Objective: To evaluate surgical morbidity and length of stay for type III radical abdominal hysterectomy performed in the private practice setting, and to compare these results with currently available data on laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. Methods and Materials: One hundred seventy-five consecutive type III radical abdominal hysterectomies performed by the author in a uniform fashion over a ten-year period for patients with stage IB cervical cancer were evaluated. All surgeries were performed in private community hospitals in New Jersey. Results: Type III radical abdominal hysterectomy performed in the private setting using the author's protocol resulted in lower surgical morbidity, equivalent hospital stay and resumption of normal activities, and much shorter operating times than laparosco­pic radical hysterectomy. Conclusion: Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy provides no surgical or financial advantage over radical abdominal hysterectomy when the latter is performed in the private practice setting; results from laparoscopic surgery are inferior with respect to morbidity.