Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopy (say "lap-uh-ROSS-kuh-pee") is a type of surgery that uses very small cuts in the belly. These cuts are called incisions.

The doctor puts a lighted tube (scope) through an incision in your belly. Then the doctor puts special tools through the other incisions to do the surgery.

With laparoscopy, the doctor can find out what's causing symptoms, repair or remove an organ, take tissue samples for biopsy, and more.

For some surgeries, you can usually go home the same day.

The incisions from the surgery usually leave small scars that fade over time.