Managing Your Endometriosis with Minimally Invasive Surgery

Optimal health occurs when all your body parts function properly according to their unique roles. So, what happens if one of those parts goes rogue and invades the territory of a neighboring body part? That’s endometriosis — when the lining in your uterus sneaks out and attaches itself to your ovaries, bladder, bowels, and other tissue. 

While there’s no cure for endometriosis, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms and solve the most severe among them, such as pain and infertility. 

Dr. Khashayar Shakiba at Women’s Pelvic Surgery of North Jersey specializes in helping women manage their endometriosis symptoms and overcome some of the obstacles they cause. While hormone therapy and pain medication may address some of the symptoms, severe cases require surgical treatment. 

Fortunately, Dr. Shakiba’s vast experience and skill as a board-certified pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgeon make him one of New Jersey’s leading experts in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including the da Vinci® robot-assisted surgery system. Here’s how it can help you manage your endometriosis.

Why surgery for endometriosis?

When endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus and causes pain, heavy menstrual flow, and infertility, the best way to alleviate the problem is to remove the endometrial tissue. For many years, a hysterectomy was the only option to achieve this.

Now, laparoscopic techniques enable surgeons to accomplish the same task with less collateral damage. 

Laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive, requiring only a couple of tiny incisions. Dr. Shakiba inserts an instrument with a small camera to allow him to see your endometrial and scar tissue. With another instrument, he carefully excises, or cuts, the growths away, leaving surrounding tissues unharmed. 

What is robot-assisted surgery?

While the term may conjure images from a science fiction movie, robot-assisted surgery is not performed by robots. Rather, robot technology aids in the procedure by ensuring greater precision and clarity. 

As Dr. Shakiba performs your surgery, the da Vinci system stands nearby, translating his movements and guiding his path. A 3D real-time image generates life-like views of your internal organs so he can navigate around, under, and over with ease and accuracy. 

Benefits of robot-assisted, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery

Laparoscopic surgery has a clear advantage over hysterectomy because you get to keep your uterus and your fertility, and it doesn’t force you into menopause. But what are the advantages of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery over open surgery?

• No hospital stay
• Smaller incisions
• Shorter procedure
• Shorter recovery time
• Lower risk of infection
• Less blood loss
• Less scarring
• More precise

If endometriosis is disrupting your life, you may be a good candidate for minimally invasive laparoscopic robot-assisted surgery. You need to be in good general health and be able to undergo anesthesia. The best way to find out if this procedure is right for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shakiba. He can determine how severe your endometriosis is and whether surgery will relieve your symptoms. 

To make an appointment, call our office at 201-301-2772, or book online today.