Our consultant urological surgeons use a no scalpel technique as recommended by national guidelines.
The reason this technique is recommended over other techniques is:
- Less discomfort
- Faster procedure
- Faster recovery
- Only one small opening of the skin
- Less chance of bleeding and other complications
- Just as effective
The no-scalpel vasectomy was invented by a Chinese surgeon (Dr Li) in the 1980s, and is used throughout China. It has since been introduced in many countries all over the world. The no-scalpel vasectomy technique is different from a conventional vasectomy in the way the doctor gets to the vas tubes and interrupts them. In a conventional vasectomy the doctor makes one or two small cuts in the skin and lifts out each tube in turn, cutting them and tying a stitch around each end of each tube so the sperm cannot reach the semen. Then the doctor stitches the cuts closed. In a No-Scalpel Vasectomy the doctor feels for the tubes under the skin and holds them in place with a small clamp. Instead of making two incisions, the doctor creates one tiny opening. The tubes are then cauterised and interrupted using new and advanced techniques through hyfricator equipment. Often, no stitches are needed to close the tiny opening, which heals quickly, with no scar.