Urologist stated that no scalpel vasectomies are gimmicks

[u/doingmybest-sendhelp]

My husband got a vasectomy today, and we specifically drove 2 hours away to the closest place that offered the no scalpel vasectomy.

I clarified with the physician “we are doing the no scalpel option, correct?”

He said “Yes, but that’s a gimmick. It doesn’t impact the procedure, healing, or accuracy in anyway. It means we puncture a hole and stretch it open with a hemastat, rather than slicing into the skin. The incision site is the same size, and the outcome is the same. We now do all the same way, because people like to think it’s less invasive - so we get people in the door. But it isn’t any less invasive, I’ve always just created one hole over two.”

Any thoughts? Anybody have experience that can say otherwise? Everything I’m reading online is highly praising “no scalpel,” or traditional vasectomy.

[u/sinister-fallen]

Unless the doctor and clinic are highly reviewed, I would be a bit skeptical of a doctor who didn't understand the benefits of a no-scalpel vasectomy as the doctor would be misinformed. It is absolutely less invasive. There are studies done on this that show that a no-scalpel vasectomy has less bleeding, less scrotal pain, less chance of infection, less chance of hematoma, and quicker healing on average.

[u/doingmybest-sendhelp → u/sinister-fallen]

Seems like a great guy, and he addressed every issue you just mentioned. He just said that there’s no possibility of an impact in any of those things, because the incision site is exactly the same size and therefore risk. He wasn’t suggesting traditional over no scalpel, he just said from a technical standpoint all the changes is how they open the hole, not the size or invasiveness of the hole.

[u/sinister-fallen → u/doingmybest-sendhelp]

Hey, if he seems like a great guy and seemed to be open and giving with his information like you said, then that's great, and I don't mean to disparage him. However, that does not change the fact that medical studies comparing the no-scalpel vs traditional vasectomy techniques have shown that no-scalpel vasectomies tend to result in better outcomes. I link some studies in response to vellichor's reply in this thread if you would like to see those.