Robotic Surgery in Perth
Dr Jennifer Kong performs minimally invasive procedures using the Da Vinci robotic system to help patients recover faster with smaller incisions.
If you’ve been told you need surgery, you might have heard the term ‘robotic’ surgery. You may be wondering what the robot is and how does the robot perform my surgery? Some people picture a robot standing over the patient, doing all the thinking and operating while the surgeon watches from the corner. That’s not how it works at all.
Dr Jennifer Kong performs robotic surgery using the Da Vinci robotic platform – a surgical system designed to give surgeons exceptional control and vision. Rather than one big incision, the procedure involves a few small (8mm) cuts that allow instruments and a camera to be inserted. Patients often recover quicker, have less pain, and spend less time in hospital.
- Dr Jennifer Kong, Urological Surgeon Perth
In this guide, Dr Kong walks you through how robotic surgery works, what it’s used for, which procedures she performs, and what recovery usually involves.
Understanding robotic surgery
What robotic surgery actually is
Robotic surgery is an advanced form of keyhole surgery. Instead of one large incision, several small openings are made, each just wide enough for a surgical instrument or camera. These connect to robotic arms that Dr Kong controls from a console a few feet away.
Sitting at that console, she looks through a high-definition 3D viewer that magnifies the surgical site many times over. Her hand and foot movements are converted instantly into tiny, precise movements of the robotic instruments.
- Dr Jennifer Kong, Urological Surgeon Perth
That flexibility makes a big difference. It lets Dr Kong reach areas that used to need a much larger incision. The improved view and fine control mean complex procedures can be done safely through smaller openings.
Common concerns
It’s perfectly normal to feel unsure the first time you hear the phrase ‘robotic surgery.’ The name itself can sound unsettling. But the “robot” doesn’t make decisions and never moves on its own. Every movement is directed by Dr Kong, who stays fully in control from start to finish.
- Dr Jennifer Kong, Urological Surgeon Perth
The robot acts as an extension of the surgeon’s hands. It helps perform fine movements in tight spaces around nerves and blood vessels.
Dr Kong often explains to her patients that it’s not really a “robot” in the way people imagine. It’s a tool – one that can bend, rotate and see in 3D, helping her perform the same operation more precisely.
Advantages of robotic surgery
Why patients often choose this approach
For many people, robotic surgery offers real benefits compared with both open and standard laparoscopic procedures.
Benefits for you
When compared with open surgery, robotic procedures can mean:
- Smaller cuts rather than one long incision
- Less discomfort after surgery
- Shorter hospital stays; often just overnight
- Quicker return to work and normal life
- Minimal scarring
- Less blood loss in some operations
For patients, those things matter. Being able to get up, walk, and go home sooner makes a big difference in recovery and getting back to the things that are important to you.
Compared with standard keyhole surgery
Standard laparoscopic tools are straight and fixed in place, which makes it harder to move around corners or operate at awkward angles.
The robotic system adds that missing flexibility. The high-definition 3D camera gives a crisp view, allowing Dr Kong to see fine details that aren’t visible with standard equipment. This precision can reduce bleeding and shorten the time spent in surgery.
Benefits for the surgeon
Open surgery is physically demanding. Surgeons stand for hours, often leaning awkwardly to reach the right spot. Over a long operation, fatigue can creep in.
- Dr Jennifer Kong, Urological Surgeon Perth
When the surgeon is more comfortable, they can avoid fatigue, back issues and perform these procedures for more of their career.
Robotic surgery patients
Who robotic surgery is suitable for
Robotic surgery is especially helpful for urological procedures that require fine reconstructive work around the prostate, kidneys or bladder. It’s commonly used for prostate cancer, kidney tumours and reconstructive urinary surgery.
It’s not always the right choice, though. Your general health, anatomy and past surgical history all play a role in whether robotic surgery is the best fit. During your consultation, Dr Kong will talk through your options, including open and laparoscopic surgery, so you can make an informed decision.
Types of robotic surgery Dr Kong performs
Dr Kong performs robotic surgery in Perth for a range of urological operations including:
- Radical prostatectomy: removal of the prostate for prostate cancer
- Partial nephrectomy: removal of a kidney tumour and repair of the defect
- Partial cystectomy: removal of part of the bladder
- Pyeloplasty: reconstructing the ureter to the kidney collecting system
- Ureteric re-implantation: reconnecting the ureter into the bladder
- Dr Jennifer Kong, Urological Surgeon Perth
Getting started with robotic surgery
What happens during robotic surgery
Before the procedure begins, the robotic system is set up beside you by Dr Kong. She places the instruments herself through the cuts she makes and ‘docks’ the robot. This means attaching the robot’s arms to the instruments. Dr Kong then sits close by at the console, using hand and foot controls to direct the robotic arms. The system follows her movements exactly; it doesn’t act independently.
The surgeon’s control
Every movement she makes at the console is mirrored by the instruments, but at a smaller scale. That fine control lets her perform detailed work that’s more difficult to do with standard instruments.
Vision and precision
The Da Vinci system gives a clear, magnified 3D view of what’s happening inside the body. Its wristed instruments bend and rotate more than a human hand can, which makes delicate dissection and stitching possible through small openings.
Recovery and aftercare
Because robotic surgery involves smaller cuts, recovery is usually quicker and less painful. Many patients are walking on the same day and are able to go home within 24 hours.
Most people return to light activity within a week or two. Dr Kong’s team provides clear instructions about wound care, mobility, and follow-up appointments. Everyone recovers differently, and the team supports patients through each stage.
Robotic surgery expertise
Dr Kong’s robotic surgery expertise in Perth
Becoming a robotic surgeon takes specific training. Surgeons start with simulation practice, move on to lab-based training, perform supervised operations and, once assessed, operate independently.
Dr Kong is fully trained on the Da Vinci robotic platform, the most widely used soft tissue robot in Australia and around the world. She performs robotic procedures at Osborne Park Hospital for public patients and at St John of God Subiaco for private patients in Perth.
Her regular operating lists and involvement in mentoring other surgeons help her maintain up-to-date skills and consistently high surgical standards.
Your next step towards robotic surgery
If you’re thinking about robotic surgery, the best place to start is by booking a consultation with Dr Jennifer Kong in Perth. She’ll review your scans, discuss your diagnosis, and explain your options clearly.
Her goal is simple: to help you understand the choices available so you can decide what’s right for your health and recovery.
Appointments are available for insured patients through her rooms and public patients can be seen through Osborne Park hospital or Sir Charles Gairdner hospital.
Referrals can be made directly through your GP or specialist.
Contact
Kong Urology | Dr Jennifer Kong
Get in touch
Dr Jennifer Kong consults in
West Leederville close to SJOG Subiaco
164 Cambridge Street
WEST LEEDERVILLE WA 6007
Australia