Vasectomy Reversal Virginia 



Choosing A Microsurgical Expert

Choosing the right surgeon to perform your vasectomy reversal is very important, as your first attempt at reversal has the highest chance of success.  Dr. Russell's main website has extensive information on recommendations for evaluating surgeons who you are considering for performing your reversal.  You can visit this website at:

www.vasectomy-reversal-expert.com

Listed below is an outline of what to look for when evaluating and choosing a reversal surgeon.

1) Least Desirable: A Non-Urologist

Let's begin with a question: would you go see a urologist if you had a broken arm?  Would you want a gynecologist to treat your cataract? Then why would anyone consider going to a non-urologist to have him/her perform one of the most challenging urologic surgeries?  Unfortunately, if you search the internet, you can find general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and thoracic surgeons who mid-career found a sudden 'calling' to start performing microscopic urologic surgery, despite having minimal-to-no training in the field.  A nice website and impossible-to-verify success rate claims do not substitute for a lack of training.  Since they have no urology training, these physicians also typically cannot get credentialled to perform urologic procedures in hospitals or surgery centers (due to the potential liability risk to the facilities of having doctors perform operations for which they have not been formally trained).  These non-urologists therefore almost always must perform quick (1.5 hour) reversal procedures in their office and with only local anesthesia.  Cutting out the anesthesia and surgery center fees has a cost advantage, but almost all fellowship-trained experts would agree that the latest most effective microsurgical reversal techniques require at least 2.5 to 3 hours of actual operating time, an operating microscope, and anesthesia (as any movement under the operating scope looks like an earthquake, which is not conducive with the precision surgery necessary for optimal outcomes).

2) Better: Board-Certified General Urologist

At least you can typically be assured of a fairly safe procedure, as board-certified urologists have had 4 to 5 years of training in urologic surgeries, and can handle most complications which might arise.  However, residency training programs for general urology typically have mininal exposure to microscopic procedures such as vasectomy reversals.  General urologists are typically quite skilled at treating kidney stones, testicular cancer, and enlarged prostates, but do not learn the lastest microsurgical fertility procedures.  General urologists (and almost all non-urologists) are also typically not able to perform an expert vas-to-epididymis connection if needed (see my main website [link above] for more information as to why this is very important).

3) Best: Urologist with Fellowship Training in Microsurgery/Male Infertility

These urologists have not only completed 4-5 years of urologic surgery training, but have also chosen to devote an extra 1 to 2 years of fellowship training to learn and master the most advanced microsurgical vasectomy reversal techniques.  Less then 1-2% of urologists choose to pursue fellowship training to become true experts in male infertility microsurgery. 

Most general urologists who offer vasectomy reversals will claim to be 'experts' in microsurgery, despite their lack of training in the latest, most effective reversal procedures.  Be sure to specifically ask your urologist if they are fellowship-trained in microsurgery- if they are, then you have found a true microsurgical specialist.

3) Very Best: Fellowship Trained Microsurgical Experts Whose Practice is 100% Devoted to Vasectomy Reversals/Male Infertility

Most fellowship-trained urologists still practice general urology for a significant part of their medical practice (i.e. treat prostate problems, kidney stones, etc.).  For a few fellowship-trained urologists around the country, however, vasectomy reversals are their professional passion, and they have made the decision to  devote 100% of their practice to providing the best possible outcomes for this difficult but rewarding procedure.

You only get one first and best chance at vasectomy reversal success.  Make it count by working with a fellowship-trained microsurgical specialist.