What if I don't live in the Manawatu?

Unfortunately the expertise to carry out minimal access surgery is not spread evenly throughout New Zealand. Some minimal access procedures may therefore not be available in the area in which you live. We can arrange for your surgery to carried out in Palmerston North if is not available in your area. Because of the rapid recovery from keyhole surgery you will normally only have to spend 1-2 days in Palmerston North. Palmerston North is conveniently located in the middle of the lower North Island of New Zealand. It has good transportation links and there are several accomodation options within a short distance of Southern Cross Hospital.

What is the recovery like after keyhole surgery?

Recovery from surgery obviously depends on the extent and difficulty of your surgery. In general terms you can expect to have some abdominal discomfort for several days after you are discharged from hospital. You may need to take some mild pain killers such as panadol during this time. For the first 1-2 days following discharge you will not feel like cooking meals, housework etc. It is advisable to have another adult with you during this time.

Return to work will also depend on the extent of surgery. After a minor minimal access procedure you can usually return to work after 2-3 days; After a major laparoscopic procedure such as laparoscopic hysterectomy, you may need to wait 2 weeks to return to clerical work and up to 4 weeks before returning to manual work. Although you can return to normal activities after a few days, you may feel fatigued for several weeks. This is normal during recovery from any surgery as the body heals itself.