Dr. Mark Hickman Performs Pioneering Microsurgical Technique for Vasectomy Reversal at Affordable Cost

Dr. Mark Hickman, MD, FACS, a highly skilled microsurgeon in New Braunfels, TX, is offering his pioneering microsurgical technique to offer vasectomy reversal surgery at an affordable cost. He is actually offering two all-inclusive options, which means there are no hidden costs or surprises later on. The first alternative is available for $3,300 and includes local anesthesia and oral sedation. The second alternative is available for $4,200 and includes IV sedation that will be administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist.

Dr. Hickman is recognized as an expert in laparoscopic procedures and he has invented a number of surgical instruments and has even received a U.S. patent for some of his inventions. He has also gained recognition as a contributor to various other minimally invasive patents. He is one of the pioneers of laparoscopic or minimally invasive telescopic surgery and he focused on applying these techniques for providing vasectomy reversals. With over 26 years of experience as a minimally invasive surgeon, men seeking to reverse a vasectomy can rely on his expertise.

He says, “Vasectomy reversal is not just for my male patients seeking an addition to their family. The procedure is now being used to combat the onset of male depression following the original procedure. Patients have seen a return to their more virile days and a lifting of the ‘male fog.’ I will perform a microsurgical repair of the vas deferens with a powerful operating microscope and fine nylon suture (much finer than a human hair). A typical repair requires 10-15 stitches. The goal is to create a direct and careful alignment of the lumen of the two ends of the vas and a watertight closure for a higher success rate.”

When reversing vasectomy, Dr. Hickman will look for the two ends of the vas deferens after making a small incision both sides of the scrotal skin. After finding them, he will free them from the surrounding scar tissue and then perform a microsurgical repair after carefully aligning the lumen of the two ends of the vas. He will ensure a watertight closure to provide a higher success rate. But before doing that, he will first take a sample fluid from the testicular end of the vas and examine this under a laboratory microscope.

There are three possibilities when he examines the sample fluid. The first one, which is the best one, is that the fluid contains whole sperm. The second possibility, which is the most common one, is that the fluid is thin and contains just sperm parts and no whole sperm. The third possibility is that the fluid is pasty and thick and does not contain any sperm. The third situation has to be remedied because it is known as an epididymal blowout. This means the vas deferens is blocked at two levels: at the site of the vasectomy and a rupture of the tube in the epididymis.

When encountering the third situation, Dr. Hickman will perform not just a vasovasostomy but also a vasoepididymostomy but the patient need not worry about any additional costs because the all-inclusive price offer means the price quoted will not change. For the vasoepididymostomy, he will perform a microscopic invagination of the epididymal tube into the lumen of the vas deferens with 10-20 nylon sutures.

Founded in 1988, Dr. Mark Hickman’s clinic offers his pioneering microsurgical and minimally invasive methods for vasectomy reversal. He finished his general surgery residency training at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and it was during this period that he came to know about the microsurgery techniques that were then being applied in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He soon realized the different advantages that minimally invasive microsurgery can provide his patients, so he decided to use microsurgery techniques in his vasectomy reversal practice.

Those who want to reverse a vasectomy can visit Dr. Hickman’s website or contact him through the phone or by email. The practice is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, from Monday to Friday.