Department of Surgery

Highland Hospital Surgery

For general information and referrals call Highland Surgery at
585-341-0366

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Open and laparoscopic refer to how a surgeon enters the abdominal cavity and not the type of surgery being performed. Each type of surgery may be performed as either an open or a laparoscopic procedure.

When performing open surgery, surgeons create a single incision to open the abdomen for the operation. Typically, for women it is 4 1/2 to 6 inches, and for men, it is 5 1/2 to 7 inches.

With laparoscopic surgery, multiple, small incisions are made in the abdominal wall to accommodate a small video camera and surgical instruments. The surgeon views the procedure on a separate video monitor. Most laparoscopic surgeons believe this gives them a better view and access to key structures.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery provides many benefits to patients, including:

Although open surgeries are still more common, most surgeons now offer the less invasive laparoscopic procedure whenever possible. Speak with your surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for laparoscopic surgery.