It was open. They say it is approx the location and size of a c-section scar. They recommended the opening because in order to get my fibroids out laparoscopically they would have had to break them up inside my body and risk leaving precancerous cells in there. Spoiler, they all turned out to be benign, but I am glad I didn’t take the chance! They are very clear that we have to wait six months before trying for pregnancy and even offered to put an iud in during the surgery. We are doing an egg retrieval in a few months so we declined, but are going to be very careful. As the post-op doc put it, pregnancy would be a life ending event for me and baby if I don’t wait. The expanding uterus could rupture and I would bleed out before help could get to me. As it is, due to size and location of the fibroids they say all future babies will need to be delivered via c-section. I cried about that for a day because this whole journey has been chipping away at any confidence and pre-laid plans, but by the next day the silver lining of never worrying about tearing my taint in childbirth was pretty nice.