Instant weight loss and a commitment to keep it off is high on the list when anyone considers robotic surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Add in increased energy, greater confidence with your overall appearance, and increased ease when forming relationships, it’s easy to see why two weight-loss surgeries are so popular.
The Big Difference
The biggest difference between these two surgical procedures is in traditional laparoscopic surgery the surgeon uses instruments in his own hands as opposed to them being attached to the robot, which is then controlled by your surgeon via the console. This can allow for greater flexibility and range of movements with the instruments.
Similar to traditional laparoscopic surgery, robotic-assisted surgery makes use of high-definition, 3-D imaging, which magnifies the surgical site and provides images of what is going on inside your body. During the entire process, you have a surgical team at your side, overseeing the robot and your status.
Both conventional laparoscopic and robotic-assisted laparoscopic techniques offer numerous advantages over traditional, more invasive procedures.
After Surgery Meal Plan
Adhering to a high-protein meal plan post-op will assure that you successfully reach your ideal weight loss goal. Remember, excessive weight and obesity puts a stress on your body that can lead to serious conditions including diabetes, hypertension, reflux disease, stroke, and even cancer.
Shedding an excessive amount of weight takes courage, discipline, and commitment but you’re not alone. NOVA Bariatrics and Minimally Invasive Surgery understands your goals in treating weight loss and obesity, and is with you throughout your entire weight loss journey. Dr. Alibhai and the team at NOVA Bariatrics and Minimally Invasive Surgery have the experience, expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to help you find the best, robotic and non-invasive solution to reduce your weight and restore your health.
What to Know About Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery is similar to laparoscopic surgery only due to the fact that they both use small incisions, a camera and laparoscopic surgical instruments. Yet your surgeon has help with robotic surgery because instead of holding and manipulating the surgical instruments, your surgeon will sit at a computer console and use controls to employ the robot. The console provides your surgeon with high-definition, magnified 3D images, which allow for increased accuracy and vision inside your body. Compared to traditional surgery, robotic surgery provides your surgeon with benefits such as a greater range of motion and precision, which typically leads to less bleeding and post-operative pain.
This also means less scarring, less time spent in the hospital and quicker recovery time. Robotic surgery is also advantageous to your surgeon as he or she will gain enhanced precision, flexibility, control and vision.
Some of the benefits you can expect from robotic surgery include:
- More precise surgery
- Significantly less pain
- Less risk of infection and blood loss
- Less time in the hospital
- Less scarring due to small incisions
- Shorter recovery time
- Typically, better clinical outcomes
What Should You Know?
The most common question asked of us about robotic surgery is whether or not the robot is more precise? This is dependent on what experience you’re looking for. While the robot is being used for a large number of procedures of all types, there are only a handful of surgeries where using the robot is actually considered an advantage over traditional laparoscopic surgery. Some examples of procedures that are almost exclusively done using the robot these days include:
- Total or partial kidney removal
- Kidney transplant
- Bariatric surgery
- Mitral valve repair
- Pyeloplasty (surgery to correct ureteropelvic junction obstruction)
- Pyloroplasty (surgery to widen the opening in the lower part of the stomach)
- Radical prostatectomy (prostate cancer)
- Radical cystectomy (Remove the bladder)
- Tubal ligation
The most critical thing to remember when deciding which type of surgery is best for you is that you are valuable, and you must choose which surgery sounds better to you. It will help to way the pros and cons with your significant other, family, and your surgeon. This way your surgeon can give you the odds and can help you elect a surgical procedura. Avoid trying to be your own doctor and relying on search engine searches when it comes to your surgical weight loss options. This is your healthcare choice and you need to feel comfortable about the choice you make. Spending some time with your surgeon will also help you feel comfortable with his or her bedside technique.