Laparoscopic surgery, often called key-hole surgery or minimally invasive surgery, is performed through small incisions of roughly 0.5 to 1 cm instead of one large cut.

A laparoscope, which is a thin tube carrying a high-definition camera and light, is inserted through one incision and projects magnified images of the internal organs onto a monitor. Specialised instruments are passed through the other ports to carry out the procedure with precision.

Because the incisions are much smaller and tissue trauma is minimal, laparoscopic surgery offers:

• Significantly less pain after surgery and a reduced need for painkillers
• Shorter hospital stays, often day-care or discharge within 24 hours
• Faster recovery and a quicker return to routine daily activities
• Minimal blood loss and a lower risk of wound infection
• Small scars that are cosmetically favourable and fade over time

Laparoscopic techniques are used widely across gastrointestinal, oncology and general surgery, including:

• Gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, for gallstones
• Hernia repair, including inguinal, umbilical, incisional and hiatal hernias
• Appendix removal, or appendectomy
• Colorectal and gastric cancer resections
• Bariatric and metabolic weight-loss surgery
• Diagnostic evaluation for unexplained abdominal pain, and cancer staging

Almost all laparoscopic procedures are performed under general anaesthesia. This ensures the patient is fully asleep and pain-free, and that the abdominal muscles are completely relaxed for safe visualisation and instrument movement.

Medical-grade carbon dioxide is gently introduced into the abdominal cavity to lift the abdominal wall away from the organs. This creates a safe working space and gives the surgeon a clear, magnified field of view.

The gas is removed at the end of the surgery, and any small amount left behind is safely absorbed by the body.

Most patients are suitable candidates. However, some conditions may call for open surgery, or a change to open surgery partway through, so that patient safety comes first. These include severe heart or lung disease, extreme obesity with breathing difficulty, dense adhesions from several previous surgeries, and heavy bleeding that cannot be controlled through the key-hole route.

In most planned laparoscopic procedures, such as hernia or gallbladder surgery, patients are encouraged to get out of bed and walk within 4 to 8 hours. Moving early helps blood circulation, speeds up bowel recovery and prevents complications.

It depends on how complex the procedure is:

• Day-care or 24 hours: routine gallbladder, appendix and straightforward hernia repairs
• 2 to 3 days: advanced gastrointestinal resections, bariatric procedures and complex cancer surgery

Yes. Mild discomfort or aching in the right shoulder or neck is common in the first 24 to 48 hours. It is referred pain, caused by temporary irritation of the diaphragm from the small amount of carbon dioxide left behind. It is harmless and usually settles on its own with light walking and routine pain medication.

• Diet: liquids usually start within a few hours of surgery, moving to a light soft diet the same evening or the next morning
• Desk work and light activity: most patients return within 3 to 7 days
• Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise: avoid gym workouts that strain the core and heavy manual work for about 3 to 4 weeks, or as advised by the surgeon, particularly after hernia repair

Keep the incision sites clean and dry. Most closures use waterproof dressings, or dissolvable sutures with surgical glue. Do not soak the wounds in a bath or swim until you are cleared at your follow-up visit.