New Robotic Surgery Technology Makes Hysterectomies Much Less Invasive

A new type of surgery could help women who are in need of a hysterectomy.

No one wants to have surgery. The large incisions and long recovery time would have most people saying, “No, thank you.”

But technology is changing that.

Advances in robotic surgery are getting women in and out quickly for surgeries like hysterectomies. For Beverly Sagal, she waited to decide when the right time was for her to get a hysterectomy.

“I just wasn't ready. I was, like, 60 when I had spoken to my doctor, and we talked about the procedure, and I was still teaching and had a very active life and decided that wasn't the right time. And, now, I knew it was the right time,” Sagal said.

Sagal was a teacher for 50 years, and this year, she decided that it was time, particularly knowing it wasn’t going to be a major incision or recovery time, which calmed her nerves.

“I resumed my life. I was able to drive after two weeks. I couldn’t go back to the gym, but I was able to walk, and I did that daily, and I think all that helped for my recovery,” Sagal said.

According to Dwight D. Im, M.D., FACOG, board-certified gynecologic surgeon and leader of Mercy Medical Center’s prestigious gynecology and robotic surgery programs, said it’s not an actual robot doing the work.

“There is no robot, it’s just a machine, and it’s up to the surgeon who utilizes the machine to really perform the surgery in a very articulate, precise manner, and at the same time, does not give them huge incisions. So, for the patient, all they will see is small holes,” Dr. Im said.

It’s an operation that has come a long way.

“Traditionally, they would undergo an incision and in the abdomen either up and down or transverse, so it was a longer recovery. They’re in the hospital for several days and out of work for four to six weeks,” Dr. Im explained.

Not anymore.

Most patients go home within 24 hours, and doctors are increasingly using this kind of technology when operating.

“Imagine having a thyroid surgery for women with no scars, you know, even with breast surgery. So, yes, it’s being utilized in just about every specialty within surgery,” Dr. Im said.

Sagal said she’s glad to be feeling so good after just a month.

“Everything’s great. I’m back seeing friends and family, and everything’s good. Even went back to the pool and all good!” Sagal said.

Dr. Im is the medical director of The Neil B. Rosenshein, M.D., Institute for Gynecologic Care at Mercy, The Gynecologic Oncology Center at Mercy and The National Institute of Robotic Surgery at Mercy. Dr. Im leads the 14th annual Robotic Surgery Conference, “IMSWAY: A Systematic Approach to Advanced Robotic Gynecologic Surgery,” October 3rd-5th, 2024 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, a continuing medical education (CME) program regarded as one of the preeminent courses on gynecologic robotic surgery with participants from across the country and around the world. 

View Mercy gynecologic oncologist and robotic surgery expert Dr. Dwight Im’s interview regarding robotic surgery and hysterectomy.