Surgeon Performs First Single Incision Peri-Umbilical Laparoscopic Surgery in the State o...( ST. LOUIS July 2...)

ST. LOUIS, July 20 /PRNewswire/ --Van Wagner, MD, bariatric surgeon, recently performed the first outpatient single-site laparoscopic gastric banding surgery in the state of Missouri at Ballas Outpatient Surgery Center, an affiliate of Surgical Care Affiliates.

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For single-site surgery, the major incision is through the belly button only. In traditional laparoscopic procedures there are four to six small incisions. Dr. Wagner refers to the single-site procedure as PULS-Peri-Umbilical Laparoscopic Surgery. This single belly button scar shrinks over time until it is practically undetectable. Eliminating the need for multiple laparoscopic port incisions from the procedure offers patients the potential for less post-surgical pain.

"Single-site procedures represent an improvement in bariatric surgery that results in additional benefits for the patients," says Dr. Wagner. "Surgery is just a first stop," he continues, "and must be used with a comprehensive program of support which helps patients achieve their weight loss goals."

Dr. Wagner is a board-certified general surgeon as well as a Center of Excellence surgeon for the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He has been a full-time bariatric surgeon since 2003 and on staff at Ballas Outpatient Surgery Center since 2008. He performs all three types of laparoscopic bariatric surgery and has successfully performed over 65 outpatient surgeries at Ballas. Dr. Wagner also uses PULS for his laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Ballas Outpatient Surgery Center is an affiliate of Surgical Care Affiliates and offe
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