Dr. Montgomery Johns and Robotic Surgery

• As the first doctor in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, area trained in the groundbreaking procedures of gynecological robotic surgery, Dr. Montgomery Johns was instrumental in developing Mary Washington Hospital’s robotic surgery program for gynecology.

Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that was first developed approximately 20 years ago as an alternative to traditional open surgery.

• With robotic surgery, doctors operate with the assistance of small instruments attached to robotic arms inserted through small incisions in the skin.

The surgical instruments are connected to a miniature camera where the doctor can see a magnified image of the operating area in a three-dimensional computer monitor in real time.

• This technique is considered to be more precise than traditional surgery because it requires less hand movement by the surgeon, and allows for easier access to hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, robotic surgery provides for a shorter recovery time, less pain, smaller scars, and a shorter hospital stay.

• Since its introduction to the medical field over two decades ago, robotic surgery has become standard for a variety of procedures.