A traditional way of performing vasectomy surgery uses a sharp hemostat to cut the skin. The new method, called No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV), does not use any incisions at all. Instead, four tiny punctures are made in the scrotum, which is then used to advance instruments for performing the separation under constant visual guidance by a high-speed HD camera.

Patients who opt for scalpel free vasectomy usually experience little or no pain compared to traditional vasectomy. The reason for this is that the small hole made in the skin only allows enough blood loss to cause minor discomfort rather than major pain, as experienced with a larger incision associated with conventional vasectomy. This is because of the location of the small opening just above where the testes emerge from behind the abdominal wall.

Typically, patients can resume normal activity within two days after receiving no-scalpel vasectomy.

Scalpel free vasectomy has the following benefits:

• No stitches required to close skin – Reduces failure rate and risk of infection.

• Less painful than traditional vasectomy – It causes less pain, includes no twisting of the tube (vas deferens), and prevents scab formation at the surgery site. Patients experience less pain due to pressure on nerve endings that are exposed during open surgery, allowing for a more comfortable recovery.

• Faster recovery after NSV than after conventional vasectomy – Most men return back to work within two days while they need 5-7 days after a regular vasectomy to be able to go back to their normal routine, including exercise and sexual activity.

Some tips to help make your recovery easier include:

• Avoid strenuous activities or lifting for a few days.
• Avoid hot tubs, saunas, and other forms of heat.
• Ice packs may be helpful in reducing swelling.

Patients who have received no-scalpel vasectomy usually cannot feel the surgical site because the nerves surrounding the vas deferens were not disturbed. However, patients sometimes report a mild ache or pressure around the surgery site from time to time. The feeling is so subtle that most men don’t even notice it.

No-Scalpel Vasectomy vs. Conventional Vasectomy

The no-scalpel vasectomy method has been in use since 1991, and a lot of successful procedures have been carried out. In a conventional vasectomy, the doctor may use a scalpel or sharp hemostat to make one or two small cuts in the skin of the scrotum just big enough for him to work with. The vas deferens are then isolated and cut, tied off, or cauterized, and the opening in the skin closed with stitches which must be meticulously removed to avoid scarring.

When performed correctly, both methods are equally effective at preventing pregnancy. However, the scalpel free vasectomy method has several advantages. Because it involves making much smaller openings than can be made using a scalpel, there is less bleeding and swelling after surgery, making a recovery easier for patients undergoing no-scalpel vasectomy. Also, the no-scalpel vasectomy method is much less traumatic to the surrounding area, reducing infection risk.

In contrast to a no-scalpel vasectomy, there are usually four small incisions on each side of the scrotum from a conventional vasectomy. These increase the chances of scarring and skin numbness at the incision sites. To close either type of incision, doctors use dissolvable sutures that don’t need to be removed by a doctor.