Barton Memorial Hospital general surgeon, Dr. Scott Welker is now performing cholecystectomies (removal of the gallbladder) through a small single incision procedure enabled by the GelPOINT system.

“The GelPOINT enables the gall bladder to be removed using a single incision in the umbilicus (belly button), and the scar is basically invisible when it heals,” Welker said. “The remaining small scar is usually hidden within the natural folds of the patient’s bellybutton. Most patients achieve excellent cosmetic outcomes; in many cases, you can’t tell they had surgery at all.”

Cholecystectomy or gall bladder removal is the most common procedure performed in the United States. Each year, more than 1,000,000 patients have their gallbladder removed for a variety of conditions. “Traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomies, or gall bladder surgeries, involve several half-inch or smaller incisions that leave scars,” Welker said.

The GelPOINT is one of the newest technologic innovations in minimally invasive surgery. It allows the operation to be performed through one small entry point, eliminating the need for multiple incisions.

For more information and to find out if the GelPOINT procedure is right for you, call 530-543-5685 or visit bartonhealth.org/gallbladder.