Robotic Weight-loss Surgery

The board-certified bariatric surgeons at Orlando Health are among the most experienced in the state of Florida, having performed thousands of successful laparoscopic bariatric surgeries since 2000, many through robotic procedures. Our bariatric center is a recognized epicenter for da Vinci® robotic surgery, with doctors coming from across the country to receive training from our skilled surgeons.

Both sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgeries can be performed with robotic-assisted surgery using da Vinci technology. The da Vinci surgical system gives your surgeon an advanced set of instruments to use in performing robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery. The term “robotic” often misleads people. Robots don’t perform surgery; surgeons perform surgery with da Vinci by using instruments that they guide via a console.

The da Vinci system translates your surgeon’s hand movements at the console in real time, bending and rotating the instruments while performing the procedure. The instruments move like a human hand, but with a greater range of motion. The instrument size makes it possible for surgeons to operate through one or a few small incisions. In addition, the da Vinci system also provides highly magnified, 3D high-definition views of the surgical area.

Benefits of Robotic Weight-loss Surgery

Robotic bariatric surgery gives your surgeon a high level of precision and control. The advantages of robotic weight-loss surgery are significant and can include:

• Lower risk of anesthesia-related complications
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less pain
• Less scarring
• Quicker recovery
• Lower risk of infection
• Fewer complications after surgery

Who Is a Candidate for Robotic Weight-loss Surgery?

Patients who are severely obese may be candidates for robotic surgery. Severely obese is defined as anyone with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 40. This translates to someone who is more than 100 pounds overweight. Candidates with a BMI over 35 in combination with medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure are also considered.

The increased visualization that the robotic system offers gives the surgeon more control over movements for the severely obese patients, making them good candidates for this type of bariatric surgery.