What is Laparoscopic Surgery?
Laparoscopic bariatric surgery offers patients all of the benefits of traditional procedures while minimizing or eliminating many of the risks.
Traditional surgical methods, or open surgery, is performed through a single large opening. During bariatric surgery, this incision is made in the abdomen. In contrast, the laparoscopic surgical technique uses several very minimal incisions. These are precisely made in strategic locations and access to the abdomen and necessary organs is made possible using small tools.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery
While there are many doctors who are not trained in laparoscopic procedures, the doctors within the Tijuana Bariatric Center network use this minimally invasive technique to perform each operation.
Reduced Time in Surgery
In a study comparing the two techniques for gastric bypass surgery, the traditional procedures ran about a quarter of an hour longer. This is a significant drawback because the longer a patient is in surgery, the higher the risk for complications.
Minimized Risk of Complications
Undergoing bariatric surgery using laparoscopic techniques can decrease patients’ risk of complications during as well as after the procedure. The use of smaller tools reduces trauma caused to surrounding tissue during surgery. Open bariatric surgery patients have been found to experience an increased risk for complications such as: