Robotic Vs. Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

You know you’re ready to lose the weight and keep it off, and you know that bariatric surgery is the next step on your weight loss journey. But you’re not sure if you should choose laparoscopic bariatric surgery or robotic bariatric surgery. What are the pros and cons of each type of surgery? Which one is safer and more cost-effective? Which surgery requires less time in the operating room?

Let’s walk through these questions together.

(What is bariatric surgery? Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, is a safe and effective way to lose weight and keep it off if you suffer from obesity. Common bariatric surgeries include gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass surgery, and loop duodenal switch surgery. For more information, see our page “What Is Bariatric Surgery?“)

The Pros and Cons of Robotic Bariatric Surgery

What Is Robotic Weight Loss Surgery?

Robotic weight loss surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery, meaning that your surgery is completed without having to make a large open incision. Instead, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the patient’s abdomen. The surgeon then guides a technologically-advanced surgical robot through the surgical procedure. The robot is equipped with a powerful camera, which can provide the surgeon with very high definition 3D visibility. It has robotic arms, and can mimic the surgeon’s movements exactly, allowing for a very precise surgery. The robot can also bend and rotate with more range of motion than a human wrist has, which enables the surgeon to more easily access difficult-to-reach areas within the body. 

Is robotic surgery safe? Yes. Robotic bariatric surgery is just as safe and effective as laparoscopic bariatric surgery, and is associated with a very low complication rate.

Pros and Cons

Many patients wonder: is robotic or laparoscopic surgery less risky? It’s important to note that while robotic surgery does represent a technological improvement over laparoscopic surgery, this does not mean that laparoscopic surgery is outdated or in any way unsafe. A skilled bariatric surgeon can perform a very safe and effective surgery whether they perform the procedure laparoscopically or robotically. A 2024 comparative review of 12 scientific studies found “no significant differences…between the two techniques in terms of hospitalization duration, weight loss, weight regain, or 30-day mortality.”

But with that said, when surgeons do not have extensive laparoscopic experience, robotic bariatric surgery is associated with lower rates of some complications, including lower risk of bleeding, blood transfusions, and infections. When it comes to complex revisional bariatric surgery, the same review found that “the robotic approach has shown fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and a reduced need for conversion to open surgery.” So while both types of bariatric procedure are very safe if performed at a certified ASMBS comprehensive MBSAQIP center like the Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado, robotic surgery can be associated with fewer complications in some specific settings. Another possible advantage of robotic surgery is that some studies have indicated that post-operative pain scores may be lower and that it may allow for a faster time to discharge home.

Robotic bariatric surgery does involve a longer operating time. One study found that average operating time for robotic bariatric surgery was 3 hours 29 minutes, compared to just 1 hour 49 minutes for laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

The biggest drawback when it comes to robotic bariatric surgery is cost. Nationally, robotic weight loss surgery costs more than laparoscopic weight loss surgery. In fact, one study found that robotic surgery cost over twice as much on average as laparoscopic surgery, although this cost is not passed on to patients.

Overall, it is important to reiterate that the skill and reputation of your bariatric surgeon and their team matter far more to your outcomes than whether they perform laparoscopic or robotic weight loss surgery.

The Pros and Cons of Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

What Is Laparoscopic Weight Loss Surgery?

Like robotic bariatric surgery, laparoscopic bariatric surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery. In surgery, the surgeon makes 4-5 very small incisions (about as wide as your little fingernail). They then introduce surgical instruments through these incisions, which can complete the surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is associated with less pain, less scarring, and fewer wound complications than open surgery.

Pros and Cons

The biggest benefit of laparoscopic surgery is the cost. As stated above, laparoscopic surgery costs substantially less than robotic weight loss surgery on average. Laparoscopic surgeries are also faster, meaning that patients spend less time in the operating room.

When it comes to most patient outcomes, laparoscopic and robotic weight loss surgeries are equally safe and effective. However, laparoscopic surgery is associated with slightly more minor complications than robotic surgery, as well as a longer hospital stay in some cases.

Taking the Next Step On Your Weight Loss Journey

Whether you choose laparoscopic or robotic weight loss surgery, rest assured that you are in excellent hands at the Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado. Our double-board-certified bariatric surgeon personally commits to remaining in the operating room until every surgery is performed as well as humanly possible. Our prices are some of the lowest in the area, often by thousands of dollars.

Many of our patients say that the decision to get weight loss surgery was the best decision they ever made.

“We were no longer prisoners in our own bodies, we were no longer handicapped by our weight, we were living and moving and feeling better then we had felt in so many years.”—Lisa and Chris Chesrown, duodenal switch patients.

If you’re suffering, don’t wait. Contact our Denver office today.