Laparoscopic vs. Robotic Surgery

If you’ve been told you need hernia surgery, you may have heard the terms “laparoscopic” and “robotic” come up. Both are minimally invasive approaches that offer real advantages over traditional open surgery — but they’re not the same thing. Here’s a straightforward look at how each works and what the differences mean for patients.

What Laparoscopic Surgery Means

Laparoscopic surgery uses a few small incisions — typically less than an inch each — rather than one large opening. A thin camera (laparoscope) is inserted through one incision and projects a video image onto a monitor. The surgeon works with long, slender instruments passed through the other incisions, watching the screen to guide the procedure.

Because the incisions are small, laparoscopic surgery generally results in less postoperative pain, a lower risk of wound complications, and a faster return to normal activity compared to open surgery.

What Robotic-Assisted Surgery Adds

Robotic surgery is still minimally invasive — it uses the same small incisions. The difference is the equipment between the surgeon and the patient.

With robotic-assisted surgery (Dr. Ash uses the da Vinci system), the surgeon sits at a console a few feet from the operating table and controls wristed robotic instruments that move with greater precision and range of motion than standard laparoscopic tools. The camera system provides a high-definition, 3D view of the surgical field, and the system filters out any natural hand tremor.

The surgeon is fully in control at all times — “robotic” doesn’t mean automated. It means the surgeon has more refined tools to work with.

How the Patient Experience Compares

For most patients, the experience on the day of surgery and during recovery is similar between the two approaches. Both are typically outpatient or short-stay procedures. Both offer smaller incisions than open surgery, less postoperative pain, and a faster return to normal activity.

The differences are more relevant to the surgeon — and by extension, to the quality and precision of the repair.

Which One Is Better?

Neither approach is universally superior. The right choice depends on the type and complexity of the hernia, the patient’s anatomy, prior surgeries, and other factors. For straightforward hernias, laparoscopic repair works very well. For more complex cases — larger defects, recurrent hernias, or repairs requiring precise tissue handling — the additional dexterity of robotic instruments may offer an advantage.

Dr. Ash is trained and experienced in both approaches. She’ll recommend the one that best fits your specific situation, not the one that’s trending or the one that’s fastest.

What About Open Surgery?

Some hernias are best repaired with open surgery — a single, larger incision. This is sometimes true for very large hernias, emergency situations, or cases where a minimally invasive approach isn’t appropriate. Open repair is a well-established technique and remains the right choice in certain circumstances.