Bariatric Surgery Still Plays Key Role Alongside GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs, Surgeon Says
A bariatric surgeon argues that weight loss surgery remains a vital tool for treating obesity despite the rising popularity of GLP-1 medications. She highlights how robotic-assisted technology has improved surgical precision and outcomes.
Why it matters
Addresses the evolving landscape of obesity treatment and the role of surgical intervention in a medical field increasingly dominated by pharmaceuticals.
The rise of GLP-1 weight loss medications has transformed the conversation around obesity treatment, but bariatric surgery continues to be an effective option for many patients, according to a leading bariatric surgeon in Rhode Island.
Dr. Jennine Giovanni, director of bariatric surgery at Care New England in Warwick, says advances in robotic-assisted procedures have made weight loss surgery more precise while expanding treatment options for people living with obesity.
"I started doing robotic surgery about four and a half years ago," Giovanni said. During that time, she has performed more than 1,000 weight loss surgeries.
Giovanni said robotic technology offers surgeons greater precision because the instruments move more like the human hand.
"The difference with robotics is really the instrumentation, so the instruments with the robotic move like the human hand and in a much more natural way and so there's a lot more precision," she said.
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