Minimally Invasive Surgery in St Augustine, Florida

Minimally Invasive Surgery

If you’ve been told you have an abnormal gynecological issue and may need minimally invasive surgery, it’s completely normal to be nervous. Maetozo Total Woman’s Care of Saint Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida, is staffed with compassionate, expertly trained practitioners who provide state-of-the-art surgical care. Whether you need to remove a cyst or you have abnormal bleeding, Sherri Maetozo, MD, can give you the compassionate care you deserve. Call today or book your first appointment online.

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Minimally Invasive Surgery Q & A

When do I need minimally invasive surgery?

There are many reasons that you might need minimally invasive surgery. These procedures are used in both diagnosis and treatment. Common reasons for minimally invasive surgery are:

  • Endometriosis
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Biopsy
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Abnormal Pap smears

If you need minimally invasive surgery, your doctor will explain all your options.

What is a laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive outpatient surgery used in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like ovarian cysts, fibroids, abnormal bleeding, and endometriosis.

In a laparoscopy, your doctor creates a very small incision in your abdomen while you’re under anesthesia. She inserts an ultra-thin laparoscope, a tool that has a miniature camera and lighting source, to view your inner abdomen on a screen nearby.

If your doctor discovers problems such as endometrial growths, she can remove them with a high-tech laser or specialized surgical tools.

Since you have only very small incisions, laparoscopy bleeding is minimal and recovery is typically a week or less.

What is a hysteroscopy?

A hysteroscopy is a type of minimally invasive surgery that’s often used to diagnose abnormal bleeding. In this outpatient procedure, your Maetozo Total Woman’s Care of Saint Augustine doctor places a hysteroscope, a slender lighted tube, through your cervix and into your uterus.

During a hysteroscopy, your doctor examines your inner uterus and fallopian tubes on a screen nearby. If your doctor discovers the reason for your heavy bleeding, for example uterine fibroids, she can remove those right away.

If you have abnormal bleeding and other treatments haven’t yielded relief, you may need an endometrial ablation during your hysteroscopy. An endometrial ablation removes all of your uterine lining.

Recovery is generally smooth, taking a week or less.

What is a LEEP cone biopsy?

A Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) is a minimally invasive procedure in which your doctor removes abnormal cells from your cervix. Often, a LEEP procedure includes a cone biopsy in which your doctor removes a cone-shaped tissue sample from your cervix for a cancer biopsy.

This outpatient procedure is usually done when you have an abnormal Pap smear result. A biopsy can identify cervical cancer even in its earliest forms, so it’s important to have Pap smears as recommended by your doctor starting at age 21. After age 70, women can often discontinue Pap smears if certain criteria including recent normal Pap smears are met.

LEEP cone biopsy requires only a day or two of recovery time.

Are you looking for a trusted practitioner with years of minimally invasive gynecological surgical experience? Contact Maetozo Total Woman’s Care of Saint Augustine or book your appointment online.

Patient Feedback

Celeste G.

I have been a patient with Dr. Maetozo for many years and I always feel very comfortable and trust her as my Doctor.  

Margalo E.

  I’ve been going to Dr. Maetozo for the nearly 20 years that I’ve lived in St. Augustine, and I have been consistently satisfied with the friendly, efficient, compassionate care I have received, both from the clinicians and the staff members. I wouldn’t bother going anywhere else.  

Judy C.

  Dr. Maetozo has a great personality and is very kind. I have great confidence in her ability as a health provider and would recommend her to anyone looking for a great OBGYN!  

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