minimally invasive

American  

Or minimal invasive

adjective

1. (of medical treatments or procedures) requiring only a small incision or the insertion of an instrument into a body cavity; involving minimal damage of body tissue.

   minimally invasive endoscopy.

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minimally invasive British  

adjective

1. (of surgery) involving as little incision into the body as possible, through the use of techniques such as keyhole surgery and laser treatment

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Etymology

Origin of minimally invasive

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

minimally invasive

The 29-year-old's ablation procedure - a minimally invasive operation to correct irregular heart rhythms - took place at Spire Manchester Hospital on Tuesday morning.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Cosmetic procedures—including surgeries and minimally invasive treatments, like fillers and injections—are indeed increasing in popularity.

From Slate ● Sep. 2, 2026

Robotic and minimally invasive surgery provide additional growth opportunities in the longer term, it says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

After pushing 200 innings the last two seasons, he underwent a newfangled minimally invasive procedure on May 6 to remove a loose body from his elbow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

"This is a technique we use to monitor the development and function of the cells over time in a minimally invasive way," explains Per-Olof Berggren.

From Science Daily ● May 6, 2026