Local surgeon wins international award

On Sept. 12, Jonathan Y. Song, M.D. of TLC Medical Group, won multiple awards at this year's Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons meeting which was held in Las Vegas.

The multi-specialty minimally invasive surgical society is comprised of many national and international members.

Dr. Song won the coveted Carl J. Levinson Award for Best Surgical Video in the field of gynecologic surgery, as well as the Carl J. Levinson Award for Best Overall Minimally Invasive Surgical Video. Both surgeries involved removing very large fibroid tumors along with uterine reconstruction which allows young patients to preserve their uterus. These tumors weighed over 2,300 grams (normal weight of an entire uterus weighs 60-80 grams). They were removed through 4 tiny puncture incisions with the aid of a video camera (laparoscopy) inserted through the patient's belly button, thus providing cosmetically small, pleasing scars with just a two-week recovery as opposed to eight weeks with a traditional surgery where large abdominal incisions are made. We are fortunate that world-caliber minimally invasive surgical care is available right here in St. Charles.