Surgeon proficiency and scope type significantly impact laparoscopic liver resection outcomes.

• Beginners had longer operative times (178 vs. 139.5 min) and higher complication rates compared to experts.
• Using joystick-controlled scopes allowed beginners to close the skill gap more quickly.

Choosing the right controller type can enhance outcomes, especially for less experienced surgeons.

• In minor hepatectomies, no significant differences were found in proficiency between experts and beginners using joystick scopes.