If you’ve been putting off a bariatric procedure because of your concerns about surgery, it’s time to explore the Levita® Magnetic Surgical System. Dr. Chad Carlton uses this approach to perform laparoscopic procedures at LoneStar Bariatrics in an even less invasive manner.
In this blog, Dr. Carlton explains how Magnetic Surgery® overcomes the limitations seen with traditional minimally invasive procedures, which leads to even greater benefits as you start on your weight loss journey.
With a name like “Magnetic Surgery,” you can safely assume that your procedure involves magnets. However, it can be difficult to understand why. To start, it helps to have a better understanding of what happens during laparoscopic bariatric surgery.
In the past, surgery required one large incision so your doctor could see and access the entire surgical site. This approach certainly provided results, but it also came with higher risks of infection and complications, more pain and scarring, and longer recovery times. Advancements in technology changed that, making it possible to perform highly complex procedures using minimally invasive, laparoscopic techniques.
Laparoscopic bariatric surgery requires five small incisions, and each one has a trocar, or medical port. These ports provide access points for Dr. Carlton so he can see the entire site with the tiny camera, manipulate your internal organs, and perform your specific bariatric procedure.
While trocars enable Dr. Carlton to perform your surgery without making a large incision, they still have limitations. Two of the more major issues involve the clutter they add to the surgical site and their limited movement because they function with fixed pivot points at the incision location.
During Magnetic Surgery, Dr. Carlton uses special tools inside the surgical field and controls them with external magnets. This approach provides him with more freedom of movement in the abdominal cavity, better visibility of the surgical site, and increased access to hard-to-reach places.
Dr. Carlton can also perform your entire surgery by making four incisions instead of five.
Having one less incision may not seem like a big deal, but Magnetic Surgery eliminates the need for a sensitive access point — the one in your upper abdomen, right below your rib cage. This incision is crucial during a traditional laparoscopic procedure. It’s how Dr. Carlton reaches your liver so he can lift it out of the way and access your stomach.
When you have Magnetic Surgery, Dr. Carlton inserts the small, detachable magnetic tool inside your belly instead of making this incision. This specialized device is not only magnetic, but it can also grasp a corner of your liver. Once it’s in place, Dr. Carlton uses the powerful external magnet to lift your liver out of the way.
After completing your bariatric procedure, Dr. Carlton simply moves your liver back into position with the external magnet and removes the internal magnetic tool from your abdomen.
In addition to having one less incision, Magnet Surgery offers additional benefits, including:
And Magnetic Surgery boasts a 96% patient satisfaction rating, with 48 out of 50 patients saying they would have the procedure a second time.
Curious to see if you could benefit from Magnetic Surgery? Contact our practice in Plano or Waxahachie, Texas, by calling or booking an appointment online today.
