Bindi Irwin forced to fly to New York City for her endometriosis surgery

Bindi Irwin has been treated by one of the world’s top endometriosis specialists following her decade-long struggle with the debilitating disease.

The 24-year-old praised her surgeon in a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday morning, after flying to New York City for surgery at the Seckin Endometriosis Center in Lenox Hill Hospital, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

The state-of-the-art practice was established by Dr Tamer Seckin, a pioneer in the treatment of endometriosis and complex pelvic pain disorders, who has practised for more than 30 years alongside his highly-skilled team.

Endometriosis is an often painful condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus also grows outside the uterus.

There are a wide variety of symptoms: pain can affect areas ranging from the abdomen and lower back to the pelvis and vagina.

Bindi Irwin, 24, (pictured) has been treated by one of the world’s top endometriosis specialists following her decade-long struggle with the debilitating disease. She shared this photo of herself after surgery at the Seckin Endometriosis Center in New York City this week

Other symptoms include painful sexual intercourse, abnormal menstruation, nausea, bloating, and pain with bowel movements.

Dr Seckin is lauded for his expertise in advanced laparoscopic procedures, a minimally invasive operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis, and has performed more than 4,000 endometriosis surgeries to date.

His surgical techniques are based on precision with the goal of organ and fertility preservation as well as pain prevention.

Bindi was treated at the Seckin Endometriosis Center in Lenox Hill Hospital, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, which was established by renowned surgeon Dr Tamer Seckin (pictured) 

Dr. Seckin (pictured) is lauded for his expertise in advanced laparoscopic procedures, a minimally-invasive operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis, and has performed over 4,000 endometriosis surgeries to date

Dr. Seckin has even developed his own patented surgical techniques including the ‘Aqua Blue Excision’, which according to his website, ‘allows for the increased visualisation of lesions, resulting in better identification and excision of endometriosis.’ 

The cost of treatments can vary depending on the patient.   

However, in 2018, Australian design expert Michelle Gilmore told News Corp she paid $100,000 to be treated for endometriosis by Dr. Seckin.  

On Wednesday, Bindi made headlines after she spoke for the first time about her endometriosis battle via Instagram.

Bindi, who shares daughter Grace with her husband Chandler Powell, (both pictured) spoke for the first time about her years-long struggle with the disease on Wednesday

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The Queensland-based conservationist, who shares daughter Grace Warrior, one, with her husband Chandler Powell, also posted a confronting photo of herself in a hospital bed after the surgery.

The Crikey! It’s the Irwins star said she had spent ten years ‘torn apart [by] the pain’ and knew she had to have surgery because she ‘couldn’t live like I was’. 

She explained how the surgeon from the Seckin Endometriosis Center in had removed a total of thirty-seven lesions and a ‘chocolate cyst’ – a term for a cyst filled with menstrual blood.

Bindi, who is the daughter of the late Steve ‘the Crocodile Hunter’ Irwin, said she wasn’t sure if she wanted to discuss her health publicly at first, but decided to speak out because she hoped to help other women struggling with endometriosis.

She also wanted to draw attention to the fact doctors often do not take the condition seriously enough, noting how one physician had once told her the pain was just a normal part of being a woman. 

‘For ten years I’ve struggled with insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea. Trying to remain a positive person and hide the pain has been a very long road,’ she began.

‘These last ten years have included many tests, doctors visits, scans, etc.’

Bindi continued: ‘A doctor told me it was simply something you deal with as a woman and I gave up entirely, trying to function through the pain.

‘I didn’t find answers until a friend, Leslie Mosier, helped set me on a path of regaining my life. I decided to undergo surgery for endometriosis.’

She said ‘going in for surgery was scary but I knew I couldn’t live like I was’, adding that ‘every’ aspect of her life was being ‘torn apart’ because of the pain.

‘To cut a long story short, they found thirty-seven lesions, some very deep and difficult to remove, and a chocolate cyst,’ she continued.

Bindi revealed her surgeon’s first words to her after she woke up from the procedure were: ‘How did you live with this much pain?’

She said having this ‘validation’ from a medical professional after years of having her pain brushed off by doctors was an ‘indescribable’ feeling, before going on to thank her family and friends who had encouraged her to find answers.

Bindi (pictured with her husband Chandler, brother Robert, mother Terri and daughter Grace) said she had spent ten years ‘torn apart [by] the pain’ and knew she had to have surgery because she ‘couldn’t live like I was’. She added of her symptoms: ‘Things may look fine on the outside looking in through the window of someone’s life, however, that is not always the case’

‘Thank you to the doctors and nurses who believed my pain,’ she added. ‘I’m on the road to recovery and the gratitude I feel is overwhelming.’

The DWTS champion went on to address the ways the pain had affected her life, and how she had tried to mask the problem with positive social media posts.

‘To those questioning the cancelled plans, unanswered messages and absence – I had been pouring every ounce of the energy I had left into our daughter and family,’ she said.

‘Things may look fine on the outside looking in through the window of someone’s life; however, that is not always the case.’

Bindi also warned against asking women about their family plans, because you never know if they are struggling with a condition like endometriosis, which can affect fertility.

Bindi revealed her daughter Grace (right) was a ‘miracle’ baby as endometriosis can affect fertility in women 

‘Please be gentle and pause before asking me – or any woman – when we’ll be having more children. After all that my body has gone through, I feel tremendously grateful that we have our gorgeous daughter. She feels like our family’s miracle,’ she said.

‘I’m aware of millions of women struggling with a similar story. There is stigma around this awful disease. I’m sharing my story for anyone who reads this and is quietly dealing with pain and no answers.’

‘Let this be your validation that your pain is real and you deserve help. Keep searching for answers,’ she concluded.

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Bindi and Chandler first met in 2013 when the Florida native was touring Australia as part of a national wakeboarding competition. The couple married in March 2020 (pictured)

Bindi’s brother Robert, 19, praised his ‘hero’ sister on Instagram, writing: ‘I’m so proud of you. It’s been a long battle through a decade of pain, but you are finally on the road to recovery. I’m so happy you can have your life back.

‘Endometriosis is a horrible, crippling disease and too many women endure this in silence, or are never even diagnosed.

‘Bindi, your story of resilience is a beacon for women around the world who are suffering – and it’s a wake up call for men too. It’s everyone’s responsibility to be allies for women’s health and help spread awareness. You never know who’s suffering in silence.’

Bindi’s brother Robert (right) praised his ‘hero’ sister, writing: ‘It’s been a long battle through a decade of pain but you are finally on the road to recovery. I’m so happy you have your life back’

Her husband Chandler, 26, said: ‘You are my inspiration to be as strong as I can be in every aspect of life. Seeing how you pushed through the pain to take care of our family and continue our conservation work while being absolutely riddled with endometriosis is something that will inspire me forever.

‘The greatest gift of all is knowing that you’re out the other side of surgery totally free of endometriosis. I cannot wait to embark on this new chapter of life with you.’

Family friend Emmy Perry added: ‘Sending you love and comforting hugs, you are an inspiration through it all! Love you!’

Bindi has spent her entire life in the spotlight as the daughter of celebrity wildlife conservationists Steve and Terri Irwin.

Steve, known to millions around the world as ‘the Crocodile Hunter’, died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.

Bindi was just eight years old at the time.

Following his death, Steve’s family, including his children Bindi and Robert, widow Terri, and son-in-law Chandler, have continued his wildlife conservation work at Australia Zoo, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Bindi has spent her entire life in the spotlight as the daughter of celebrity wildlife conservationists Steve and Terri Irwin (both pictured)