What is the difference between minimally invasive and open surgery?
Since the small incisions used in minimally invasive procedures do not cut across large tissue areas, scarring tends to be significantly reduced. Patients who are appropriate candidates for a minimally invasive procedure usually stay in the hospital from one to three days, instead of the five to seven days required for open surgery. In many cases, recovery time can be as little as one to two weeks, as compared with four to six weeks for open surgery.