Surgery by Robot

I met with my surgeon on Friday to go over my 9/23 surgery. One of the questions he asked was if I wanted my surgery done by him using the da Vinci robotic system. He said it is minimally invasive and that patients who have surgery this way seem to have less pain and smaller incisions. Has anyone else used this process for their surgery?

I can't answer your question right now, but I will be able to after 9/16, which is my surgery date.  The hospital where I am having my surgery, Northwest Medical Center in Margate, FL, uses the da Vinci robotic system.  I will check back to see if anyone has any other information because I am interested in this too.

Hi Angel. Yes, please let me know how everything goes for you.

I don't know if I had the da Vinci robot (not sure if there is more than one type/brand of robot), but my husband and I both had laprascopic robotic vsg's. We have both had good experiences so far (he's 5 months out, I'm 4), with uneventful recoveries, no complications and good weight loss so far.  My surgeon also asked me if I was ok with his using the robot, and I told him I wanted him to do it whatever way he was most comfortable with!

Best of luck with your surgery! 

Thank you. Glad to hear it went well and that you both are doing so well.

Using the da Vinci robot is fine and what he told you is correct.  However, it's generally a bit of over kill as most VSGs are done minimally evasive anyway laparoscopically.

Honestly, it probably doesn't matter as long as your doc is trained on the da Vinci.  There's a chance it costs more, make sure there isn't some hidden charge you'll be responsible for.

You are probably right in that either way is minimally invasive. I had my gallbladder out lap. (sp) back in 2001 and those incisions are quite small.

Right after he asked if I would care if he used the da Vinci, I must have looked at him strangely, because his next words were "it costs the same either way" LOL

HI DAWN, I HAD MY SLEEVE DONE ON JULY 15 2014. MY DOCTOR USED THE DIVINCI ROBOT AND MY SCARS WERE NOT EVEN AN HALF INCH WIDE. I DID NOT HAVE THE PAIN OR THE LARGE SCAR WHERE THEY PULLED THE STOMACH OUT. WHEN I TOOK THE BANDAGES OFF THERE WAS NO BLOOD FROM THE INCISIONS. I WAS RELUCTANT TO HAVE THE ROBOT BUT IM GLAD I DID. NOW THAT MY INCISIONS HAVE HEALED YOU CANT EVEN TELL WHERE THEY WERE....

Thanks for answering the OPs question.  I am having the sleeve surgery tomorrow with the da Vinci Robotic system.  Phew.

Hi KayKay2. Thanks for the information, that is WONDERFUL to hear that the incisions were so small. The one by my naval from my gallbladder surgery in 2001 took forever to heal. Maybe this time with the robot they will heal faster. Glad your surgery was a success and that you are doing well.