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Da Vinci Weight Loss Surgery
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Your path to lasting change

with da Vinci weight loss surgery
It’s been a journey. You've tried diets, medications, and the promises of quick fixes. You're not alone. There is no magic pill. But there is a choice: making a commitment to you. Many have faced the same struggle and found lasting change with da Vinci bariatric surgery for weight loss, one of the most successful options for addressing severe obesity.1

See how real patients transformed their lives with da Vinci surgery*

An image of Aly, bariatric patient
Aly’s story - Richmond, VA
Six months post-surgery
An image of Mike, bariatric patient
Mike’s story - Austin, TX
Two years post-surgery
*Individual outcomes may depend on a number of factors-including but not limited to-patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and/or surgeon experience.

Start your journey

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Get to know the facts:
Da Vinci vs. GLP-1 Medications

Da Vinci System
Da Vinci surgery*
(+diet/exercise)
Pill
GLP-1 medications
(+diet/exercise)
Weight loss
Average 25.7%of total weight in 2 years.2
Average 5.3%of total weight in 2 years.2
Weight regain
Up to 7%3Five years after surgery.
Up to 66%4Within one year of stopping.
Commitment
One time procedure.5
Continuous treatment.4
Insurance Coverage
Usually covered by insurance for severe obesity.5
Not usually covered by insurance for weight loss.6
Safety
Studied for 25+ years.7
Limited long-term data for weight loss.8
Minimally invasive bariatric surgery for weight loss is as safe as other common procedures like hernia, appendix, and gallbladder surgery.9

*Individual results may vary.
Find more information regarding medications and surgery results, including da Vinci surgery here.

Why commit with da Vinci?

Weight loss surgery, often called bariatric surgery, is one of the most effective options for those struggling with severe obesity1 and most patients getting weight loss surgery have it done with da Vinci.10 It works by making changes to the digestive system to help you lose weight.
With da Vinci surgery, patients may expect:11-12

  • small incisions and less visible scarring
  • short hospital stay
  • lower risk of postoperative complications compared to laparoscopic surgery
Robin Riding a horse
Once I made the decision to have surgery, I felt like I could move forward. It was the first time that I had felt any hope for my future."
RobinBirmingham, AL
An image of Robin, bariatric patient, speaking with a doctor
Health conditions that may improve

Weight loss surgery isn’t just about shedding pounds. It may help improve, or even resolve, serious health conditions. By addressing these issues, surgery may lead to better health and a higher quality of life.13,14

Conditions that may improve include: 14,15
  • type 2 diabetes
  • heart disease
  • high blood pressure
  • high cholesterol
  • sleep apnea
  • arthritis
The da Vinci system is a tool used to perform minimally invasive weight loss surgery, but the surgery does not treat obesity alone long term. A combination of diet, exercise, and maybe medication, and not surgery alone is needed to help patients achieve lasting weight loss. Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci surgery is right for them. Learn more about risks and other options for sustained weight loss below.

Procedure Options

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your surgeon will recommend the procedure that’s best for your health, goals, and lifestyle.
An image of Robin, bariatric patient, prepping food in a kitchen
Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y)
Creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes part of the small intestine. This limits how much you can eat and reduces calorie absorption.
An image of Robin, bariatric patient, prepping food in a kitchen
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Removes a large portion of the stomach, leaving a sleeve-shaped stomach about the size of a banana. This smaller stomach helps you feel full sooner and reduces hunger hormones, supporting meaningful weight loss.
An image of Robin, bariatric patient, prepping food in a kitchen
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS)
Removes a large portion of the stomach, leaving a sleeve-shaped stomach about the size of a banana. This smaller stomach helps you feel full sooner and reduces hunger hormones, supporting meaningful weight loss.
An image of Robin, bariatric patient, prepping food in a kitchen
SADI (Single Anastomosis Duodeno–Ileal bypass with Sleeve)
A newer variation of the duodenal switch, SADI also begins with a sleeve gastrectomy. Instead of two connections in the intestine, it uses a single connection, making it less complex but still highly effective for weight loss.

Why surgeons choose da Vinci for their weight loss surgery

surgeon at console
surgeon looking at viewer
surgeon hand controls
Caret Left
Your surgeon is in control
Clarity and precision
Surgery through tiny incisions
Caret Right
Robots don’t perform surgery. Your surgeon is in the operating room with you and is controlling the instruments at all times.

Ready to make the commitment?

Find a da Vinci weight loss surgeon near you
City, State or Zip code

More Information about risks and other options for sustained weight loss.

The da Vinci system is a tool used to perform minimally invasive bariatric surgery, but the surgery does not treat obesity alone long term. A combination of diet, exercise, maybe medication, and not surgery alone is needed to help patients achieve lasting weight loss.

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci Surgery is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on non-surgical and surgical options and associated risks in order to make an informed decision.

Individuals’ outcomes may depend on a number of factors—including but not limited to—patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and/or surgeon experience.

Every surgery involves risks. Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including surgery with a da Vinci system, up to and including death. Serious risks include, but are not limited to, injury to tissues and organs and conversion to other surgical techniques which could result in a longer operative time and/or increased complications.

For important safety information, including surgical risks and considerations, please also refer to www.intuitive.com/safety.

Medications vs. da Vinci surgery:

    References 1, 2, 3, 5, 13 and 14 provide data for bariatric surgery in general. This may include open, laparoscopic, and/or robotic (like da Vinci) surgery methods. While the cited studies may not have included da Vinci systems directly in all cases, da Vinci-assisted surgery is a form of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), just as laparoscopic procedures are. Therefore, results similar to those described in these publications may be expected when using da Vinci.


  1. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Metabolic and bariatric surgery. Web. 30 October 2024 https://asmbs.org/resources/metabolic-and-bariatric-surgery/

Surgery vs. Medications:

  1. Brown A., et al. Comparative effectiveness of semaglutide and tirzepatide vs bariatric surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2025;21(6 Suppl):S1. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2025.04.008
    In reference 2, researchers analyzed data from 14,152 patients with obesity from 2018-2024; 7076 patients were prescribed injectable semaglutide or tirzepatide for at least 6 months, and their total weight loss was compared to 7076 patients who underwent minimally invasive sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedures.
  2. Arterburn, D., et al. PCORnet Bariatric Study Collaborative. Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Bariatric Procedures for Weight Loss: A PCORnet Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2018 Dec 4;169(11):741-750. doi: 10.7326/M17-2786. Epub 2018 Oct 30. PMID: 30383139; PMCID: PMC6652193.
    Reference 3 compared the results of thousands of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and adjustable gastric banding (AGB) procedures, and found that the mean total weight regained was 5.7% for RYGB, 6.4% for SG, and 2% for AGB from the 1 year mark to the 5 year mark.
  3. Wilding, J., et al, & STEP 1 Study Group. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. *Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, 24*(8), 1553-1564.
  4. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Fact Sheet- Surgery and Weight Loss Medications 2024. Web. November 14, 2024. https://asmbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Surgery_DrugsFacts2024.pdf.
  5. Amin, K., Telesford, I., Singh, R., & Cox, C. (2023, August 17). How do prices of drugs for weight loss in the U.S. compare to peer nations’ prices? Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Web. January 30, 2025. https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/how-do-prices-of-drugs-for-weight-loss-in-the-u-s-compare-to-peer-nations-prices/
  6. Cadiere, G. B., et al. (1999). The world's first obesity surgery performed by a surgeon at a distance. Obes Surg 9(2): 206-209. DOI: 10.1381/096089299765553539.
    Reference 7 documents the first bariatric surgery performed robotically in 1998; the procedure was an Adjustable Gastric Band (AGB).
  7. University of Chicago Medicine. May 30, 2024. Research shows GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs are effective but come with complex concerns. Web. 6 November 2024 https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/research-and-discoveries-articles/2024/may/research-on-glp-1-drugs
  8. Clapp B, et al. Bariatric surgery is as safe as other common operations: an analysis of the ACS-NSQIP. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2024 Jun;20(6):515-525. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2023.11.017. Epub 2023 Dec 6. PMID: 38182525.
    In reference 9, the authors compared laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric Bypass (RYGB) procedures with 9 frequently performed procedures, including hip arthroplasty, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, colectomy, hysterectomy, and hernia repair, and they concluded that the safety profile of laparoscopic bariatric procedures compared positively with other common procedures at 30 days.

Why commit with da Vinci surgery

  1. Data on file at Intuitive, August 2024.
  2. Ricciardi R, Seshadri-Kreaden U, Yankovsky A, et al. The COMPARE Study: Comparing Perioperative Outcomes of Oncologic Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic, da Vinci Robotic, and Open Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Evidence. Ann Surg. 2025;281(5):748-763. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000006572
    The COMPARE Study looked at the outcomes of three different surgical approaches for multiple types of non-metastatic cancer: robotic surgery using the da Vinci system, laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery, and open surgery. The study reviewed a large number of previous studies to compare how patients fared 30 days after surgery. The findings include: patients who had robotic surgery had shorter hospital stays and fewer post-operative complications, readmissions, and deaths compared to those who had laparoscopic or open surgery. Robotic surgery generally took longer than both laparoscopic and open surgery.
  3. Smith D, et al. A202 Improved Surgical Outcomes of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB), Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG), and Duodenal Switch (DS) Performed Totally Robotic Versus Laparoscopic. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. 2024;20(6):S73-S73.
    This study compared two types of surgical methods for weight loss: totally robotic surgery and traditional laparoscopic surgery. It looked at the outcomes of three types of surgeries: RYGB, SG, and DS, performed by the same surgeon. The findings showed that patients who underwent totally robotic surgery had shorter surgery times and shorter hospital stays compared to those who had laparoscopic surgery, especially for RYGB and SG. For example, RYGB surgeries took about 97.6 minutes with robotic surgery compared to 115.4 minutes with laparoscopic surgery, and patients stayed in the hospital for an average of 1.19 days with robotic surgery versus 1.39 days with laparoscopic surgery.
  4. Kim J, et al. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery position statement on long- term survival benefit after metabolic and bariatric surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2016;12(3):453-459. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2015.11.021
  5. Aderinto N, et al. Recent advances in bariatric surgery: a narrative review of weight loss procedures. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2023 Nov 1;85(12):6091-6104. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001472. PMID: 38098582; PMCID: PMC10718334
    The authors in reference 14 reviewed literature regarding bariatric surgery from 2013 – 2023, finding that the average excess weight loss for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedures was around 77% one year after surgery.
  6. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Weight‑loss (metabolic & bariatric) surgery: Benefits. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health; 2025. Web. Accessed September 4, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/bariatric-surgery/benefits
IconDisclosures and Important Safety Information
Important Safety InformationFor a product’s intended use and/or indications for use, risks, full cautions, and warnings, please refer to the associated user manual(s).
Da Vinci Xi/X SystemsThe demonstration of safety and effectiveness for the representative specific procedures including bariatric surgery did not include evaluation of outcomes such as weight loss as well as outcomes related to the treatment of cancer (overall survival, disease-free survival, local recurrence), except for radical prostatectomy which was evaluated for overall survival, or treatment of the patient’s underlying disease/condition. Device usage in all surgical procedures should be guided by the clinical judgment of an adequately trained surgeon.
Da Vinci 5 SystemThe demonstration of safety and effectiveness for the representative-specific procedures including bariatric surgery was based on evaluation of the device as a surgical tool and did not include evaluation of outcomes such as weight loss as well as outcomes related to the treatment of cancer (overall survival, disease-free survival, local recurrence) or treatment of the patient’s underlying disease or condition. Device usage in all surgical procedures should be guided by the clinical judgment of an adequately trained surgeon.
Locating a doctorSurgeons who perform surgery using the da Vinci system can be found using the Provider Locator. Intuitive Surgical provides surgeons with training on the use of the da Vinci system but does not certify, credential, or qualify the surgeons listed in the Physician Locator.
Copyright © 2025 Intuitive Surgical. All Rights Reserved. Product and brand names/logos, including INTUITIVE, DA VINCI, and ION, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical or their respective owner. See www.intuitive.com/trademarks.
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