Surgery Overview

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

The doctor puts a lighted tube through incisions in your belly. This tube is called a scope. Then the doctor puts special tools through the tube to do the surgery.

The surgery may be done to diagnose a condition, repair or remove an organ, or see if cancer has spread.

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

The incisions from the surgery usually leave several scars about half an inch long.