Surgical Services - Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery uses tiny incisions and precise instruments. This causes less trauma than traditional surgery, giving you a faster and more comfortable recovery.

Benefits of minimally invasive surgery

Minimally invasive surgery is generally safer than traditional surgery. Most surgeries performed at Tanner are minimally invasive.

The benefits of small incisions are a big deal for you:

Small incisions take less time to heal — as little as two weeks, compared to six to eight weeks with traditional surgery.
There’s less risk of infection because the incisions are smaller.
Smaller incisions mean less discomfort, so you need fewer pain-relieving medications.
Less trauma to the skin and tissues of the body leads to less scar tissue.
Because the incisions are smaller, there’s less blood loss during surgery.
Often, patients can go home the same day (within 24 hours) of their surgery so they don’t have to stay in the hospital to recover.

How is minimally invasive surgery performed?

Traditional surgery usually requires a single, large incision. But minimally invasive surgery uses a series of smaller incisions.

Minimally invasive surgery is sometimes called laparoscopy, since it involves inserting a tiny camera through one of the small incisions. The camera lets the surgeon see without making a large incision.

Small instruments are inserted through other incisions. The number and location of incisions depends on the surgical procedure. Surgeons and surgical technicians use these tools to perform surgeries that once required large, open incisions and long, painful recoveries.

Minimally invasive surgeries

Our surgeons offer a host of minimally invasive surgical options, including:

Bladder cancer surgery
Bowel surgery
Breast surgery
Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting
Colon and rectal surgery
Endocrine surgery
Endoscopy of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum
Esophageal surgery
Gallbladder and biliary tract surgery
Gastroenterology therapies
GERD (heartburn) surgery with no incision
Gynecologic surgery for cancer or other conditions
Hemorrhoid surgery
Hernia and abdominal wall surgery
Hip, knee and shoulder surgery
Hysterectomy and other uterine disorders
Kidney disease surgery
Liver surgery for cancer and other conditions
Lung and airway therapies
Ophthalmology
Otolaryngology (head and neck surgery)
Pancreas surgery
Parkinson’s disease and movement disorder surgery
Prostate cancer surgery
Spine surgery
Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis
Tinnitus surgery
Vascular surgery

Do you need surgery?

Our surgeons continually train to offer the latest minimally invasive surgery options. Find a listing of doctors on our medical staff. Make an appointment for an evaluation or speak to your primary care provider about a referral.

Diverticulitis: Is Surgery Right for You? - David Griffin, MD

Diverticular disease is a common condition that causes a weakening in the wall of the colon, resulting in marble-sized pouches, or diverticula, that protrude through the colon wall. When one or more of these becomes inflamed, it can cause cramping and pain, and lead to infection and fever. After a a handful of diverticulitis attacks, most people seek surgery to correct the problem. Tanner surgeons use minimally-invasive robotic surgery to remove the part of the colon causing the problem. This type of surgery shortens a patient's hospital stay and recovery time. View Dr. Griffin's physician profile >

Minimally Invasive Hernia Repair - Austin Lewis, MD

Could you have a hernia? Most people who have a hernia first notice a bulge or knot on their belly or groin area, which can be uncomfortable or even painful. According to Austin Lewis, MD, a surgeon with Carrollton Surgical Group, there are two main types of hernias: ventral hernias and inguinal hernias. Both types can be repaired with an outpatient surgery that is a traditional (open) surgery or a minimally invasive surgery. The latter provides a faster recovery and less post-operative pain. View Dr. Lewis' physician profile >

Hemorrhoids: Causes, Treatments and Prevention - Brian Barden, MD

According to Brian Barden, MD, a board-certified surgeon with Carrollton Surgical Group, hemorrhoid disease is caused primarily by pregnancy and excessive straining in the bathroom. Most hemorrhoid patients experience swelling and pain, turning first to over-the-counter remedies. When those no longer suffice, Dr. Barden performs hemorrhoid banding, a revolutionary outpatient procedure requiring no anesthesia and no downtime. Some hemorrhoids may require an outpatient surgery that requires a longer recovery. No matter which surgery is performed, the relief can be life-changing for hemorrhoid patients.