Valinda Nwadike, MD, an OB/GYN based in Southern Maryland has been referring patients to The Center for Innovative GYN Care minimally invasive GYN specialists for over a decade. Her patients were thrilled with the results of their DualPortGYN or LAAM surgical procedures with the specialists at CIGC. However, it wasn’t until she needed a hysterectomy herself that she fully understood the CIGC difference.
“I refer my patients to CIGC all the time,” said Dr. Nwadike. “Years ago, I met Dr. Paul MacKoul at the hospital where we both worked. I always refer all of my complicated cases to him. Patients would come back with such great reviews. They raved about the surgery, so even without experiencing it firsthand, I was their biggest cheerleader. I’ve been referring to Dr. MacKoul for 15 years. Years ago, one of my patients actually stopped me while I was running in the street to rave about her surgery with Dr. MacKoul.”
When the time came for Dr. Nwadike to have a hysterectomy, there was only one place she would go.
Even as a physician who sees women struggle with complex GYN conditions all the time, Dr. Nwadike had the same concerns about recovery after a minimally invasive hysterectomy that all women have.
“Even though I had these symptoms for a few years (heavy bleeding, anemia, and fatigue), I didn’t want to have to take time off of work. I’m a doctor, I’m a mother, and I run. I’m always very active.”
The CIGC laparoscopic hysterectomy is performed using DualPortGYN, a technique that uses two tiny 5MM incisions, one at the belly button and one at the bikini line. The incisions go through the midline, not muscle, so patients have less pain.
“As an OB/GYN, I wouldn’t even attempt to take out a uterus as large as mine, but with this procedure, it was possible. The hysterectomy is done without a power morcellator, and that was a shock to my colleagues as well. They thought that they must have to use a morcellator, but because of their advanced surgical skills, and using retroperitoneal dissection, power morcellation is unnecessary.”
Dr. Nwadike met with Natalya Danilyants, MD, co-founder of CIGC who with Dr. MacKoul, developed the DualPortGYN technique.
“I had to tell Dr. Danilyants face to face how wonderful I felt. I think women just relate to her so well. It’s an emotional decision to have this surgery, and Dr. Danilyants makes you feel so at ease.
“At work, a nurse on labor and delivery told me she had a robotic procedure with five incisions. LAVH is four incisions. With DualPortGYN there are only 2 incisions and they are practically invisible now. When I went back to work I was showing my colleagues and they couldn’t believe I was walking in the hallways. It really didn’t feel like I had surgery. With DualPortGYN, I didn’t look sick, so psychologically I just felt better.
“I would recommend DualPortGYN to anyone. It is the procedure women deserve. It’s revolutionary. If you laid out all the types of hysterectomy that women can have side by side, why wouldn’t you choose this? I was showing my teeny incisions to my colleagues and they were amazed. They all have the CIGC number now and are making appointments.
“The staff was wonderful, thoughtful and attentive and were genuinely concerned. It was perfect.”
“Dr. Danilyants advised me to take it easy for a week. The next day my son had a doctor’s appointment at 4PM and I felt well enough to sit with him in the waiting room, and then I went to dinner. Three days after the surgery, I was scheduled to work a 24 hour shift at the hospital, and delivered three babies. I was a little tired, but it didn’t slow me down. The next day, my husband and I drove to North Carolina. My husband drove, and I felt fine during the ride. I was told not to run for a couple of weeks, but I was fine doing boot camp a week later. I didn’t need any narcotics, I didn’t have any bleeding.”
While many CIGC patients take up to a week to recover from a DualPortGYN hysterectomy, some are up and moving the next day, and are back to a normal routine before the week is over.
“I’m only 4 weeks out now, and I feel amazing. I’m a runner, and I want to exercise like I normally do and it’s been great. I’m back to running 20 miles a week. The incisions are invisible, you can’t see anything even when wearing a bikini.
“Having this procedure gives me the ability to convince people that might be on the fence about surgery to go ahead and take the plunge. I can tell them from personal experience that the procedure is fabulous!
“My husband who is a surgeon was concerned that I was going to be different after the hysterectomy, but he said it hasn’t affected me at all.
“They have office hours in Annapolis, MD, and I refer many of my patients to that office for the initial consultation. Even though surgery is in Rockville, MD it takes the same amount of time get to either place, and it’s so worth it!”
GYN surgical specialists can often see women sooner because they are focused entirely on surgery. Each patient gets detailed, in depth attention from Dr. Natalya Danilyants and Dr. Paul J. MacKoul. This personalized care helps patients understand their condition and the recommended treatment so that they can have confidence from the very start. Our surgeons have performed over 20,000 GYN procedures and are constantly finding better ways to improve outcomes for patients.
Book a consultation today with Paul MacKoul MD or Natalya Danilyants MD.
Offices are conveniently located throughout the Washington D.C. area in Rockville, MD, Reston, VA and Annapolis, MD. Women looking for a GYN specialist for a laparoscopic hysterectomy, endometriosis excision or fibroid removal travel to CIGC from around the world.
Vitals, RateMDs, Google Plus, Wellness, and UCompareHealthCare.
Vitals, RateMDs, Google Plus, Wellness, and UCompareHealthCare.
CIGC TRAVEL PROGRAM
Even if you are not from the DC area, many patients travel to The Center for Innovative GYN Care for our groundbreaking procedures. We treat women from around the world who suffer from complex GYN conditions.
Learn more in our travel program.
Schedule a consultation to learn more about how we can treat your condition today.
