Laparoscopic surgery: The surgeon makes several small incisions about one-half inch in size. During laparoscopic procedures, a camera attached to a thin metal telescope (laparoscope) is placed inside a single incision. The laparoscope allows the surgeon to view the inside of the abdomen on operating room monitors. To perform the surgery, small instruments are placed through other small incisions.

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Laparoscopic-assisted surgery: This type of procedure is performed primarily laparoscopically and then completed through a small abdominal incision.

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Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery:  During this procedure, a device is placed in an incision 2 to 3 inches in length. The surgeon inserts a hand through the incision to assist in performing the operation.

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Single-incision surgery or single-site surgery: In this approach, both the laparoscope and operating instruments are passed through a single, small incision.

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Robotic surgery or robotic-assisted surgery: Similar to standard laparoscopic surgery, this newer technique allows a surgeon to control a robot that moves the surgical instruments.