eat.