Faster Recovery, Less Pain: Why Minimally Invasive Surgery is the Smart Choice

If you need surgery, you have some really great options in terms of how your procedure is performed. At Surgical Associates of North Texas, minimally invasive surgery is an area of specialty, and the preference for many of our patients. 

Scott A. deVilleneuve, MD, has extensive experience in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques. Through his practice here in McKinney, Texas, he helps those in his care reach their health goals without the risks and recovery times that often come with open surgical techniques. 

What does the term “minimally invasive surgery” mean?

Minimally invasive surgery is an approach that uses multiple small incisions to gain access to the underlying tissues. It’s an alternative to open surgery, which relies on a large incision that cuts through multiple layers of tissue. 

For most of medical history, open surgery was the only option. It’s only been in recent years that advancements in surgical techniques and technology have made minimally invasive procedures possible. 

There are different ways that minimally invasive surgery can be performed. Most involve using a thin tube equipped with a light and camera. As the surgeon passes that tube through the small incision and into your body, real-time imaging is shared on an external screen. 

This allows your surgeon to “see” your organs and other soft tissues during the procedure. Surgical tools are inserted through other small incisions to create the surgical alterations. In some cases, those tools can be guided through the same tube that holds the light and camera. 

Minimally invasive surgery takes less time

One reason why surgeons prefer minimally invasive surgery is the ability to complete the necessary tissue alterations more quickly than with open surgical techniques. Shorter surgical times means less time under anesthesia. 

It’s truly astounding how far minimally invasive surgery has come. Today it’s possible to perform complex surgeries with only several small incisions. Some minimally invasive systems rely on robotic technology that can achieve levels of precision that even the most experienced human hands cannot match. 

Not to mention the fact that robotic surgical arms can bend and twist at angles that human hands cannot replicate. 

Recovery is often easier with minimally invasive surgery

Perhaps the biggest advantage of minimally invasive surgery isn’t the surgical process itself, but the recovery time that follows. While all surgery requires a degree of downtime afterward as your body adjusts, minimally invasive surgery is generally easier to recover from.

If you’re tired of dealing with the frustrating cycle of recurring pilonidal cysts, our team at Surgical Associates of North Texas is here to help. Setting up a visit is as easy as a quick phone call or a visit to our online booking page today.