Uterine Fibroid Surgery

When your doctor finds fibroids growing on your uterine wall, you may need to take action to remove them. When you consider how to get rid of fibroids, you have several options before you get to fibroid removal surgery. But if you need surgery, the best way to ensure a successful procedure is trusting a fibroid doctor like Dr. George Bolotin at Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists in Brooklyn, NY and Bronx, NY. Don’t let fibroids jeopardize your fertility; seek minimally invasive fibroid removal surgery. Call today to discover what’s best for you.

Why Do Fibroids Have to Be Removed?

Fibroids are abnormal growths attached to your uterine wall. If they get large enough or turn out to be cancerous  (which is rare), they may have to be surgically removed. Fibroids that require removal manifest themselves in several types and conditions, such as:

• Subserosal fibroids
• Intramural fibroids
• Calcified fibroids 

Affecting more than 80 percent of women over the age of 50, including African American women, fibroids sometimes cause a number of uncomfortable symptoms. Many women choosing fibroid removal suffer from symptoms that include:

• Bleeding fibroids
• Weight gain from fibroids
• Fibroid pain
• An enlarged uterus
• Pain during sex
• Severe menstrual cramps
• A frequent urge to urinate
• Pelvic pain
• Heavy-flow periods

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, seek a diagnosis and cure from the Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists in Brooklyn, New York and Bronx, New York. Dr. George Bolotin, founder of the practice and an accomplished Interventional Radiologist, is one of the region’s premier experts in treating uterine fibroids. He takes pride in delivering tender and compassionate care.

Can I Avoid Fibroid Removal Surgery?

When your doctor recommends fibroids removal, there are still several methods to try besides surgery, which is always the last option. But if your specialist says that it’s medically necessary to remove your fibroids, they have to come out. When you trust your care to a trained expert like Dr. Bolotin, you have some choices besides surgery. When developing a customized plan on how to get rid of your fibroids, your doctor may recommend an alternative such as:

• Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). During this minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Bolotin administers a local anesthetic to your upper thigh and inserts a small catheter into the artery headed toward your uterus. He injects microscopic particles into the exact place in your artery to prevent blood from nourishing the fibroids. Cut off from a blood supply, they shrink and die. UFE has benefits and risks, so consult with your doctor before agreeing to this non-surgical procedure.
• Fibroid-focused ultrasound. This high-tech device generates heat through sound waves to destroy your fibroids while preserving the surrounding tissue.
• Hormone treatments. Your doctor may recommend a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or birth control pills to reduce your progesterone and estrogen levels and lower your menstrual flow. GnRH may reduce the size of your fibroids enough to allow a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure. Testosterone therapy effectively stops your menstrual cycle, which is responsible for many fibroid symptoms.

Despite the minimally invasive nature of these treatments, they’re not always appropriate. Dr. Bolotin may recommend uterine fibroid removal surgery for specific reasons, such as:

• You still want to have children.
• Your specialist decides your fibroids may compromise your fertility.
• You don’t want to lose your uterus.

What if I Need Uterine Fibroids Surgery?

While uterine fibroid removal surgery results in very few complications, choosing an accomplished fibroid specialist like Dr. Bolotin improves your chances of success. To further reduce complications, you can take vitamins and mineral supplements. If you suffer from anemia due to heavy periods, you can benefit from additional iron.

During uterine fibroid surgery, also known as a myomectomy, your Brooklyn and Bronx-based fibroids expert removes the fibroids from your uterine wall through one of several minimally invasive surgical procedures, including:

• Laparoscopic myomectomy. In this procedure, Dr. Bolotin makes several small incisions in your abdomen. Guided by a camera and a computer monitor, he uses very small instruments to carefully remove the fibroids. If you have large fibroids, the doctor can break them up before extracting them in this procedure.
• Hysteroscopic myomectomy. Your specialist uses small instruments, entering your uterus through your vaginal canal. This technique is effective for fibroids attached to the inner wall of your uterus.

In the end, your uterus is fully functional, allowing you to have children in the future. In contrast, a hysterectomy involves the complete removal of your uterus, making it impossible to have children.

What Can I Expect While Recovering from Fibroid Surgery?

Once Dr. Bolotin completes your surgery and is ready to discharge you from the clinic, he gives you post-operative instructions. He may prescribe over-the-counter or prescription-strength painkillers, and you may need special diet instructions. You may experience some bleeding for a few days or a week after the procedure, but this is normal and will pass.

Most women benefit from symptom relief and improved fertility. There’s no need to suffer from fibroids pain, discomfort or complications due to untreated uterine fibroids. Contact the Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists today to schedule your initial consultation.