McLaren Health Care
da Vinci Bariatric Surgery

Robotic Bariatric Surgery with da Vinci

There are many ways to lose weight that you can explore with your doctor, such as changing your diet, exercising, medication, and surgery. If you’re considering surgery, your surgeon should discuss your options with you.

Sleeve gastrectomy reduces your stomach size by about 80 percent to limit the amount of food it can hold. You may lose weight because you can only eat small amounts of food.4 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass reduces your stomach size while also rerouting your small intestine to decrease the amount of nutrients your body absorbs. You may lose weight by eating less and absorbing fewer nutrients.4 Both procedures may cause favorable changes in your gut hormones to reduce appetite and improve feeling full.

Both sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgeries are almost always performed using minimally invasive techniques—either laparoscopic surgery or robotic-assisted surgery, possibly with da Vinci technology. Surgeons perform minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgeries through a few small incisions. To perform a laparoscopic bariatric surgery, surgeons use special long-handled tools while viewing magnified images from the laparoscope (camera) on a video screen.

If you and your doctor decide that a surgical weight loss procedure is right for you, talk to your doctor about all of your options, including minimally invasive surgery. One option your surgeon may present is robotic-assisted surgery. Studies suggest that robotic-assisted bariatric procedures with the da Vinci surgical system may get you back to what matters most…sooner.

How Can You Prepare For Surgery

To help you make an informed decision, consider bringing questions like these to your surgeon or doctor visit:

• What medical options are available for surgical weight loss procedures?
• What kind of experience do you have with my bariatric surgical procedures?
• Should I get a second opinion?
• What is the difference between robotic-assisted surgery and laparoscopic surgery?
• What type of anesthesia will I receive?
• How long will surgery take?
• Where will I have scars?
• When will I go home? 
• How soon can I lift light weights after surgery? Heavier weights?