Ask the Doctor: I’ve heard a lot about minimally invasive surgery. What exactly is it?
By Shawn Tsuda, M.D.
Dr. Shawn Tsuda answers the question: “I’ve heard a lot about minimally invasive surgery. What exactly is it?”
Minimally invasive surgery refers to operations performed with small scars. Typically this can be accomplished laparoscopically, or with the use of a tiny camera and long, narrow instruments. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery include less post-operative pain and quicker recovery. The cosmetic result is also more favorable.
The vast majority of weight loss procedures such as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the adjustable gastric band are performed laparoscopically, along with common procedures like gallbladder removal and hernia repairs.
Recently researchers have been looking into performing “scarless” surgery, also known as natural orifice and transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) or single-incision laparoscopic surgery, through a tiny hole in the belly button. Although these advanced techniques are still in development and not widely performed, it is likely we will continue to see more surgery performed with either reduced scars, one single scar in the belly button, or no scars at all.
Shawn Tsuda, M.D. is vice chief for bariatric surgery at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Tsuda completed his fellowship training in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at Harvard Medical School. He is board certified in general surgery.
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