As any woman who has undergone a hysterectomy can tell you, one of the most common questions they get is “will my abdomen shrink after the surgery?” While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, we can say with certainty that for many women, the answer is yes!
A hysterectomy can often lead to a reduction in the size of your abdomen, as well as a decrease in abdominal bloating and discomfort.
Introduction
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. It may also involve the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes. A hysterectomy is a major operation.
There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend a hysterectomy. The most common reason is to treat Cancer of the uterus, ovaries, or cervix. Other reasons might be to treat:
- Benign (non-cancerous) tumors of the uterus, ovaries, or cervix
- Uterine prolapse (when the uterus slips down into or protrudes out of the vagina)
- Severe endometriosis
- Severe pelvic infections
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Abnormal bleeding from the uterus that has notresponded to other treatments Surgery is the only way to treat these conditions.
What is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which the uterus (womb) is removed. The ovaries and fallopian tubes may also be removed during a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy may be performed as a total or partial removal of the uterus. In a total hysterectomy, the entire uterus is removed along with the cervix. In a partial or supracervical hysterectomy, only the upper portion of the uterus is removed, leaving the cervix intact.
Why might you need a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove the uterus. The uterus is the organ in a woman’s pelvis where a baby grows during pregnancy. A hysterectomy might be done for several reasons, including: -Cancer of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries -Uterine prolapse, in which the uterus sags or drops into the vagina -Severe endometriosis -Severe uterine fibroids Hysterectomies are also sometimes done to treat chronic pelvic pain or adenomyosis (a condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus grows into the muscle wall of the uterus).
Abdominal hysterectomy
An abdominal hysterectomy is a surgery to remove the uterus through an incision in the lower abdomen. This type of hysterectomy is also called a total hysterectomy because it removes the entire uterus, including the cervix.In a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgeon accesses the uterus through an incision in the patient’s lower abdomen. The surgeon then removes the uterus and cervix and may also remove other structures, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Vaginal hysterectomy
Most hysterectomies are performed vaginally. During a vaginal hysterectomy, the surgeon removes the uterus through the vagina. This approach has a number of advantages. It usually causes less pain than an abdominal hysterectomy and requires a shorter hospital stay. In addition, a vaginal hysterectomy leaves no visible scars.
Disadvantages of a vaginal hysterectomy include a greater risk of damage to nearby organs such as the bladder and urethra, and a longer recovery time than with other types of hysterectomy.
Recovery
After a hysterectomy, the abdomen may be swollen and bruised. For this reason, many women feel that their abdomen is larger after surgery. However, the swelling and bruising will go away over time. The incision site will also heal and the scar will become less visible. eventually, the abdomen will return to its normal size.
Risks and complications
As with any surgery, a hysterectomy carries certain risks. These include:
-Bleeding
-Infection
-Damage to surrounding organs
-Blood clots
-Reactions to anesthesia
-Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
Conclusion
Based on the data, it appears that a hysterectomy will result in a smaller abdomen, particularly in the area around the waist. This effect is most pronounced in women who are overweight or obese at the time of surgery. In addition, this effect appears to be greater in women who have their ovaries removed at the same time as their uterus (a total hysterectomy).
