Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS) in Los Angeles

Advanced scarless surgery that removes rectal polyps and select early cancers through the anus — no abdominal incisions, no bowel resection.

Removing Rectal Tumors Without Major Surgery

Some rectal polyps are too large, too flat, or too high to remove safely during a colonoscopy — yet treating them with traditional surgery would mean removing a segment of the rectum. TAMIS (transanal minimally invasive surgery) offers a middle path: using a small operating port placed through the anus, the tumor is excised precisely and completely, with no external incisions at all.

Dr. Moshe Barnajian offers TAMIS at his Los Angeles practice for carefully selected rectal polyps and early-stage rectal cancers. For the right lesion, it means an outpatient or overnight procedure, minimal pain, and preservation of completely normal bowel function.

When Is TAMIS the Right Option?

Large rectal polyps that cannot be fully removed by colonoscopy

Benign rectal tumors confirmed by biopsy

Select very early (T1) rectal cancers with favorable features

Patients who want to avoid abdominal surgery and bowel resection

Lesions in the low or mid rectum reachable through the transanal port

Patients needing full-thickness excision for accurate staging

The TAMIS Advantage

Compared with traditional rectal resection, TAMIS offers dramatic benefits for appropriately selected tumors.

No Abdominal Incisions

The entire operation happens through a small transanal port — no cuts, no scars, and no disruption of the abdomen.

Rectum Preserved

The tumor is removed while the rectum itself stays intact, maintaining completely normal bowel function and continence.

Faster Recovery

Most patients go home the same day or next morning and return to normal activities within days, not weeks.

Accurate Diagnosis

Full-thickness excision gives pathologists the complete specimen, ensuring nothing more aggressive is hiding within the polyp.

Dr. Moshe Barnajian, colorectal surgeon Los Angeles

Why Choose Dr. Barnajian?

Board-certified colorectal surgeon (FASCRS), trained at Cedars-Sinai, specializing in minimally invasive and da Vinci® robotic surgery. Compassionate, thorough care with most PPO insurance accepted.

Call (424) 622-9028

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TAMIS a treatment for rectal cancer?

For select very early rectal cancers with favorable features, TAMIS can be curative. For more advanced tumors, formal robotic resection is safer — Dr. Barnajian offers both and will recommend the oncologically correct option for you.

How long does recovery take?

Most patients are home within 24 hours and back to regular activity within a few days. Mild rectal pressure or spotting for a short period is normal.

Will TAMIS affect bowel control?

No. The sphincter muscles are gently dilated by the small port but not cut. Normal continence and bowel function are preserved.

What happens if the pathology shows something more serious?

That is one of TAMIS’s strengths: the complete excised specimen allows precise staging. If a more significant cancer is found, Dr. Barnajian will guide you through the appropriate next step, including robotic surgery if needed.