Watson Clinic OB-GYN and Urogynecologist and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgeon Tarek Garas, MD is the first specialist in Polk County to perform the Sonata® procedure, a highly effective option designed to treat uterine fibroids without the use of an incision. Dr. Garas recently performed the procedure at Bartow Regional Medical Center.
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that emerge in or around the uterus. The majority of women will experience fibroids before the age of 50. These growths can vary in size, and their most common side effects are heavy menstrual bleeding and painful periods.
Traditional treatments for fibroids have included medical and hormonal therapy, hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus), myomectomy (surgical removal of fibroids with the intent of not impacting the uterus), and uterine artery embolization (injections that block blood vessels around the uterus and shrink fibroids over time).
“Previous treatment options have a host of potential side effects, including discomfort, longer healing periods from incisions to the abdomen, and the possibility of pregnancy-related complications,” says Dr. Garas. “The non-surgical Sonata® treatment uses radiofrequency energy to directly target the fibroids, shrink them and significantly reduce common symptoms like heavy and painful menstruation.”
During the treatment, a hand piece with a high-resolution ultrasound is used to target and treat individual fibroids through radiofrequency ablation while leaving the uterus and endometrium intact. The procedure takes less than an hour to perform, and patients can return to normal activities within a couple of days.
Dr. Garas received his medical degree from Creighton University of Medicine in Omaha, NE, and then completed his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL. He is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Garas is a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Urogynecologic Society, the Florida Obstetric and Gynecologic Society and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. The Surgical Review Corporation also recognized him as a Surgeon of Excellence for his expertise in performing robotic surgical procedures. Dr. Garas serves as Chief of Staff at Bartow Regional Medical Center.
His areas of expertise include comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic services for all stages of life, as well as minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, advanced robotic surgery, and the latest treatment options for pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, painful bladder syndrome and other common pelvic floor disorders.
Dr. Garas offers his services at two convenient Watson Clinic locations - the Watson Clinic Bella Vista Building at 1755 N. Florida Ave in Lakeland, and the Watson Clinic Bartow Building B at 2000 Osprey Blvd., Suite 201 in Bartow.
Appointments with Dr. Garas may be scheduled by calling 863-680-7312.