Minimally Invasive Surgeries have become more popular over the last decade. The development of medical technology allows for less invasive procedures. As they come with lower risk, people are more open to those treatments in comparison to invasive surgeries.

Keep reading to discover what exactly are minimally invasive surgeries, what are their benefits, and what are the most common ones.

What Is Minimally Invasive Surgery?

This term refers to all surgical procedures that are not very invasive but performed through tiny holes. Instead of a large cut in the skin, minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions that allow performing surgery. Since it involves a smaller cut, the time of recovery is usually much shorter in comparison to traditional surgeries.

During minimally invasive surgery, your doctor is going to create a few small holes in your skin. Usually, those incisions are only a few millimeters long. Then, a doctor inserts a long, thin tube with a camera (an endoscope). Thanks to an endoscope, your doctor can see everything on the monitor in the operating room. As they have a clear, magnified picture of the area that needs surgery, they can perform treatment precisely. They are going to use other holes to enter surgical instruments and perform surgery.

Can Minimally Invasive Surgery Be Used in All Cases?

Minimally invasive techniques are very common, yet not all surgeries can be performed that way. Treatments such as the removal of cancer tumors still need to be performed in a traditional way. While minimally invasive surgery has a lot of benefits, it also might take longer than conventional surgery (even though not always). This is why it is not a good solution when it is a time sensitive problem.

What Are the Most Common Minimally Invasive Surgery Procedures?

Some of the most common minimally invasive surgeries include:

● Robotic surgery

A doctor inserts small robotic instruments inside your body. Then they control the robot's movement using a console. Thanks to the robot, they can reach areas that are hard to reach for humans.

● Laparoscopic surgery

To perform this type of surgery, your doctor uses a video camera and inserts tiny instruments to operate the affected areas.

● GYN/Pelvic surgery

In the case of gynecological surgeries, your doctor can perform some procedures without the need for conventional surgery. For example, in the case of a hysterectomy, a surgeon can remove the uterus through the vagina.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery Procedures

The fact that these procedures are becoming more and more popular is supported by various benefits of this less-invasive method of treatment. Here are some of them:

Shorter Recovery Time

Both patients and doctors praise MIS because of the faster healing process. The size of the cut has a significant influence on the time of healing. Conventional surgery leads to cuts in the skin, tissues, but also muscles. They can take weeks to heal. Additionally, the "deeper" and more invasive is the cut, the higher is the risk of infection.

In the case of MIS, only a small area is affected. Thus, even if a surgeon has to make a cut through tissues and muscles, the area that needs to recover after is much smaller compared to classical surgery.

Fewer Damages

The shorter is the procedure, the lower is the risk of damages. Most, even though not all, MIS are performed quicker than traditional surgeries. A great example is MIS spinal surgery. In comparison to open surgery on the spine, it is much faster and has a lower risk of complications.

While in the past, in the case of heart surgery, a doctor had to open the chest to fix the heart valve, now they can do it using precise tools and just two or more small holes.

Less Pain and Quick Recovery

After traditional surgeries, patients might even need a few weeks to get back to normal. In the case of minimally invasive surgeries, this time is much shorter. Some patients might be ready to be back in business in a day or two. Of course, MIS is not totally painless. It can cause discomfort and some amount of pain, but it is much less than after traditional surgery.

Less Scarring

Since the whole procedure is less invasive, there is a lower risk for complications, and as the recovery time is shorter, people are less scared of MIS. Thanks to this, more people react in time when they have a problem and are more likely to consult a doctor.

In effect, more people get help before it's too late. That means that MIS can save lives.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for the Spine

Spinal surgeries might be very invasive. People are often scared of them because the spine is one of the most important parts of the body. However, with the help of the TOPS spine implant, surgery on the spine has become less invasive, and more people decide on it.

What is the TOPS Spine Implant?

It is an implant device that is used to replace soft and bony tissues that were removed during spinal decompression surgery. According to research, the TOPS can relieve pain and improve patients' mobility. Thanks to this, a person who suffers from back pains gains a new quality of life. Whether you suffer from spondylolisthesis, stenosis, or another spine disease, you might consider this method of treatment.

Why It's a Good Alternative for Spinal Fusion - The Risk Factor

The TOPS is considered a less invasive alternative to spinal fusion. While the latter is usually safe, like any traditional surgery, it comes with the risk factor. Some of the potential complications include:

●      Slow healing of the wound,

●      Uncontrolled bleeding,

●      Blood clots,

●      Infections,

●      Damage of blood vessels,

●      Nerve irritation,

●      Pain.

Advantages of the TOPS

Thanks to the TOPS procedure, patients can enjoy better flexibility. As the procedure stabilizes the spine, they can cherish activities that provoked pain in them before.

The TOPS system also provides more movement range in comparison to fusion surgery.