Laparoscopic Surgery

Weight loss surgery can be performed with a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique in almost all cases.

This means that instead of a large incision, several small puncture holes are made in the abdomen.  Through these small incisions, long and slender instruments are used to perform the operation. The surgeon can see inside with a small camera, which shows the operation on a television screen next to the patient in the operating room.

Advantages

The laparoscopic technique has several advantages over the older “open” approach. Patients typically have less pain with the laparoscopic operation, and also have fewer wound complications such as infection or hernia.

Patients are also typically able to return to their pre-surgical level of activity more quickly than patients who have the open technique.

Single-Incision Surgery

In appropriate cases, Adjustable Gastric Band procedures (Lap Band or Realize Band) and Sleeve Gastrectomy procedures can be performed through a single small incision.

This minimally invasive approach has the additional cosmetic advantage of reducing the amount of scarring that is visible. The incision for the gastric banding procedure is made near the location of the band’s access port.

In many cases the scar can be concealed almost entirely in the navel (umbilicus).