TILII TOPICS
Dr. Sodhi is a highly skilled gynecologic surgeon specializing in vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies, reducing your risks and recovery time. Her practice, Bloom Obstetrics and Gynecology, serves the women of Tarzana, CA, the San Fernando Valley as well as the greater Los Angeles area.
Hysterectomy
What is a Hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure performed for removal of the uterus. One of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States, there are several reasons why Dr. Sodhi may suggest a hysterectomy you help improve your quality of life.
What are the clinical reasons to have a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy may be necessary if you failed or exhausted all reasonable medical management and are for instance experiencing persistent abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, or cancer. It may also be necessary to remove your uterus if you experience uterine prolapse, a condition where your uterus drops into or out of the vagina.
What is the difference between a vaginal hysterectomy, a laparoscopic hysterectomy and an abdominal hysterectomy?
Dr. Sodhi is a highly skilled vaginal surgeon and has a strong preference for performing vaginal surgery when possible as it reduces operative time, eliminates abdominal wounds and scarring, and dramatically reduces your recovery time. Vaginal hysterectomies can sometimes be done as an outpatient or require a minimal <= 1 night stay in the hospital or surgery center.
She performs laparoscopic hysterectomies if visualization of the entire pelvis is necessary, for instance if you have had previous surgeries and may have signs of internal scarring on physical exam. Three or four half inch incisions are made on the abdomen to allow for the camera and instruments to enter your pelvis. The uterus and any accessory organs that are removed are usually removed through the vagina during a laparoscopic hysterectomy. This type of hysterectomy usually requires a 1 night stay in the hospital.
Dr. Sodhi performs open, or abdominal, hysterecomies when absolutely necessary because of a very excessively large or bulky uterus, extensive scarring, or any physical limitation you may have preventing you from being able to tolerate a laparoscopy. Most women require a 2 night hospital stay for this procedure before they are ready to go home.
How long does it take to recover from a hysterectomy?
All hysterectomies require six weeks of pelvic rest and limited strenuous physical activity, such as heavy lifting, to allow the vaginal wound to heal completely. However, after a vaginal surgery most women are able to feel good and require minimal support after just a week. For laparoscopy, approximately two weeks of recovery are needed for you to feel back to normal and approximately 3-4 weeks for an abdominal hysterectomy. These are just averages and in short, it depends on the type of hysterectomy that is performed, whether other procedures were performed simultaneously, as well as your physical condition and other comorbidities.