Myth vs. fact
Myth: The robot operates on its own.
Fact: The system cannot move unless Dr. Henson commands it. Think of it as a precise extension of his hands and eyes, with a console a few feet from you in the operating room.
How it works
- 3D high-definition vision — magnified view of nerves and vessels beyond what the unaided eye sees.
- Wristed instruments — they bend and rotate more than a human wrist, which helps in tight spaces.
- Tremor filtration — small natural hand tremor is filtered so instrument motion stays fine and steady.
What that means for recovery
- Less trauma to the muscle wall and often less need for narcotic pain medicine.
- Many hernia and gallbladder cases go home the same day. Colon resections usually mean a shorter stay than open surgery.
- Return to work and family life is often measured in days to a couple of weeks, not many weeks — depending on the operation.
- Smaller scars and a lower chance of wound infection or later incisional hernia compared with a long open cut.
Operations Dr. Henson performs robotically
- Bariatric: sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Hernia: ventral, incisional, umbilical, inguinal, and hiatal
- Colorectal: resections for diverticulitis and colon cancer
- General: gallbladder removal and selected anti-reflux operations
See a robotic case
Insurance typically covers the robotic approach the same way it covers laparoscopic surgery for that procedure. See the FAQ.