A new surgical procedure, performed by a trio of surgeons at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and the Physicians’ Surgery Center (PSC) at Center for Medical Arts, is helping patients worry a lot less about scarring and pain after surgery.

Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) takes laparoscopic surgery one step further with a single incision through the belly button to accomplish any number of treatments, including gallbladder removal, gynecologic procedures such as hysterectomies, and others.

It’s another first for the region. Since June 2009, Dr. Frederick Dressen has performed more than 25 SILS procedures. Surgeons Dr. Neal McCain and Dr. Adrian Patrick Martin are also performing the SILS procedure.

Laparoscopic surgery usually involves four incisions—one underneath the belly button, two on the abdomen above the hip and another just below the ribs in the middle of the chest. By utilizing just one 20mm incision, in an inconspicuous area, the SILS procedure avoids the multiple entry points. It’s almost as if there is no scar at all.

Although the SILS procedure can be performed for many different types of surgeries, at this point, the technique has predominantly been utilized for gallbladder removal. In addition to the cosmetic benefits for the patient, fewer incisions mean less pain in recovery.

Generally, candidates for laparoscopic surgery are also candidates for the SILS procedure. Criteria may include no prior surgery and an elective or non-emergent case.