Robotic surgery is when your surgeon uses a robotic device to do your procedure. The device has a robotic arm that can hold small surgical instruments. Your surgeon moves the robotic arm using controllers and a viewing screen. Robotic surgery doesn’t replace your surgeon. It’s just one of many methods they use.
Robotic surgery is an approach healthcare providers use for minimally invasive procedures.
The technology consists of three main parts:
Robotic surgery doesn’t replace your surgeon. It’s just one of many methods they use to do procedures. In fact, research shows that robotic surgery offers similar outcomes to laparoscopic surgery.
Surgeons must complete additional, specialized training to do robot-assisted procedures. Some surgeons pursue formal training through minimally invasive and robotic surgery fellowships.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Many specialists use robot-assisted surgery, including:
Some of the most common types of robot-assisted surgeries include:
The techniques used during robotic surgery are like the ones used during open, traditional surgery. The main difference is how your surgeon accesses the surgical area.
Instead of making one large incision, your surgeon makes a few small incisions. Another difference is that the surgical instruments require less space to do their job. This limits the need to push tissue, muscle and organs aside.
During robotic surgery, your surgeon will:
Advertisement
Compared to traditional open surgery, robot-assisted surgery offers benefits like:
Robot-assisted surgery offers advantages for your surgeon, too. For example:
Robot-assisted surgery currently has an overall success rate of 94% to 100%. Individual success rates depend on what type of procedure you need, your general health and other factors.
Robot-assisted surgery is only available in centers that have specially trained surgeons.
Other disadvantages include:
Advertisement
In general, recovery is much shorter compared to traditional surgery. Depending on the procedure type and your overall health, you may:
You’ll receive at-home care instructions specific to the procedure you had. Here are a few general instructions:
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice:
Robotic surgery isn’t “better” than other types of surgery. It’s one of many approaches, and surgeons choose it on a case-by-case basis. They’ll consider factors like:
You’ll be under general anesthesia during your procedure, so you won’t feel anything. How much discomfort you have after surgery depends on a few factors, like which procedure you had and how well your body tolerates pain.
After surgery, it’s normal to have some discomfort. But most people report less bleeding and postoperative pain, and fewer complications compared to traditional surgery.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Robot-assisted surgery might sound like a plot right out of a science fiction novel. But the truth is, this technology has been around since the 1980s. In a changing world where robots are replacing people, you might wonder if this is just another instance. But rest assured, robotic surgery wouldn’t be possible without human hands.
Last reviewed on 04/30/2024.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy