I'm in the begining stages of proceeding with the bypass surgery. My doctor talked about having the surgery using a robot. She said she'd have a better view, it would look as if she was inside my body not a 2d picture on a screen. And it showed that studies indicated some patients were experience less pain after the surgery because the doctors weren't using their arm muscles to do the surgery - less jiggling of internal organs. One of my concerns is that she would be offsite during the operation. What would happen if something went wrong?

I don't have any personal experience to share but I did see something recently in the news about robotic surgery and they said it costs more and insurance won't always cover the difference -- so that's something to check into.

The fact that insurance might not cover hadn't hit my rader! Thanks. I'm not sure if it's my axiety about surgery or if my doctor and I aren't a great fit. I'm going to Alta Bates in Oakland Ca, which had a excellent reputation, but I'm begining to feel like a number, not a person.

One woman showed up at one of the Bariatric Surgery Support Meetings and during the introduction when everyone introduced themselves and identified the type of surgery they had; she said she had a Magellan. Apparently it was Da Vinci Robotic Surgery. She was a nurse and it appeared the surgery went well.

Edited May 20, 201412 yr by James Marusek

My hysterectomy last November was done by robotic laparoscopy. "off site" just might mean out of the same room you are in but in a side room, with windows, in with the "robot" machine thing.

I've had that and tratitional laparoscopic surgery and I didn't notice a difference. You'll need to ask her how many she's done robotically though. It's a failry new thing and takes A LOT of practice. From what I understand for some Dr's it is easier to move the equipment inside of you robotically.

Also, your body may be put in some weird positions and you may have some bruises on your body afterwards. Those are from the straps holding you in so you don't fall off the table.

My RNY was done robotically, went well. I don't have much to compare it to but no complaints either.

Dr Enochs in Cary, NC briefly mentioned robotic surgery to me! He didn't really elaborate other than saying it's becoming common.

I'm in the begining stages of proceeding with the bypass surgery. My doctor talked about having the surgery using a robot. She said she'd have a better view, it would look as if she was inside my body not a 2d picture on a screen. And it showed that studies indicated some patients were experience less pain after the surgery because the doctors weren't using their arm muscles to do the surgery - less jiggling of internal organs. One of my concerns is that she would be offsite during the operation. What would happen if something went wrong?

I am a robotics nurse in surgery and I can tell you that most doctors after never completely out of the room when they use the robot. They are just using a console away from you, kinda in the corner. They have to be close by in case something goes wrong. There is also scrubs and a nurse addy the operating table during entire procedure. Most patients do very well with these robot procedures.

I've just had the robot surgery and my doctor said it went "beautifully." I still have pain but I imagine the pain would last longer if it were done organically. I'm only a week post-op, just FYI.

So far, so good!

I don't have surgery till the 24th of June but my surgeon uses the DiVinci and he is the only one in that hospital the use one actually... He is one of the top rated surgeons in the world.