How is laparoscopic Weight Loss Surgery different from “open” surgeries?
The laparoscopic approach to obesity surgery differs from the traditional “open” approach — which uses a 10-12″ incision — only in the method of accessing the stomach and intestines. The operations are exactly the same as the open approach except that 5-6 small incisions (1/4 – 1/2 inch) are used instead of the 10 – 12″ abdominal incision. In a laparoscopic procedure, the laparoscope, which is connected to a video camera, is inserted through the small abdominal incisions, giving the surgeon a magnified view of the patients internal organs on a TV monitor. The entire operation is performed “inside” the abdomen after gas has been inserted to expand the abdomen. The use of laparoscopic surgery for obesity is relatively new and therefore current experience is limited.
