Uzm. Dr. Ertan Özen
GynaecologyVerified
- 36+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Gynaecological Surgery
Robotic hysterectomy (da vinci)
What a robotic hysterectomy with the da Vinci system involves, what the surgeon controls and what the robot does not do, what the evidence says compared with laparoscopic, vaginal and open hysterectomy, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery milestones, risks and questions to ask the gynaecological surgeon.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
- Category
- Gynaecological Surgery
- Hospitals
- 2
- Verified
- 2
- Price from
- Price on request
Verified surgeons for Robotic Hysterectomy (da Vinci)
2 doctors Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Prof. Dr. Zehra Neşe Kavak
GynaecologyVerified
- 36+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Robotic hysterectomy (da Vinci) in Turkey: what it is and how it works
A robotic hysterectomy (da Vinci) is a hysterectomy, removal of the womb, performed through small keyhole cuts with the help of a robotic surgical system. The robot does not operate on its own. A gynaecological surgeon sits at a console a short distance from the patient, looks at a magnified three-dimensional view of the pelvis and moves hand controls; the instruments on the robotic arms copy those movements with a wristed, finely scaled action. An assistant stays at the bedside to change instruments and manage suction. The operation is done for conditions such as fibroids, heavy bleeding, adenomyosis, endometriosis, prolapse or, in selected cases, gynaecological cancer.
This guide explains how a robotic hysterectomy differs from other types, what the evidence says about its benefit, what it costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, and what recovery is like. A general overview is in our guide to hysterectomy, and other operations in the field are listed under gynecology treatments in Turkey.
Does the robot make a hysterectomy better?
For most benign (non-cancer) conditions the honest answer is: it can make a difficult operation easier for the surgeon, but studies do not show a large advantage for the patient over standard laparoscopy. Professional bodies such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists support a minimally invasive route, vaginal or laparoscopic, over an open abdominal operation whenever it is feasible, and they note that robotic surgery gives similar outcomes to conventional laparoscopy in many cases, at a higher cost and often longer operating time. Robotics may help in complex cases such as large uterus, dense scarring, severe endometriosis or a high body weight, where fine suturing and visibility matter. The surgeon's experience with the system counts for more than the machine.
What does a robotic hysterectomy involve, step by step?
You have general anaesthesia and lie on your back with the head slightly down so the bowel moves out of the pelvis. Four or so small incisions, each about 0.5 to 1.2 cm, are made in the abdomen; the abdomen is gently filled with carbon dioxide and the robotic arms are docked to the ports. The surgeon frees the womb from its supports and blood supply, separates the cervix from the vagina and removes the womb through the vagina or, if it is small, in pieces through a port. The top of the vagina is then closed with stitches. Fallopian tubes and, when needed, ovaries can be removed at the same time. Surgery takes about two to four hours.
Which type of hysterectomy: total, subtotal or with ovaries?
A total hysterectomy removes the womb and cervix; a subtotal (supracervical) one leaves the cervix; a hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy removes the tubes and ovaries as well. Removing both ovaries before the menopause causes immediate surgical menopause, so this decision should be personal and well informed. For cancer, a radical hysterectomy removes more tissue, often with lymph nodes. The FDA has also warned that cutting the womb into pieces with a power morcellator can spread an unsuspected cancer, so ask how the womb will be removed.
Robotic, laparoscopic, vaginal or open hysterectomy: how do they compare?
All remove the womb; the differences are the route and the instruments. The comparison below is general; your surgeon chooses based on womb size, scarring, previous surgery and the reason for the operation.
| Approach | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Robotic (da Vinci) | Complex cases: large womb, adhesions, endometriosis, high body weight | Higher cost; no clear patient advantage in simple cases |
| Laparoscopic | Most benign cases | Harder suturing and view in difficult cases; see laparoscopic hysterectomy |
| Vaginal | Prolapse and a mobile, small womb | Limited if the womb is large or there is scarring |
| Open abdominal | Very large womb, some cancers | Longer stay and slower recovery |
Robotic hysterectomy (da Vinci) cost in Turkey, the UK, US and Germany
The ranges below are approximate for the whole treatment and are not hospital quotes. They assume a hospital stay of one to three nights.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €5,500 – €12,000 |
| United Kingdom | €8,000 – €16,000 |
| United States | €15,000 – €40,000 |
| Germany | €8,000 – €18,000 |
What changes the price: the use of the robotic system (which adds consumables and equipment cost), whether the ovaries and tubes are removed, theatre time, the grade of hospital room, the length of the stay and the tests required beforehand. A quote should list pre-operative tests, surgeon and anaesthetist, the robotic instruments, hospital stay, medication, histology (examination of the tissue) and follow-up. Ask whether a laparoscopic option would cost less if the robot offers no benefit in your case.
Who is a suitable candidate, and who is not?
Suitable women are those whose condition is not controlled by medication or less invasive treatment, who have finished having children and who understand that pregnancy will no longer be possible. Alternatives should have been discussed first: hormonal treatment, an intrauterine system, fibroid treatment such as fibroid removal or robotic myomectomy, which keeps the womb. The robotic route may be unsuitable if you have severe heart or lung disease that makes a head-down position and gas inflation unsafe, or a very large womb or suspected advanced cancer that calls for an open approach.
How long should you stay in Turkey, and what does recovery look like?
Most patients stay in hospital one to three nights, and plan five to eight nights in Turkey so the surgeon can check the wounds and a blood count before the flight. Keyhole scars are small and shoulder-tip pain from the gas fades in a day or two. Walking begins the same day. Many women return to desk work after two to three weeks, avoid heavy lifting for four to six weeks and avoid sex, tampons and baths for about six to eight weeks, until the top of the vagina has healed. Light discharge or spotting is normal for some weeks. Flying is generally allowed after the surgeon's check, with movement and fluids to reduce clot risk.
Results and expectations: because the incisions are small, scars fade to thin lines that are barely noticeable after some months. The aim of the operation is relief of the symptom that led to it, such as heavy bleeding, pressure or pain, and most women notice this within weeks. Tissue from the womb is examined under the microscope afterwards, and you should receive that report; it may change follow-up, so ask for a copy in English before you leave.
What are the risks of a robotic hysterectomy?
Common effects are pain at the port sites, bruising, tiredness and bloating. Serious complications are uncommon but include bleeding, infection, injury to the bladder, ureter or bowel, breakdown of the vaginal cuff, blood clots, hernia at a port site and anaesthetic problems. Sometimes the surgeon has to convert to an open operation for safety. If the ovaries are removed, menopausal symptoms start at once. The FDA has stated that robotic devices have not been shown superior for cancer treatment, so any cancer plan should be discussed with an oncology team. Ask about the surgeon's own experience with the system.
How do you choose a surgeon and hospital for a robotic hysterectomy?
Look for a gynaecological surgeon registered in Turkey with regular experience on the da Vinci system, in a licensed hospital with an intensive care unit, blood bank and pathology service. Ask how many robotic hysterectomies the team performs and whether a laparoscopic option exists. Red flags include a quote without a breakdown, a promise of no complications, and pressure to book before your reports are reviewed. Read how our process works and send your scans and reports through the free quote page.
- Is the robot needed for my case, or would laparoscopy do?
- Will my ovaries and tubes be removed, and why?
- How will the womb be removed, and will it be tested for cancer afterwards?
- What is included in the price and how long is the stay?
- Who looks after me if there is a problem after I travel home?
Hospitals with Gynaecology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is a hysterectomy performed through small cuts using the da Vinci robotic system. The surgeon controls the instruments from a console with a 3D view; the robot does not act on its own.
For many benign conditions studies show similar results for the patient. The robot can help in complex cases such as a large womb, heavy scarring or endometriosis, but it adds cost and usually longer operating time.
Approximate ranges are €5,500 to €12,000 in Turkey, against about €8,000 to €16,000 in the UK. The price depends on ovary removal, the hospital stay and theatre time; ask for a written, itemised quote.
Walking starts the same day. Many women return to desk work in two to three weeks, avoid heavy lifting for four to six weeks and avoid sex for six to eight weeks until the vaginal cuff heals.
You are under general anaesthesia. Afterwards there is soreness at the small cuts and shoulder-tip pain from the gas, usually controlled with simple painkillers and easing in a few days.
Removing the womb alone stops periods but not hormones. Removing both ovaries before menopause causes immediate surgical menopause, so discuss this decision carefully before surgery.
Usually about four small cuts of 0.5 to 1.2 cm in the abdomen, one of which may be near the navel. The womb is removed through the vagina or, if small, through a port.
It is a well-established operation with low rates of serious complications in experienced hands. Bleeding, infection and injury to nearby organs are possible; an experienced team and a licensed hospital reduce risk.
No. Once the womb is removed pregnancy is not possible, so alternatives that keep the womb should be discussed first if you may want children.
Five to eight nights is usual: one to three in hospital, then a wound and blood check before flying. Cancer surgery or complex cases may need longer.
Patient stories