Skip to main content
  • Patient Portal
  • Pay Bill
  • Request Appointment
MCHS_Logo_2024_BLACK
    • Cardiology (Heart)
    • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (Digestive Care)
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN)
    • Oncology (Cancer)
    • Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery (Bones)
    • Primary Care
    • Spine Care
    • Sports Medicine
    • Urology
    View all specialties
  • Providers
  • Minnesota

    • Albert Lea
    • Austin
    • Belle Plaine
    • Blooming Prairie
    • Butterfield
    • Caledonia
    • Cannon Falls
    • Fairmont
    • Faribault
    • Lake City
    • Lake Crystal
    • Mankato
    • Montgomery
    • New Prague
    • Northfield
    • Owatonna
    • Plainview
    • Red Wing
    • Sherburn
    • St. James
    • St. Peter
    • Waseca
    • Waterville
    • Zumbrota

    Wisconsin

    • Arcadia
    • Barron
    • Bloomer
    • Chetek
    • Chippewa Falls
    • Eau Claire
    • Ellsworth
    • Glenwood City
    • Holmen
    • La Crosse
    • Menomonie
    • Mondovi
    • Onalaska
    • Osseo
    • Prairie du Chien
    • Rice Lake
    • Sparta
    • Tomah
    mchsmap Map view
    • VirtualCare
      Virtual care 24/7
    • SameDayCare
      Same-Day Care
    • PrimaryCare
      Primary Care
    • SpecialtyCare
      Specialty Care
    • View all care options
    • PrimaryCare
      Billing & Insurance
    • SameDayCare
      Financial Assistance
    • VirtualCare
      Price Transparency
  • Health & Wellness Resources

    Recent Posts

    • Blending smoothie hand blender
      Speaking of Health
      Don't fall for fad diets
      September 22, 2025
    • Chicken in air fryer
      Speaking of Health
      Reasons to love your new air fryer
      September 21, 2025
    • Forking vegetable salsa on plate
      Speaking of Health
      Strategies to control portions
      September 20, 2025
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight-loss (Bariatric) Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Tuesday, September 16, 2025

    Robotic surgery increases precision, shortens recovery

    Topics in this Post
    • Surgery
    Surgeon performing robotic surgery

    When you hear the word "robot," you may think of a humanoid machine that can carry on a conversation with you or is plotting to take over society. While you may see that in movies, everyday robots are less dramatic and more helpful.

    In many situations, robots perform repetitive actions, such as vacuuming or pulling products in a warehouse. They also increase the precision of complex actions, including plasma welding or surgical procedures.

    Robotic surgery has been around since the 1990s. Over the past 15 years, robotically assisted surgeries have become increasingly popular in the U.S. Robotic surgery offers increased surgical precision, visualization and flexibility for surgeons, and shorter recovery time and less pain for patients.

    What is robotic surgery?

    No need to be alarmed. The robot isn't operating on its own. Instead, the surgeon uses a robotic platform as a tool during the procedure, like other equipment and technology. The surgical robot has interactive arms that serve as extensions of the surgeon's hands. These arms are equipped with surgical tools and cameras. They can suture, dissect, clamp and manipulate tissue.

    During surgery, the surgeon makes a few small incisions, similar to laparoscopic surgery, and inserts the interactive arms. The surgeon maneuvers the robotic arms next to the operating table using two master controls. The console gives the surgeon a high-definition, 3D view of the surgical site.

    Robotic surgery usually is performed in this minimally invasive manner. While less common, it also can be used in traditional open surgical procedures.

    Conditions treated using robotic surgery include:

    • Adrenal mass
    • Appendicitis
    • Bladder cancer
    • Colorectal cancer
    • Gallbladder diseases
    • Gastrointestinal cancer
    • Hernia repair (incisional, umbilical and inguinal)
    • Hysterectomy
    • Kidney disease
    • Lung mass
    • Prostate cancer
    • Small bowel obstruction
    • Uterine fibroids
    • Weight-loss surgery

    Benefits of robotic surgery

    The primary benefit of robotic surgery for patients is faster recovery. This allows patients to return to daily activities sooner than with standard open or laparoscopic surgery. In addition, robotic surgeries have fewer surgical complications and result in smaller, less noticeable scars. Finally, patients lose less blood during the procedure and report less pain after. Most patients who had robotic surgery are happy with their results.

    For surgeons, a surgical robot enhances precision, flexibility and control during the operation, and allows them to better see the surgical site, compared with traditional techniques. The robotic arms have a greater range of motion than the human wrist, so surgeons can successfully navigate hard-to-reach areas with less disturbance to surrounding tissues. This speeds recovery and lessens the pain of surgery for the patient. Robotic surgery makes delicate and complex procedures possible that may have been difficult or impossible with other methods. Finally, it's more comfortable for the surgical team because the robot does the stretching and bending necessary to access difficult surgical sites. This can reduce injury risk and extend the life of a surgeon's career.

    Robotic surgery isn't an option for everyone. It's important to talk with your surgeon about the benefits and risks of robotic surgery and how it compares to open or other minimally invasive surgery.

    By Mayo Clinic Health System staff.

    Topics in this Post
    • Surgery

    Related Posts

    Lindsey Bruns with Daughter on Back After breast cancer, simple tasks become extraordinary feats
    Blog_Placeholder_Image What is plastic surgery?
    Watering plant with green can Treatment options for inguinal hernia repair