Currently about 65-70% of hysterectomies in the United States are performed through a large abdominal incision. Since the late 1980's and early 1990's, surgeons have been exploring minimally invasive techniques to decrease the complication rates and long recovery time of traditional open hysterectomy.  This has lead to the development of conventional laparoscopic hysterectomy.  Patients who benefit from a minimally invasive approach recover faster with less pain, return to normal activity sooner, and suffer fewer of the complications related to a more invasive procedure.   For the last 10 -15 years, gynecologic surgeons have gotten better at laparoscopic hysterectomy, but the techniques have been relatively unchanged.  Although still a great option, the current laparoscopic hysterectomy techniques require several - albeit small - incisions.  The next logical step in the progression of medicine is to continue to make the procedure even less invasive by reducing the number of those small incisions.  Recent technological advances and training have now made this possible.

Dr. Stepp is one of only a handful of surgeons performing Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) or Laparo-Endoscopic Single Site (LESS) total laparoscopic hysterectomy through a single small incision in the base of the umbilicus.  With this technique, the entire surgery is performed via a single umbilical incision.  This is an exciting new step that is much less invasive than the traditional abdominal approach or even the current laparoscopic assisted vaginal or robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy.  With a single small incision in the belly button, there is virtually no visible scar left on the abdomen.  Patients can often go home the same day and start to resume normal activities in as little as one to two weeks.

Of course this technique is not only limited to total hysterectomy. He has also performed laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy, vaginal vault suspension for prolapse, excision of endometriosis, ovarian removal, and appendectomy using LESS surgery.