My main incision runs straight down from the navel about 3 inches. Then I have four small "puncture wounds" from the laparoscopic part, on the left side of my chest/belly. All were closed by surgical staples (which they used inside, also).
In fact, I just went back to the hospital today to have all my (outer) surgical staples removed. For those who are wondering--it's true it isn't very painful, because the staples just go straight in, and are not folded over underneath, the way they are when we staple paper together. So, they pretty much lift straight up and out, rather than tearing the skin.
On the other hand, to be frank, it did hurt a little bit having them out. I'd been told so many times that it didn't hurt, that I was slightly taken by surprise. And I don't really like that type of surprise.
Still, it only took about two minutes, and definitely was not very painful. Roughly like taking band-aids off a hairy part of the body, but not terrible.
Wishing everybody else a fully painless experience,
Snoopy