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How Long Does Laser Tubal Ligation Take?

Are you looking for a more effective birth control method than traditional contraceptives? If so, laser tubal ligation at Allure Laser & Med Spa in Tinley Park, IL may be right for you. However, there are a lot of things to consider before you decide that tubal ligation is right for you. To help you decide whether this procedure is a good fit for you, keep reading to learn more about what to expect before, during, and after it.

How Long Does Laser Tubal Ligation Take?

Laser tubal ligation usually takes around half of an hour to complete. During this time, a very small incision will be made roughly around your navel. Then, a surgical laser will be used very carefully to burn a tiny portion of your fallopian tubes. Once your fallopian tubes are burned in a manner such that your eggs can no longer leave your ovaries and sperm can no longer reach your eggs, the incision made will be sutured closed.

Once your procedure is over, you won’t be able to go home right away. However, it is important to note that this is not an in-patient procedure. In other words, you will not have to spend the night in a hospital to get an upper leg lift. We just need to observe you for a few hours to ensure that you wake up fully from your sedative medication. Once you’re fully awake, we’ll review the steps you need to take to care for yourself post-op.

How Long Does Recovery From Tubal Ligation Take?

It may take you up to four weeks to recover from tubal ligation. However, you will only need to take a few days off from work to focus on recovering. If you schedule your procedure for Friday morning, you will be able to go back to work Monday morning. Note, even though you only have to dedicate 72 hours to focus on your recovery seriously, you will need to wait seven days to have sex.

To recover from your procedure as quickly as possible, you need to listen to your body carefully. If you feel particularly tired, make sure that you take a nap. Ideally, you should sleep between 7.5 and nine hours nightly. If you don’t get at least 7.5 hours of sleep per night, make sure that you take naps throughout the day. You need to spend as much time as possible in the final stage of the sleep cycle.

What Should I Eat After My Procedure?

After your procedure, you should make sure that you eat plenty of soluble fiber.

Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?

You may be considered a good candidate for laser tubal ligation if you are confident that you never want to become pregnant in the future. Also, there is a great chance that you will qualify for laser tubal ligation if you have been advised that pregnancy will negatively affect your health and the health of your fetus. Furthermore, this procedure will probably be considered right for you if you have a family history of ovarian cancer.

This procedure mitigates the risk of developing ovarian cancer by 30% for a couple of reasons. First, the lack of blood flow to the ovaries helps to keep your hormone levels in check. Also, your ovaries are protected from environmental agents due to the fallopian tubes closing.

Who Isn’t a Good Candidate for This Procedure?

Contraindications for this procedure exist. For example, you will be considered a poor candidate for this tubal ligation technique if you suffer from obesity. Also, you will not be considered a good fit for this procedure if you suffer from pelvic adhesive disease. We will verify that you are healthy enough for this procedure during your initial consultation.

Can I Get Tubal Ligation if I’m Young?

Yes. If you are in good health and seeking tubal ligation for yourself, you can get your tubes tied if you are young. There is nothing wrong with wanting to prevent pregnancy without the stress of taking hormonal birth control at the same time every day, the massive weight gain and other side effects of contraceptive injections, or having to keep condoms in a cool, dry place. Just make sure that you’re not doing this for your partner.

It may be possible to reverse your tubal ligation with another procedure in the future. However, you should keep in mind that only two to three out of five women become pregnant successfully after tubal ligation reversal. In other words, 40 to 60% of women will not get pregnant, even if they undergo a tubal ligation reversal. On the other hand, only 10% of women who don’t undergo tubal ligation struggle to become pregnant or carry a child to term.

Can I Get My Tubes Tied if I Don’t Have Any Children?

Yes, you may be considered a good candidate for tubal ligation if you do not have any children. It’s okay to never want kids and feel frustrated by the side effects or inefficacy of other pregnancy prevention methods. It is also okay for women who only have one child but know they do not want to become pregnant again.

How Should I Prepare for My Procedure?

The first step to prepare for your tubal ligation is to attend your initial evaluation. We will review your health and reasons for seeking the procedure and discuss what results you can expect. Note, in most cases, a consent form must be signed 30 to 180 days before the procedure. This requirement is waived in cases that involve premature labor. Specifically, you only need to sign a consent form three days pre-op in the event of premature labor.

What Should I Wear on the Day of My Surgery?

You should wear something comfortable on the day of your tubal ligation. You will wear a hospital gown during your procedure, but you want to have clothes that are easy to put on once your procedure is complete. Note that jewelry is prohibited during the procedure, so we recommend coming in without any jewelry.

What Should I Eat Before My Procedure?

To keep you comfortable during your tubal ligation, we will administer general anesthesia. To prepare for your general anesthesia, you need to refrain from eating for eight hours post-op. If your procedure is scheduled for 2 o’clock, you won’t be able to eat after 6 o’clock.

However, you will be able to drink clear liquids, like pulp-free coconut water, tap water, and apple juice. You only have to dry fast for two hours pre-op. In other words, if your procedure is scheduled for 2 o’clock, you can drink certain beverages up until noon on the day of your procedure. It is important that you fast pre-op because if your stomach is not empty, your body’s reaction to the medication may be affected.

Can I Take Medicine Before My Procedure?

While discussing your health to verify that you qualify for tubal ligation, we will discuss the medications you are currently taking. You may have to stop taking certain medications, temporarily. For example, you can’t take any drugs or supplements that prevent blood clotting for a couple of weeks prior to your operation.

If your PCP has you on daily medication that must be taken with food in the morning, you will need to consider when you schedule your procedure very carefully. For example, you shouldn’t schedule a 10 o’clock tubal ligation if you take medicine with breakfast at 6 o’clock, but you can’t eat after 2 AM.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

Generally, laser tubal ligation is completed in around 30 minutes. However, you’ll need to spend a few hours in a clean, comfortable recovery room once your procedure is complete. Once you have awoken from your anesthesia fully, we will discuss your post-treatment care guidelines with you. Among these care guidelines are taking three days off from work, refraining from sex for seven days, and avoiding vigorous exercise for four weeks.

Typically, this procedure is appropriate for relatively healthy women who are completely confident that they do not want to bear children. Nonetheless, it is crucial that you attend an initial evaluation to verify that tubal ligation is right for you. To schedule your initial evaluation, drop us a line at Allure Laser & Med Spa in Tinley, IL today. We can’t wait to help you with your family planning needs.

Toni Scott-Terry, MD

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