Open Surgery vs Laparoscopic Surgery: Which is Better?

November 7, 2025

If you need gallbladder removal or another abdominal surgery, you may wonder which option is better: open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Each method has its own pros and cons. Open surgery advantages include direct access for the surgeon, which may be safer in complicated cases. On the other hand, laparoscopic surgery benefits include smaller cuts, faster recovery, and less pain. Over 92% of gallbladder removals are now performed worldwide laparoscopically. In India, this technique is also now getting accepted by many patients because of the quicker healing times. But is one always better than the other? The answer depends on your condition, overall health, and the doctor’s advice. So, read on to get more information and clear all your doubts about these two surgery options.

What is Open Surgery?

Open surgery is a traditional surgical method. The surgeon makes a large cut (incision) on the body to reach the organ or area that requires treatment. For example, in gallbladder removal, the surgeon will make an incision in the abdomen to see and remove the gallbladder. This method of surgery gives the surgeon a clear, wide view of the internal organs. This is very useful in complex cases, emergencies, or when laparoscopic surgery is not possible.

Open surgery usually means a longer hospital stay, a bigger scar, more pain after surgery, and a slower recovery compared to minimally invasive techniques. This procedure is common when dealing with internal bleeding or infections and complex organ procedures (including heart, liver, and intestines), tumor excision, and emergent trauma.

How is Open Surgery Performed?

Any surgical intervention starts with a detailed examination, comprising a physical examination and a medical history. This will assist the surgical team in planning the treatment and ensure that the patient is fit to undergo surgery. Here are the steps performed during open surgery:

The anesthesiologist administers general anesthesia, which makes the patient go into a deep sleep and prevents them from experiencing pain during treatment.
The surgeon makes a large incision at the surgery site in order to reach the inner tissues.
Tissues are either removed or retracted to expose the organ or area of concern.
The surgeon performs the surgery, which may be to extract a tumor, repair an organ, or stop internal bleeding.
To control bleeding, doctors will use clamps, sutures and cauterisation.
After the procedure is completed, the surgeon uses surgical glue, sutures, or staples to close the wound in layers.
Finally, the doctor will apply sterile bandages after cleansing the wound.

Depending on its complexity, surgery might take anywhere from one hour to several hours.

What is Laparoscopic Surgery?

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that is conducted using specialised instruments and small incisions. A laparoscope is a small tube with a camera and a source of light that is inserted through one of the incisions and seen on a screen, providing a magnified image of the area of operation. Nowadays, almost all abdominal procedures are performed via the laparoscopic method. These include appendectomies, gallbladder removals, hiatus hernias, upper gastrointestinal surgeries, colo-rectal surgeries, and bariatric surgeries.

What is the Process of Laparoscopic Surgery?

Despite being a less invasive operation, laparoscopy is not always a minor surgery. Many major surgeries, including abdominal procedures, can be done laparoscopically. Here's how the procedure is done:

On the operating table, you will lie with your head slightly below your feet.
General anesthesia is administered by your anesthesiologist to relax your muscles and leave you free of pain during surgery.
A small tube known as a cannula is inserted by the surgeon after making an incision beneath your belly button.
Your abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas using the cannula. Your doctor can see your abdominal organs more clearly due to this gas.
The laparoscope is inserted via the incision by the surgeon after your abdomen has been expanded.
Your organs may be seen in real time due to the laparoscope's camera, which projects the images onto a screen.
Depending on the disease, i.e., biopsy, you are usually given one or four cuts of incision, each of 1 to 2 centimeters. These incisions can be used to insert other tools.
Once the treatment is over, your surgeon will close your incisions with stitches or surgical tape and release the other equipment and gas from your body.

In general, a diagnostic laparoscopy takes between 30 minutes to an hour. The duration of laparoscopic surgery varies from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the complexity of your medical condition.

Also Read: Benefits of Laparoscopic Surgery

A Comparative Analysis of Laparoscopic Surgery Vs. Open Surgery

Let's take a look at this comprehensive summary to understand the major differences and laparoscopic surgery benefits:

Features	Open Surgery	Laparoscopic Surgery
Approach and Technique	It involves making a wide incision to access the operative region directly.	It implies small, 0.5–1.5 cm holes, through which a laparoscope and other professional instruments are passed. The surgery is done with the help of a monitor that shows magnified images of the laparoscope.
Visibility and Precision	The access to the surgical site is direct to provide tactile feedback and control over instruments.	The video feed of the laparoscope is a visual aid in this type of surgery. This feed gives an enlarged image but lacks haptic features, and the surgeon must adjust to a new depth and viewpoint.
Recovery Time	The cut is broad, and therefore the healing process is long.	Fewer post-operative pains and reduced time of recovery due to the smaller incisions.
Scarring	Gives a more prominent scar in the area of incision and can be visible in the case of long healing.	Leaves behind a series of small scars, which tend to be less visible and dissolve more quickly, and all tend to be less than 1.5 cm long.
Benefits	Surgeons have direct access, which works well for complex procedures.	Reduced risk of infection, less post-operative pain, quicker recovery, and shorter hospital stays.
Drawbacks	Slower recovery, longer hospital stays, increased post-operative pain, and an increased risk of infection.	Surgeons must have specialized training, and it might not be appropriate for all procedures or patients (e.g., large surgeries, obese patients).
Suitability	This technique is commonly employed in complex operations where haptic feedback and direct access are required.	Most of the routine surgeries and operations are favored because the least invasive methods can achieve the same outcome, with less trauma and less time to recover.
Cost	Lower	Higher upfront due to advanced tools.

Which Type of Surgery is Right?

Although there are advantages of open and minimally invasive surgeries, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration before making a decision on the most effective procedure. These factors are:

Medical Condition

Depending on your level of severity and type of condition, the most suitable surgical technique will largely depend on you. Whereas open surgery may prove vital in specific situations such as cancer or trauma, minimally invasive surgery is possibly suitable in endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Recommendation of the Surgeons

You must consult your surgeon to give you their advice according to their experience and the specific case. The surgeon will consider your medical history, the complexity of the procedure, and the advantages & disadvantages of the procedure.

Recovery Time and Lifestyle

Minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgeries have been associated with a faster recovery time, which might be useful to patients with busy schedules. You have to consider the recovery time of laparoscopic vs. open surgery, depending on your own conditions. Take into account your level of tolerance to downtime, career obligations, and family responsibilities.

Potential Risks

Discuss both surgeries with your surgeon and healthcare provider in detail with regard to the risks and complications of the surgeries. Before making a choice, always compare the surgery complications and get better advice from your doctor.

Second Opinion

In case of any questions or concerns, seeking a second opinion from another qualified surgeon will allow you to make a more informed decision by providing more details.

Choose the Right Surgical Process to Prevent Major Complications!

Deciding between open surgery and laparoscopic surgery is important as both have their own benefits and drawbacks. Open surgery gives direct access to surgical sites. Thus, it is often conducted for complex procedures such as open-heart surgeries. Whereas, laparoscopic surgery is conducted for polyp removal, gall bladder removal, endometriosis, etc. It gives fewer scars, less trauma, and quicker recovery. Thus, think of the type of condition, do a surgery complications comparison, and understand the time taken to recover when selecting between open and laparoscopic surgery.

Our team of top physicians at Apollo Spectra performs safe and effective surgical operations by combining the highest caliber equipment with the best patient care available. Make an appointment for surgery right now by getting in touch with our medical staff.