Surgical incisions for hysterectomy
Your surgeon will recommend one or more types of hysterectomy (you may or may not have a choice, depending on your condition). While an abdominal hysterectomy requires a larger incision, a vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy uses small incisions.
Abdominal hysterectomy. Two types of surgical incisions are used for an abdominal hysterectomy.
- The midline incision is made from just below the belly button (umbilicus) straight down the abdomen to just above the pubic hairline.
- A transverse incision (bikini line) is made just above the pubic hairline.
Vaginal hysterectomy. During a vaginal hysterectomy, the incisions to remove the uterus are made on the inside of the vagina.
Laparoscopic hysterectomy. To allow insertion of a small viewing instrument (laparoscope) and surgical instruments, small incisions are made in the abdomen.
The vaginal and laparoscopic techniques are sometimes combined.
| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW Carrie Henley | Last Updated: November 7, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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