Upcoming abdominal hysterectomy - vertical incision heals faster?

upcoming abdominal hysterectomy a bit nervous about the pain an healing process. someone said the vertical way heals faster is this true

Hi! I had my surgery on 9/16. Today is day 9 and it's the best I've felt since surgery. I have an 8" bikini line incision. It's been healing wonderfully since day one. I have had a lot of pain and discomfort, especially when moving around. It's hard to move without engaging your core. The healing process just takes time. I honestly don't know much about the vertical incision. My uterus weighed 3 pounds!

Best of luck to you!

thank you so much for sharing all. the best in your recovery

I had a vertical incision, 7" closed by 38 staples. I don't know if it healed "faster" or not, but I had a really easy recovery, with minimal pain and no complications. By four weeks out, I was walking 3-6 miles a day. I was cleared at the time to return to work at a part-time desk job, lift up to 30 lbs, run, cycle and swim. Abdominal exercise and weights > 30 lbs had to wait until six weeks.

thank you so much for helpful comments

Well my mom had a vertical incision, and I had a Horizontal. In all honesty I pushed for the horizontal because this would be my second abdominal surgery and I didn't want an upside down cross on my tummy. So, some (lots?) vanity played into that decision.

I have had a very easy uneventful recovery. Was able to walk 3 miles at 1.5 weeks, at at my 5 week point just did a 15 mile walk. I know that's a bit extreme, but I am training for an Ultra (30 mile) run that will happen 8 weeks after surgery - that I am actually going to walk. I have no pain and everything feels really good. OK the incision is a bit tender, and I have yet worn jeans, but all in all it's going well.

Basically, I think it's up to you - if your uterus is too large or the problem you have to address is such that a vertical incision is the best idea - then go that way. Else, you could make the choice. My uterus - when all was said and done was about 1lb - no pretty big but not huge.

Good luck.

I had a very long vertical incision for both my hysterectomy and my exploratory laparotomy. In fact, they went through the hysterectomy scar for the ex lap.

It's a year since my last surgery and you can barely tell I had it done. The only problem I had right after surgery was the embarrassing nerve pain that emanated from the scar.

I was on full restrictions until 6 weeks after my Hyster and 8 weeks after my ex lap. I think my scars healed faster than the rest.