How Laparoscopic Myomectomy Removes Fibroids: The Procedure and Time in Hospital

The ultrasound report is still folded in her bag when she starts typing. Fibroids: she had heard the word from an aunt, a colleague, a character in a novel. Now it belongs to her, along with a surgeon’s suggestion that a laparoscopic myomectomy procedure might settle the bleeding without taking her uterus. Keyhole surgery sounded almost casual in the consulting room. At home, the questions arrive in a crowd.

Will it hurt? Is it a real operation or an afternoon job? How many nights in a bed with rails? Could she still carry a pregnancy afterward? These are the things people search for at eleven at night, and they deserve a straight answer rather than a glossy brochure.

This explainer walks through what actually happens in the operating room, who tends to be offered the keyhole route and who is steered elsewhere, what hospital time and the first weeks at home usually look like, and where the evidence is honest about its limits.

What is a laparoscopic myomectomy procedure, in plain language?

Start with the two halves of the name. A myomectomy is an operation that removes fibroids and leaves the uterus behind; the word comes from myoma, the medical term for a fibroid. Laparoscopic means the surgeon works through a few small incisions in the abdomen using a laparoscope, a thin lighted tube with a camera on the end that sends a magnified picture to a screen. Put together, a laparoscopic myomectomy procedure is fibroid removal by keyhole surgery.

Fibroids themselves are non-cancerous growths of the muscle and fibrous tissue of the uterus. MedlinePlus describes them as very common, and many never cause trouble. When they do, the usual culprits are heavy or prolonged periods, pelvic pressure, frequent urination from a fibroid leaning on the bladder, and in some cases difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy.

Where a fibroid sits shapes the surgical plan. Surgeons describe three main positions: subserosal fibroids bulge from the outer surface of the uterus, intramural fibroids grow within the muscular wall, and submucosal fibroids push into the inner lining and cavity. Keyhole surgery through the abdomen suits the first two. Fibroids inside the cavity are more often reached through the cervix with a hysteroscope, a slim telescope that needs no abdominal cuts at all.

The distinction that matters most to patients is between myomectomy and hysterectomy. A hysterectomy removes the whole uterus and ends both the possibility of pregnancy and the possibility of new fibroids. A myomectomy keeps the organ, which is why Mayo Clinic frames it as the choice for people who want to preserve fertility or simply prefer to keep their uterus. That preference comes with a trade: fibroids can grow again, a point this article returns to later.

How the laparoscopic myomectomy procedure works, step by step

Everything happens under general anesthesia, so you are asleep and feel nothing. A breathing tube supports your lungs and a catheter is usually placed to keep the bladder empty and out of the way.

The surgeon then makes a handful of incisions, typically three to five, each roughly half an inch long, the size MedlinePlus gives for standard pelvic laparoscopy. One sits at or near the navel; the others are lower on the abdomen. Carbon dioxide gas is pumped in to lift the abdominal wall away from the organs, creating a working dome. The laparoscope goes through one port and long, slim instruments through the rest.

From there the operation follows a fairly consistent sequence:

• Mapping: the surgeon inspects the uterus and matches what they see to the ultrasound or MRI.
• Bleeding control: many surgeons inject a vasoconstricting medicine, a drug that temporarily narrows blood vessels, into the uterine wall around the fibroid, or place a temporary tourniquet around the vessels supplying the uterus.
• Incision and dissection: a cut is made in the uterine wall over the fibroid, which is then peeled out of its capsule; fibroids usually separate cleanly because they are encased in a distinct shell.
• Repair: the defect left behind is closed in layers with dissolving stitches to restore the strength of the muscle.
• Retrieval: a fibroid is often bigger than any incision, so it is cut into strips inside the abdomen, a step called morcellation, frequently within a containment bag, or removed through one incision enlarged slightly.

Gas is released, the small wounds are closed with stitches or glue, and you wake in recovery. Operating time varies widely with the number, size and depth of the fibroids, which is why surgeons rarely quote a fixed figure in advance.

Who is laparoscopic myomectomy usually for, and who is usually asked to wait?

The clearest candidates are people whose fibroids are causing symptoms that disrupt daily life and who want to keep their uterus, whether for a future pregnancy or for reasons of their own. Mayo Clinic lists fertility preservation as a leading reason to choose myomectomy over hysterectomy. Heavy bleeding that has led to anemia, pressure symptoms, and fibroids thought to be interfering with conception are the usual triggers for the conversation.

Not everyone with fibroids needs an operation. NHS guidance is blunt on this: fibroids that cause no symptoms generally need no treatment, and they often shrink after menopause as estrogen levels fall. Watchful waiting, with a repeat scan if anything changes, is a legitimate plan rather than a failure to act.

Some people are asked to wait or to consider a different route:

• Fibroids that are very large or very numerous, which Mayo Clinic notes may be better handled through a larger abdominal incision.
• Fibroids sitting mostly inside the uterine cavity, which are usually removed hysteroscopically through the cervix.
• Significant anemia, which surgeons often prefer to correct before operating so that any blood loss is better tolerated.
• Someone close to menopause with mild symptoms, for whom time itself may do part of the work.
• Uncertainty on imaging about the nature of a growth, which changes the surgical plan.

Fibroids are also more common in Black women and tend to appear at younger ages, a pattern MedlinePlus records, so these discussions can begin earlier for some patients. None of this is a scoring system. The treating team weighs symptoms, imaging, blood counts, pregnancy plans and personal preference, and the final call belongs to that shared conversation.

What is the largest size fibroid that can be removed laparoscopically?

Search this question and you will find a dozen confident numbers, none of them official. No guideline fixes a maximum diameter. Mayo Clinic puts it in terms of tendency rather than thresholds: laparoscopic and robotic myomectomy are typically used for fewer and smaller fibroids, while larger and more numerous fibroids more often call for an abdominal incision.

Size matters for practical reasons rather than arbitrary ones. A bigger fibroid means a bigger wound in the uterine wall to stitch through instruments the width of a pencil, more blood loss to control, and more tissue to retrieve through small openings. A fibroid the size of a grapefruit takes far longer to morcellate than one the size of a plum, and long operations carry their own anesthetic and clotting risks.

Number and depth count as much as diameter. Three modest fibroids buried deep in the muscle may be a harder keyhole job than one large fibroid hanging off the outer surface on a stalk. Location near the fallopian tubes or the major uterine vessels adds difficulty too.

Surgeon experience shifts the boundary. Teams that perform many laparoscopic and robotic myomectomies often manage cases that others would open, and robotic instruments with wristed tips make suturing deep defects easier. That is a statement about training and equipment, not about any particular clinic.

Sometimes the plan changes the fibroid rather than the technique. Hormone-suppressing medicines can shrink fibroids for a period before surgery, a strategy both Mayo Clinic and the NHS describe, which may bring a borderline case within reach of keyhole surgery. Whether that is worth the side effects is a decision for you and your prescribing clinician. Every consent form for this operation should also mention the possibility of converting to an open procedure if the picture inside differs from the scans.

Is laparoscopic myomectomy major surgery, and how long is the hospital stay?

Yes, it is major surgery. The incisions are small, but what happens through them is not. The uterus is cut open, fibroids are lifted out of living muscle, and the wall is rebuilt with layers of stitches. General anesthesia is required, and the risks of bleeding, infection and clots are the risks of any significant abdominal operation. Calling it keyhole describes the route in, not the scale of the work.

What keyhole surgery changes is recovery. Because the abdominal wall is not opened along a long line, there is less to heal on the surface, less wound pain and usually a shorter stay. Mayo Clinic notes that people having laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy may need to stay in hospital overnight, whereas an abdominal myomectomy usually means one to three nights. Some centers discharge straightforward laparoscopic cases the same evening, provided pain is controlled, the bladder is working after catheter removal and someone is at home to help.

Expect a few standard checkpoints before you are allowed to leave:

• You can drink, eat something light and keep it down.
• You have passed urine without difficulty.
• Your pain is manageable with tablets rather than intravenous medicine.
• Your blood pressure and pulse are steady and there is no sign of ongoing bleeding.
• You can walk to the bathroom and back.

A longer stay is not a sign of failure. More fibroids, heavier bleeding during surgery, a low blood count afterward or simply living alone can all justify an extra night. Nurses will check your wounds, encourage early walking to reduce clot risk and explain what to watch for at home. Ask on the ward, rather than at the front door, what your team considers normal for the first 48 hours.

Hysteroscopic, laparoscopic or abdominal: how the myomectomy approaches compare

Fibroid surgery is not one procedure but three, chosen according to where the fibroids are and how many there are. The table summarizes typical patterns described by Mayo Clinic; the ranges are what is commonly quoted, not a promise for any individual.

Approach	Route	Usually chosen for	Typical hospital stay	Typical recovery
Hysteroscopic	Through the vagina and cervix; no abdominal cuts	Fibroids inside the uterine cavity	Same day	A few days
Laparoscopic or robotic	Several small abdominal incisions	Fewer, smaller fibroids in or on the wall	Same day or one night	About 2–4 weeks
Abdominal (open)	One larger incision, often low and horizontal	Large, numerous or deeply embedded fibroids	About 1–3 nights	About 4–6 weeks

Robotic myomectomy deserves a word. It is a laparoscopic operation in which the surgeon controls the instruments from a console rather than holding them directly. The wristed tips rotate in ways standard instruments cannot, which helps when stitching deep into the uterine wall. Evidence does not show that robotic surgery produces better outcomes than skilled conventional laparoscopy; it mainly extends what can be done through small incisions.

Open surgery is not an old-fashioned option to be avoided at all costs. When fibroids are numerous or very large, a hand inside the abdomen can feel small fibroids a camera might miss and can close a large defect quickly, which is why Mayo Clinic still lists it as the standard choice for those situations. The best approach is the one that removes the fibroids causing trouble, repairs the uterus soundly and gets you home safely, a judgment your surgeon makes case by case.

How painful is a laparoscopic myomectomy?

Painful enough to need proper medicine for several days, but for most people considerably less than an open operation. That is the honest middle ground between the brochure version and the horror story.

The discomfort has three separate sources, and knowing which is which helps. First, the small wounds sting and feel bruised, especially the one at the navel. Second, the uterus has been cut and stitched, so it cramps much like a heavy period, and light vaginal bleeding or spotting for a few days is common. Third, and the one that surprises people, is pain in the shoulder tip. The carbon dioxide used to inflate the abdomen irritates the diaphragm, and the nerve serving the diaphragm shares a pathway with the shoulder. NHS laparoscopy guidance notes that this gas-related pain and bloating usually settle within a few days. Walking, warmth and changing position help move the gas along.

Pain relief is usually layered. Teams commonly combine a simple analgesic with an anti-inflammatory, adding a short supply of a stronger medicine for the first day or two if needed. Local anesthetic is often injected into the incisions before you wake. Exactly what you receive, and for how long, is set by your clinicians based on your history, so follow their plan rather than a friend’s.

Two practical points tend to matter more than any tablet. Take pain medicine on the schedule you are given for the first couple of days rather than waiting until pain builds, because catching up is harder than staying ahead. And move: short walks around the house from the first evening ease gas pain, help the bowel wake up and lower the risk of a clot in the leg. Most people find the first two or three days the hardest and notice a clear turn by the end of the first week.

Laparoscopic myomectomy recovery time: how many days should I rest?

Mayo Clinic gives two to four weeks as the typical recovery after laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy, compared with four to six weeks after an abdominal operation and a few days after a hysteroscopic one. Within that window, recovery tends to move in recognizable stages.

Days one to three are for rest with movement. Sleep when you can, walk to the kitchen and back several times a day, and keep meals light. Constipation is common after anesthesia and pain medicine; fluids, fiber and gentle walking help, and your team can suggest options if needed. Showering is usually fine once you are home; soaking in a bath is generally delayed until the wounds have sealed.

Week one is when most people stop stronger pain medicine, feel the shoulder pain fade and start to feel bored, which is a good sign. Fatigue lingers longer than pain. Plan for naps.

Weeks two to four bring a gradual return to normal. Desk-based work often resumes toward the end of the second week or during the third; physically demanding jobs take longer. Two rules of thumb are widely used by surgical teams:

• No lifting anything heavier than you can carry comfortably in one hand, roughly a full kettle or a small bag of groceries, until your team clears you.
• No driving until you can brake sharply without hesitation and are no longer taking medicines that cause drowsiness.

Sex and anything inserted into the vagina are usually deferred until follow-up confirms the uterus and any bleeding have settled; your team sets that date. Exercise beyond walking returns in steps over the month.

Treat the calendar as a guide, not a test. Someone who had one small fibroid removed may feel nearly normal at ten days; someone who had six removed from deep in the wall may need the full four weeks and a little more.

What are the risks, and what do surgeons do to reduce them?

Every operation carries risk, and honest consent means naming them. Mayo Clinic lists these as the main concerns with myomectomy:

• Excessive blood loss. Fibroids have a rich blood supply, and the uterus bleeds readily when cut. In rare cases a transfusion is needed.
• Scar tissue. Incisions in the uterus can lead to adhesions, bands of scar that may tether the bowel or tubes and occasionally affect fertility.
• Pregnancy and birth complications. A repaired uterine wall is slightly more vulnerable to tearing in a later pregnancy, so some people are advised to deliver by cesarean.
• Rare conversion to hysterectomy, if bleeding cannot be controlled any other way.
• Rare spread of an undetected cancer. Very occasionally a growth thought to be a fibroid is a leiomyosarcoma, and cutting it into pieces inside the abdomen could spread cells.

The usual risks of laparoscopy apply as well: wound infection, injury to bowel, bladder or blood vessels, blood clots in the legs or lungs, and reactions to anesthesia. The NHS describes serious complications of laparoscopy as uncommon.

Surgeons work against each of these. Anemia is often corrected before surgery. Hormone-suppressing medicines may be used for a few months to shrink fibroids and reduce blood flow; they work by lowering estrogen, and the prescribing clinician weighs that against side effects such as hot flashes. During the operation, vasoconstrictor injection or a temporary tourniquet limits bleeding. The uterine wall is closed in layers to restore strength. For retrieval, many teams morcellate inside a sealed bag to contain tissue, and imaging beforehand looks for features that would make cancer more likely. Ask directly how your surgeon plans to remove the fibroid tissue; it is a reasonable question and a good sign when the answer is clear.

Fertility and pregnancy after laparoscopic myomectomy

For many people this is the reason they chose myomectomy at all, so the evidence deserves careful handling. Fibroids can affect fertility, particularly those that distort the uterine cavity, and removing them can restore normal anatomy. Whether that raises the chance of a live birth depends heavily on the fibroid’s position, the person’s age and other fertility factors, and the studies are not uniform. Anyone promising a pregnancy after surgery is promising more than the data supports.

Timing is the first practical question. Mayo Clinic advises that people may need to wait three to six months before trying to conceive so the uterus has time to heal, with the exact interval set by the surgeon based on how deep the incisions were.

Delivery is the second. If the operation involved a deep cut through the uterine wall, especially into the cavity, Mayo Clinic notes that a cesarean delivery may be recommended to reduce the small risk of the scar giving way during labor. A shallow removal of a surface fibroid may not carry the same advice. Make sure this is written into your operation note and discussed with whoever cares for you in a future pregnancy.

Recurrence is the third, and the least welcome. Myomectomy removes the fibroids present today; it does not change the tendency of the uterus to make them. Mayo Clinic reports that new fibroids may develop, and that people who had only one fibroid removed are less likely to see new ones than those who had several. Broadly, the more fibroids you start with and the younger you are, the more years there are for others to grow.

None of this argues against surgery. It argues for a frank conversation with your gynecologist and, where relevant, a fertility specialist about what the operation can realistically change for you.

What are the alternatives to laparoscopic myomectomy?

Surgery is one option among several, and a good consultation lays them all out. The NHS treatment pathway for fibroids runs roughly from least to most invasive.

Doing nothing yet is the first. Symptom-free fibroids need no treatment, and monitoring with periodic scans is entirely reasonable.

Medicines come next, and most target bleeding rather than the fibroid itself. Antifibrinolytic drugs slow the breakdown of blood clots in the lining and reduce menstrual loss. Hormonal contraceptives, including the hormone-releasing intrauterine device, thin the lining so periods are lighter. Hormone-suppressing medicines lower estrogen and can shrink fibroids, but the effect reverses when they stop and long courses bring side effects, so they are usually used for limited periods, often before surgery. Which, if any, suits you is a decision for your prescribing clinician.

Procedures that treat fibroids without removing them form the middle ground:

• Uterine artery embolization: a radiologist threads a catheter into the arteries feeding the uterus and blocks them with tiny particles, starving the fibroids so they shrink.
• MRI-guided focused ultrasound: high-intensity sound waves heat and destroy fibroid tissue through the skin, with no incisions.
• Endometrial ablation: destroys the lining of the uterus to reduce bleeding; it does not remove fibroids and is not suitable for anyone planning pregnancy.

Hysterectomy sits at the far end. It is the only treatment that guarantees fibroids will not return, because the uterus is gone, and it ends the possibility of pregnancy. For people who have finished childbearing and have severe symptoms, it remains a mainstream choice, and it can often be done laparoscopically as well.

The right comparison is not which option is best in general, but which fits your symptoms, your plans and your tolerance for the trade-offs each one carries.

What people often get wrong about the laparoscopic myomectomy procedure

Myths gather around any common operation. These are the ones that cause the most trouble.

Keyhole means minor. It does not. The uterus is cut and rebuilt regardless of how the surgeon reached it. Plan your time off around the two to four weeks Mayo Clinic describes, not around the size of the scars.

Fibroids turn into cancer. Fibroids are benign, and MedlinePlus is clear that they are non-cancerous growths. A cancerous growth of the uterine muscle, a leiomyosarcoma, is a separate and rare disease that can occasionally be mistaken for a fibroid on imaging; it is not a fibroid that changed its mind.

Once the fibroids are out, that is the end of it. Myomectomy treats the fibroids present now. New ones can grow, and Mayo Clinic notes this is more likely when several were removed. Follow-up matters.

Surgery will put me into menopause. A myomectomy leaves the ovaries untouched, so hormone production continues and periods return, usually lighter if the fibroids were driving the heavy bleeding.

Every fibroid must be removed. Surgeons aim to remove the fibroids responsible for symptoms while keeping the uterine wall strong. Chasing a tiny, harmless fibroid deep in the muscle can do more harm than leaving it.

I will be back at the gym in a few days. Wounds seal quickly; the uterus does not. Heavy lifting and vigorous exercise wait for clearance from your team.

Hysterectomy is the only real solution. It is one option, and a definitive one, but the NHS lists a full ladder of alternatives from medicines to embolization to fibroid-sparing surgery.

The team with the most impressive website is the safest. Outcomes depend on a surgical team’s experience with this specific operation and on honest case selection, neither of which a website can show you. Ask about volume and about how often cases convert to open surgery.

Questions to ask your care team before a laparoscopic myomectomy

Bring a written list; consultations move fast. These questions tend to surface the information that shapes decisions.

• How many fibroids do you see, how large are they, and where exactly are they sitting in relation to the cavity and the outer surface?
• Why are you recommending the laparoscopic route for me rather than hysteroscopic or abdominal surgery, and how likely is conversion to an open operation?
• Do you expect to use a robotic system, and does that change anything about my stay or recovery?
• How will you remove the fibroid tissue from my abdomen, and do you use a containment bag?
• Do you want me to take any medicine beforehand to shrink the fibroids or correct anemia, and what are the trade-offs?
• How many nights should I plan for, and what would keep me in longer?
• What pain relief will I go home with, and who do I call if it is not enough?
• When can I shower, drive, lift my child, return to work and resume sex?
• If I want to become pregnant later, how long should I wait, and will you recommend a cesarean delivery?
• What is the chance that new fibroids will grow, and how will we monitor for that?
• Which symptoms after discharge should make me call you the same day?

Two more are worth asking even if they feel awkward. First, how many laparoscopic myomectomies does your team perform in a typical year? Experience with this specific operation matters more than general surgical seniority. Second, what would you do if you were in my position with these scans? A thoughtful surgeon will answer honestly, and the answer, whatever it is, remains yours to weigh alongside your own priorities.

When to call your doctor after a laparoscopic myomectomy

Most recoveries are uneventful, and most worries turn out to be ordinary healing. A short list of red flags separates the two, and your discharge paperwork should carry a number to call.

Contact your surgical team or seek urgent care the same day if you notice:

• Fever above 100.4°F (38°C), or chills and shaking.
• Heavy vaginal bleeding: soaking a pad in an hour, passing large clots, or bleeding that gets heavier instead of lighter.
• Pain that is worsening after the first few days, or severe pain not eased by your prescribed medicine.
• Redness spreading from a wound, pus, a foul smell, or an incision that has opened.
• Persistent vomiting, a swollen tense abdomen, or worsening bloating with no bowel movement.
• Difficulty passing urine, or burning and urgency with cloudy urine.
• A painful, swollen or warm calf.

Call emergency services immediately for sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, fainting, or feeling cold, clammy and light-headed with a racing pulse. These can signal a clot in the lung or serious internal bleeding, both of which need hospital assessment without delay.

Beyond the acute period, contact your gynecologist if periods have not returned within the time your team described, if heavy bleeding comes back months later, or if pressure symptoms recur. These may simply reflect healing, or they may be an early sign of new fibroid growth that is easier to plan for when caught early. Trust your instinct: clinicians would far rather hear about a symptom that turns out to be nothing than miss one that mattered.

Frequently asked questions

How painful is a laparoscopic myomectomy?

Moderately painful for the first few days, usually less than an open operation. Pain comes from the small wounds, cramping of the stitched uterus and gas trapped under the diaphragm that is felt in the shoulder. The NHS notes gas pain and bloating settle within a few days. Layered pain relief set by your team, taken on schedule, and early walking make the biggest difference.

Is laparoscopic myomectomy major surgery?

Yes. The incisions are small, but the uterus is cut open, fibroids are removed from the muscle and the wall is rebuilt with stitches under general anesthesia. Bleeding, infection and clot risks are those of any significant abdominal operation. What the keyhole route changes is the surface healing, so hospital stays are shorter and recovery is faster than after open surgery.

How many days should I rest after a laparoscopic myomectomy?

Plan on rest with gentle walking for the first few days, then a gradual return to normal over two to four weeks, the range Mayo Clinic gives for laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy. Desk work often resumes in the second or third week; heavy lifting and vigorous exercise wait until your team clears you. More fibroids removed generally means a longer recovery.

What fibroid size is suitable for laparoscopic removal?

There is no official maximum. Mayo Clinic describes laparoscopic myomectomy as typically used for fewer and smaller fibroids, with larger or numerous fibroids more often removed through an abdominal incision. Number, depth and location matter as much as diameter, and surgeon experience shifts the boundary. Some people take hormone-suppressing medicine beforehand to shrink fibroids, a decision for the prescribing clinician.

How long is the laparoscopic myomectomy hospital stay?

Usually the same day or one night. Mayo Clinic notes that laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy may require an overnight stay, whereas abdominal myomectomy typically means one to three nights. Discharge depends on controlled pain, passing urine after catheter removal, stable observations and being able to walk. Heavier bleeding during surgery or living alone can reasonably extend the stay.

Can I get pregnant after a laparoscopic myomectomy?

Many people do, but the operation does not guarantee it. Removing fibroids that distort the cavity can restore normal anatomy; whether that improves live birth rates depends on fibroid position, age and other fertility factors, and the evidence is mixed. Mayo Clinic advises waiting about three to six months before trying to conceive so the uterus can heal.

Will fibroids come back after a myomectomy?

They can. Myomectomy removes the fibroids present at the time but does not change the uterus’s tendency to grow new ones. Mayo Clinic reports that people who had a single fibroid removed are less likely to develop new fibroids than those who had several. Younger age leaves more years for regrowth, which is why follow-up scans are often suggested.

What is morcellation, and is it safe?

Morcellation means cutting a fibroid into smaller pieces inside the abdomen so it can be removed through a small incision. The concern, noted by Mayo Clinic, is the rare chance that a growth believed to be a fibroid is actually a cancer whose cells could be spread. Many surgeons now morcellate inside a containment bag; ask your team how they retrieve tissue.

Do I need a cesarean after a myomectomy?

Sometimes. Mayo Clinic notes that if the surgeon had to make a deep incision in the uterine wall, a cesarean delivery may be recommended in a later pregnancy to reduce the small risk of the scar tearing during labor. Shallow removal of a surface fibroid may not carry that advice. Ask that the recommendation be recorded in your operation note.

What is the laparoscopic myomectomy recovery time compared with open surgery?

Shorter. Mayo Clinic gives about two to four weeks for laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy and four to six weeks for abdominal myomectomy, with hysteroscopic removal taking only a few days. The difference comes from the abdominal wall, which heals faster after small incisions than after one long one. The uterus itself needs similar time to heal whichever route was used.

References

• NHS: Fibroids, Treatment
• NHS: Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery)
• MedlinePlus: Uterine Fibroids
• MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Pelvic laparoscopy

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.