MODEL RELEASED. Ovarian cyst surgery. Surgeon suturing the wound from the removal of an ovarian cyst. The operation was performed using a laparoscope (black, lower right). This is a thin tool that allows access to the cyst without the need to make a large incision in the patient's abdomen. This reduces convalescence time, and decreases the chances of infection. A tiny camera on the laparoscope relays pictures of the area to a screen. Ovarian cysts are common benign growths that develop on ovaries. They may cause pain and menstrual irregularities, and in some cases they turn cancerous.