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Why bariatric surgery?

Choose a course toward a lasting change

If obesity is taking a toll on your health and well-being, and diet, exercise, and medicine haven’t helped, it may be time to consider surgery.

Weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is one of the most successful options for severe obesity.1 And surgery with the da Vinci system is the most common bariatric surgical approach.2

Why choose da Vinci bariatric surgery?

Bariatric surgery with a da Vinci surgical system, combined with your dedication, can lead to significant improvements in your health and quality of life.

  • Sustainable weight loss
    Achieve long-term weight-loss success.3
    Around 90% of patients after bariatric surgery lose 50% of excess body weight and keep this extra weight off long-term.
  • Improved health conditions
    Experience improvement or remission of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea.4,5
  • Increased energy and confidence
    Enjoy activities you haven’t done in years.3

The da Vinci system is a tool used to perform minimally invasive bariatric surgery, but the surgery does not treat obesity alone long term. For more information, see the important safety information here.

Da Vinci surgery versus medication

When considering weight-loss, it’s helpful to look at the differences between your options.

Medication(+diet/exercise)
Da Vinci surgery(+diet/exercise)
Weight loss
Up to 20% of weight.6Individual results may vary.
Up to 77% of excess weight.10Individual results may vary.
Weight regain
Up to 66%.7Within one year of stopping.
Up to 7%.11Five years after surgery.
Time of use
Continuous.7
One time.6
Cost
~$12,000 per year.8 Sometimes covered by insurance
~$15,000 - $25,000 one-time fee.6Often covered by insurance for severe obesity.
Safety
Long-term data is limited.9
Studied for more than 25 years.12Minimally invasive surgery is as safe as other common procedures like hernia, appendix, and gallbladder surgery.13

Find more information regarding the sources of these surgery results here.

Bariatric surgery is now safer

In the early days of bariatric surgery, open procedures were standard, requiring large incisions to access the stomach and surrounding organs. While effective, these surgeries had significant drawbacks and complications. Fast forward to today, minimally invasive surgery, including da Vinci, has made bariatric surgery safer.

Bariatric surgery 20 years ago(open)
Bariatric surgery today(minimally invasive surgery)
Hospital stay
> 3 days14
< 2 days.16,17
Risk of complications
Increased likelihood of infections or other complications.14
Decreased likelihood of infections or other complications.14,18
Pain
Greater postoperative discomfort.15
Less postoperative discomfort.15
Aesthetics
Longer incisions.15
Smaller incisions.15
(1/2 inch long per incision)

Find more information regarding the sources of these surgery results here.

Ask your surgeon about robotic surgery outcomes

Every surgeon's experience is different. Be sure to talk with your surgeon about the surgical outcomes they deliver using the da Vinci system. For example, ask about:

  • Length of hospital stay
  • Complication rate
  • Rate of returning to the hospital within 30 days of surgery
  • Reoperation rate
  • Transfusion and/or blood loss
  • Chance of changing to an open procedure
  • Length of operation
  • Mortality rate

There are additional surgical outcomes you may want to talk about with your doctor. Please ask to discuss all important outcomes. Every surgery involves risk, and you can read more about those associated with bariatric surgery.

It’s important to remember that Intuitive does not provide medical advice. After discussing all options, only you and your doctor can determine whether surgery with da Vinci is appropriate for your situation. You should always ask about your surgeon’s training, experience, and patient outcomes.

physician consult overweight woman
  1. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. 2021 Metabolic and bariatric surgery. Web. 30 October 2024
    https://asmbs.org/resources/metabolic-and-bariatric-surgery
  2. Data on file at Intuitive, August 2024.
  3. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Benefits of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Web. 14 January 2025. https://asmbs.org/patients/benefits-of-metabolic-and-bariatric-surgery/
  4. Weiner, R. A., et al. (2010). Indications and principles of metabolic surgery. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 81(4) pp.379-394. Accessed from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20361370
  5. Al Oweidat K, Toubasi AA, Tawileh RBA, Tawileh HBA, Hasuneh MM. Bariatric surgery and obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Breath. 2023 Dec;27(6):2283-2294. doi: 10.1007/s11325-023-02840-1. Epub 2023 May 5. PMID: 37145243.

    6. Medications vs. da Vinci surgery:
    References 6, 10, and 11 provide data for bariatric surgery in general. This may include open, laparoscopic, and/or robotic (like da Vinci) surgery methods. The authors in reference 10 reviewed literature regarding bariatric surgery from 2013 – 2023, finding that the average excess weight loss for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedures was around 77% one year after surgery. Reference 11 compared the results of thousands of RYGB, sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and adjustable gastric banding (AGB) procedures, and found that the mean total weight regained was 5.7% for RYGB, 6.4% for SG, and 2% for AGB from the 1 year mark to the 5 year mark. Reference 12 documents the first bariatric surgery performed robotically in 1998; the procedure was an AGB. In reference 13, the authors compared laparoscopic SG and RYGB procedures with 9 frequently performed procedures, including hip arthroplasty, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, colectomy, hysterectomy, and hernia repair, and they concluded that the safety profile of laparoscopic bariatric procedures compared positively with other common procedures at 30 days. While the cited studies may not have included da Vinci systems directly in all cases, da Vinci-assisted surgery is a form of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), just as laparoscopic procedures are. Therefore, results similar to those described in these publications may be expected when using da Vinci.
  6. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. (2024). Surgery and Drugs Facts 2024. Web. November 14, 2024. https://asmbs.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/06/Surgery_DrugsFacts2024.pdf.
  7. Wilding, J., et al, & STEP 1 Study Group. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. *Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, 24*(8), 1553-1564.
  8. Amin, K., Telesford, I., Singh, R., & Cox, C. (2023, August 17). How do prices of drugs for weight loss in the U.S. compare to peer nations’ prices? Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Web. January 30, 2025. https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/how-do-prices-of-drugs-for-weight-loss-in-the-u-s-compare-to-peer-nations-prices
  9. University of Chicago Medicine. May 30, 2024. Research shows GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs are effective but come with complex concerns. Web. 6 November 2024 https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/research-and-discoveries-articles/2024/may/research-on-glp-1-drugs
  10. Aderinto N, et al. Recent advances in bariatric surgery: a narrative review of weight loss procedures. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2023 Nov 1;85(12):6091-6104. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001472. PMID: 38098582; PMCID: PMC10718334.
  11. Arterburn, D., et al. PCORnet Bariatric Study Collaborative. Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Bariatric Procedures for Weight Loss: A PCORnet Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Dec 4;169(11):741-750. doi: 10.7326/M17-2786. Epub 2018 Oct 30. PMID: 30383139; PMCID: PMC6652193.
  12. Cadiere, G. B., J. Himpens, M. Vertruyen and F. Favretti (1999). The world's first obesity surgery performed by a surgeon at a distance. Obes Surg 9(2): 206-209. DOI: 10.1381/096089299765553539.
  13. Clapp B, et al. Bariatric surgery is as safe as other common operations: an analysis of the ACS-NSQIP. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2024 Jun;20(6):515-525. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2023.11.017. Epub 2023 Dec 6. PMID: 38182525.

    14. Bariatric surgery 20 years ago vs. Bariatric surgery today:
  14. Hutter MM, Randall S, Khuri SF, Henderson WG, Abbott WM, Warshaw AL. Laparoscopic versus open gastric bypass for morbid obesity: a multicenter, prospective, risk-adjusted analysis from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Ann Surg. 2006 May;243(5):657-62; discussion 662-6. doi: 1097/01.sla.0000216784.05951.0b. PMID: 16633001; PMCID: PMC1570562.
    15. The study compared two types of surgery for weight loss: laparoscopic gastric bypass and open gastric bypass. It looked at the health risks and complications that patients might face within 30 days after surgery. The researchers found that patients who had laparoscopic surgery had fewer complications (7%) compared to those who had open surgery (14.5%).
  15. Patil M Jr, Gharde P, Reddy K, Nayak K. Comparative Analysis of Laparoscopic Versus Open Procedures in Specific General Surgical Interventions. Cureus. 2024 Feb 19;16(2):e54433. doi: 10.7759/cureus.54433. PMID: 38510915; PMCID: PMC10951803.
    16. The article compares two types of surgical procedures: laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery and open surgery (traditional). Laparoscopic surgery involves small incisions and specialized tools, which means less pain, quicker recovery, and minimal scarring. Patients often stay in the hospital for a shorter time and can return to their normal activities more quickly. Open surgery, on the other hand, requires larger incisions to access the surgical area directly. While this method allows surgeons to see and reach complicated areas more easily, it can result in more tissue damage, longer healing times, and a higher risk of complications like infection and scarring. The choice between laparoscopic and open surgery depends on factors like the patient's health, the type of surgery needed, and the surgeon's expertise. Both methods have their pros and cons, and the best option will vary for each patient.
  16. Smith D, et al. A202 Improved Surgical Outcomes of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB), Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG), and Duodenal Switch (DS) Performed Totally Robotic Versus Laparoscopic. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. 2024;20(6):S73-S73.
    17. This study compared two types of surgical methods for weight loss: totally robotic surgery and traditional laparoscopic surgery. It looked at the outcomes of three types of surgeries: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and duodenal switch (DS), performed by the same surgeon. The findings showed that patients who underwent totally robotic surgery had shorter surgery times and shorter hospital stays compared to those who had laparoscopic surgery, especially for RYGB and SG. For example, RYGB surgeries took about 97.6 minutes with robotic surgery compared to 115.4 minutes with laparoscopic surgery, and patients stayed in the hospital for an average of 1.19 days with robotic surgery versus 1.39 days with laparoscopic surgery.
  17. El Chaar M, Petrick A, Clapp B, Stoltzfus J, Alvarado LA. Outcomes of Robotic-Assisted Bariatric Surgery Compared to Standard Laparoscopic Approach Using a Standardized Definition: First Look at the 2020 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Improvement Project (MBSAQIP) Data. Obes Surg. 2023;33(7):2025-2039.
    18. This study compared the outcomes of robotic-assisted bariatric surgery to traditional laparoscopic surgery using data from the 2020 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). The researchers looked at over 168,000 patients who had different types of weight loss surgeries, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Key findings include: 1. For RYGB, the robotic approach had a lower rate of blood transfusions compared to the laparoscopic method, but the overall serious complication rates were similar between the two methods. 2. For SG, the robotic approach had a higher rate of serious complications, including more blood transfusions. 3. The robotic surgeries took longer to perform than laparoscopic surgeries. 4. Patients who had robotic surgeries typically had fewer drains placed after surgery.
  18. Buffington, C., Smith, D., Lopez, C., Krzyzanowski, S., & Santos, C. A315 The advantages of totally robotic (TR) metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) on surgical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. 2024;20(6):S97.
    19. This study compared totally robotic (TR) and laparoscopic (LAP) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) procedures on patients with or without Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). The results showed that LAP surgery had longer operation times and length of hospital stay for T2D patients versus patients without T2D, and the TR surgery led to shorter operation times and length of hospital stay for all patients, both with and without T2D. The results also showed complication rates with the TR declined from 8.3% LAP to 2.4% TR for patients with T2D and 2.6% LAP to 0.9% TR for those without.

Important Safety Information

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if surgery with a da Vinci system is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on nonsurgical and surgical options and associated risks in order to make an informed decision.

Individuals’ outcomes may depend on a number of factors—including but not limited to—patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and/or surgeon experience.

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including surgery with a da Vinci system, up to and including death. Serious risks include, but are not limited to, injury to tissues and organs and conversion to other surgical techniques which could result in a longer operative time and/or increased complications.

For important safety information, including surgical risks and considerations, please also refer to www.intuitive.com/safety. For a product’s intended use and/or indications for use, risks, full cautions, and warnings, please refer to the associated user manual(s).

The da Vinci system is a tool used to perform minimally invasive bariatric surgery, but it does not treat obesity alone long term.

Da Vinci Xi/X system: The demonstration of safety and effectiveness for the representative specific procedures did not include evaluation of outcomes related to the treatment of cancer (overall survival, disease-free survival, local recurrence), except for radical prostatectomy which was evaluated for overall survival, or treatment of the patient’s underlying disease/condition. Device usage in all surgical procedures should be guided by the clinical judgment of an adequately trained surgeon.

A combination of diet, exercise, medication, and not surgery alone, is needed to help patients achieve lasting weight loss.

Medical advice and locating a doctor

Surgeons who perform surgery using the da Vinci system can be found using the Provider Locator. Intuitive Surgical provides surgeons with training on the use of the da Vinci system but does not certify, credential, or qualify the surgeons listed in the Physician Locator.

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