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Table of Contents
What to Expect After Prostate Surgery
Side Effects
Wound Care
How Long Can You Live Without a Prostate?
Recovery afterprostate surgerycan take up to four to six weeks after a short hospital stay.Most people need to manage basic needs like taking care of the wound, and symptoms like pain andconstipation. They also can expect urinary incontinence and other side effects.
Prostate removal recovery also involves following up with your surgeon to monitor for complications. They can evaluate your healing and the success of yourprostate cancerorbenign prostatic hyperplasia(enlarged prostate) treatment.
This article discusses the steps in returning to a daily routine after prostate surgery while ensuring a smooth and safe recovery process.
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The recovery timeline begins in the hospital after your prostate surgery is completed and moves through your stages of healing and follow-up visits.
At Hospital
During surgery, aFoley catheterto drain urine will be placed. It will typically remain in place for seven to 10 days at home.You may notice small amounts of blood in the urine.
Types of Prostate SurgeryKeep in mind that the type of procedure may affect your recovery time. For example, laser surgery for prostate enlargement may mean you’re discharged on the same day.Certain early-stage prostate cancers can be treated with image-guided brachytherapy (implanted radiation “seeds”) and next-day discharge.Surgery to remove the prostate gland is more complex but can be done via laparoscopy, or withrobotic techniquesthat lead to faster recovery times.
Types of Prostate Surgery
Keep in mind that the type of procedure may affect your recovery time. For example, laser surgery for prostate enlargement may mean you’re discharged on the same day.Certain early-stage prostate cancers can be treated with image-guided brachytherapy (implanted radiation “seeds”) and next-day discharge.Surgery to remove the prostate gland is more complex but can be done via laparoscopy, or withrobotic techniquesthat lead to faster recovery times.
Laparoscopic Surgery: Everything You Need to Know
First Couple of Days at Home
The first few days of recovery after prostate surgery typically involve low levels of activity. There are steps you can take to manage pain and return to basic activities, like meals and showering. Generally, you will:
One to Two Weeks After Surgery
Here’s what to expect as your recovery progresses:
One Month
At one month after prostate surgery, you:
Returning to Work After Prostate SurgeryHow long it takes until you return to work depends on a number of factors, including your diagnosis, any complications or co-occurring health conditions, and the type of surgery you’ve had. One study found that males treated for prostate cancer missed 27 days due to treatment in their first year, but not always all at once. Studies generally found an average of five weeks of recovery after traditional surgery to remove the prostate due to cancer.
Returning to Work After Prostate Surgery
How long it takes until you return to work depends on a number of factors, including your diagnosis, any complications or co-occurring health conditions, and the type of surgery you’ve had. One study found that males treated for prostate cancer missed 27 days due to treatment in their first year, but not always all at once. Studies generally found an average of five weeks of recovery after traditional surgery to remove the prostate due to cancer.
Three to Six Months
As your recovery progresses, you may be able to return to heavy lifting and other activities.
The recovery timeline for this depends on a number of factors, including:
To improve blood flow to your penis and enhance your ability to have an erection, your healthcare provider may prescribe a vacuum pump or start you onViagra (sildenafil).
You can expect to see your surgeon within the following time periods after prostate surgery:
During these appointments, your surgeon will evaluate how well you are healing and monitor for complications like bleeding, infection,urinary incontinence, anderectile dysfunction.
You may also undergoprostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood testsat these appointments, as PSA level is related to how fast prostate cancer grows in those diagnosed.
Side Effects of Prostate Surgery
Recovery from prostate surgery can bring some quality of life concerns, including short-term urinary issues and sexual problems. Being aware of these possibilities and knowing what can you can do to better cope with them can help you both physically and mentally.
Incontinence
For most males, even a small amount of urine leakage can be distressing. And while most will experience some form of incontinence following surgery, it’s a condition that tends to improve. Medications and surgical procedures can boost the odds of success in controlling leaks.
Your urologist may recommend a few helpful strategies, such as:
Erectile Dysfunction
Though penile sensation and orgasm may be maintained—even if the nerves are damaged—erectile dysfunction can be frustrating to deal with andnegatively impact quality of life.
The same can be said of a decrease in libido, which can occur not from the actual surgery itself, but from post-surgical fatigue or cancer.
Seeking out reassurance or care from yoururologist, having a strong support system, and even undergoing counseling with a psychologist or therapist can be helpful in sorting through any post-operative sexual problems you may be experiencing.
Open communication with your partner is also key to maintaining a sexual relationship. Intercourse is not the only way to experience sexual pleasure. Intimacy can be maintained, but it may require more effort than in the past.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage is common with prostate surgeries, despite the development of nerve-sparing techniques.The nerve damage can lead to urinary incontinence issues.
Infertility
The vessels that produce semen are typically removed along with the prostate gland, which means that males become infertile.Talk with your healthcare provider about whether your condition and the type of procedure will lead to infertility.
Depending on the type of prostate surgery you have, one or more incisions in the skin may be made. To help prevent wound infection, your surgeon will advise you to clean your incision site(s) with mild soap when showering and use a clean towel to gently pat skin dry.
It’s important to call your surgeon immediately if you develop any symptoms or signs of an infection, such as:
When to Seek Medical AttentionBe sure to also call your surgeon right away if any of the following occur:Blood clots in your urine or increased blood in your urineNo urine output for two to three hoursYour urinary catheter falls out (do not attempt to put it back in)Scrotal or penile painInability to have a bowel movement for one week
When to Seek Medical Attention
Be sure to also call your surgeon right away if any of the following occur:Blood clots in your urine or increased blood in your urineNo urine output for two to three hoursYour urinary catheter falls out (do not attempt to put it back in)Scrotal or penile painInability to have a bowel movement for one week
Be sure to also call your surgeon right away if any of the following occur:
The removal of a prostate gland does not, in and of itself, affect life expectancy. However, older people tend to have a higher risk of side effects like urinary continence and erectile dysfunction.
Keep in mind that while prostate surgery can extend your lifespan, it may be discouraged for people age 75 and older. That’s because prostate issues become so common with age and the benefits of surgery may not outweigh the risks in people with less than 10 years of life expectancy.
Longer life expectancies are changing how healthcare providers view this issue.It’s also possible that, with surgery for an enlarged prostate, other procedures will be needed in the future.
Summary
Prostate surgery can be an essential treatment for prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate. It can help to know what to expect, and your healthcare team will provide guidance on what to expect during recovery.
The specifics will depend on the type of surgery you’ve had, as well as your diagnosis and other factors. Most people can expect recovery to progress in stages across four to six weeks. Side effects, including urination problems and erectile dysfunction, are common.
Prostate Surgery: What to Expect on the Day of Surgery
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Prostate cancer: Surgery.University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.Instructions for care after a radical prostatectomy (prostate surgery).Yilmaz M, Karaaslan M, Polat ME, Tonyali S, Aybal HÇ, Şirin ME,et al.Is day-case surgery feasible for laser endoscopic enucleation of the prostate? A systematic review.World J Urol.2023;41(11):2949-2958. doi:10.1007/s00345-023-04594-7Hass P, Fischbach F, Pech M, Gawish A.Feasibility of MRI targeted single fraction HDR brachytherapy for localized prostate carcinoma: ProFocAL-study.J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023;149(8):5397-5404. doi:10.1007/s00432-022-04491-3International Society for Sexual Medicine.What is robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP)?Zeng N, Sun JX, Liu CQ, Xu JZ, An Y, Xu MY,et al.Knowledge mapping of application of image-guided surgery in prostate cancer: a bibliometric analysis (2013-2023).Int J Surg. 2024 May 1;110(5):2992-3007. doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000001232Yu Ko WF, Oliffe JL, Bottorff JL.Prostate cancer treatment and work: A scoping review.Am J Mens Health. 2020;14(6):1557988320979257. doi:10.1177/1557988320979257Fonseca J, Froes G, Moraes-Fontes MF, Rebola J, Lúcio R, Almeida M,et al.Urinary continence recovery after Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in relation to surgeon experience.J Robot Surg. 2023;17(5):2503-2511. doi:10.1007/s11701-023-01687-8John Hopkins Medicine.Erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer.Mi Z, Liu J, Wang L, Luo Y, Yang K.Screening of associated factors for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy and construction of a clinical risk assessment model: a retrospective study.Arch Esp Urol. 2024;77(1):92. doi:10.56434/j.arch.esp.urol.20247701.12Prostate Cancer Foundation.Managing prostate cancer treatment side effects.American Cancer Society.Surgery for Prostate Cancer.Cancer Research UK.Survival of prostate cancer.Prostate Cancer Foundation.Infertility.Ohio State University. Wexner Medical Center.Robotic prostatectomy—after surgery.Mandel P, Chandrasekar T, Chun FK, Huland H, Tilki D.Radical prostatectomy in patients aged 75 years or older: review of the literature.Asian J Androl. 2017 Sep 26;21(1):32–6. doi:10.4103/aja.aja_43_17He W, Ding T, Niu Z, Hao C, Li C, Xu Z,et al.Reoperation after surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Nov 9;14:1287212. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1287212
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Prostate cancer: Surgery.University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.Instructions for care after a radical prostatectomy (prostate surgery).Yilmaz M, Karaaslan M, Polat ME, Tonyali S, Aybal HÇ, Şirin ME,et al.Is day-case surgery feasible for laser endoscopic enucleation of the prostate? A systematic review.World J Urol.2023;41(11):2949-2958. doi:10.1007/s00345-023-04594-7Hass P, Fischbach F, Pech M, Gawish A.Feasibility of MRI targeted single fraction HDR brachytherapy for localized prostate carcinoma: ProFocAL-study.J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023;149(8):5397-5404. doi:10.1007/s00432-022-04491-3International Society for Sexual Medicine.What is robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP)?Zeng N, Sun JX, Liu CQ, Xu JZ, An Y, Xu MY,et al.Knowledge mapping of application of image-guided surgery in prostate cancer: a bibliometric analysis (2013-2023).Int J Surg. 2024 May 1;110(5):2992-3007. doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000001232Yu Ko WF, Oliffe JL, Bottorff JL.Prostate cancer treatment and work: A scoping review.Am J Mens Health. 2020;14(6):1557988320979257. doi:10.1177/1557988320979257Fonseca J, Froes G, Moraes-Fontes MF, Rebola J, Lúcio R, Almeida M,et al.Urinary continence recovery after Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in relation to surgeon experience.J Robot Surg. 2023;17(5):2503-2511. doi:10.1007/s11701-023-01687-8John Hopkins Medicine.Erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer.Mi Z, Liu J, Wang L, Luo Y, Yang K.Screening of associated factors for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy and construction of a clinical risk assessment model: a retrospective study.Arch Esp Urol. 2024;77(1):92. doi:10.56434/j.arch.esp.urol.20247701.12Prostate Cancer Foundation.Managing prostate cancer treatment side effects.American Cancer Society.Surgery for Prostate Cancer.Cancer Research UK.Survival of prostate cancer.Prostate Cancer Foundation.Infertility.Ohio State University. Wexner Medical Center.Robotic prostatectomy—after surgery.Mandel P, Chandrasekar T, Chun FK, Huland H, Tilki D.Radical prostatectomy in patients aged 75 years or older: review of the literature.Asian J Androl. 2017 Sep 26;21(1):32–6. doi:10.4103/aja.aja_43_17He W, Ding T, Niu Z, Hao C, Li C, Xu Z,et al.Reoperation after surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Nov 9;14:1287212. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1287212
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Prostate cancer: Surgery.University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.Instructions for care after a radical prostatectomy (prostate surgery).Yilmaz M, Karaaslan M, Polat ME, Tonyali S, Aybal HÇ, Şirin ME,et al.Is day-case surgery feasible for laser endoscopic enucleation of the prostate? A systematic review.World J Urol.2023;41(11):2949-2958. doi:10.1007/s00345-023-04594-7Hass P, Fischbach F, Pech M, Gawish A.Feasibility of MRI targeted single fraction HDR brachytherapy for localized prostate carcinoma: ProFocAL-study.J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023;149(8):5397-5404. doi:10.1007/s00432-022-04491-3International Society for Sexual Medicine.What is robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP)?Zeng N, Sun JX, Liu CQ, Xu JZ, An Y, Xu MY,et al.Knowledge mapping of application of image-guided surgery in prostate cancer: a bibliometric analysis (2013-2023).Int J Surg. 2024 May 1;110(5):2992-3007. doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000001232Yu Ko WF, Oliffe JL, Bottorff JL.Prostate cancer treatment and work: A scoping review.Am J Mens Health. 2020;14(6):1557988320979257. doi:10.1177/1557988320979257Fonseca J, Froes G, Moraes-Fontes MF, Rebola J, Lúcio R, Almeida M,et al.Urinary continence recovery after Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in relation to surgeon experience.J Robot Surg. 2023;17(5):2503-2511. doi:10.1007/s11701-023-01687-8John Hopkins Medicine.Erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer.Mi Z, Liu J, Wang L, Luo Y, Yang K.Screening of associated factors for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy and construction of a clinical risk assessment model: a retrospective study.Arch Esp Urol. 2024;77(1):92. doi:10.56434/j.arch.esp.urol.20247701.12Prostate Cancer Foundation.Managing prostate cancer treatment side effects.American Cancer Society.Surgery for Prostate Cancer.Cancer Research UK.Survival of prostate cancer.Prostate Cancer Foundation.Infertility.Ohio State University. Wexner Medical Center.Robotic prostatectomy—after surgery.Mandel P, Chandrasekar T, Chun FK, Huland H, Tilki D.Radical prostatectomy in patients aged 75 years or older: review of the literature.Asian J Androl. 2017 Sep 26;21(1):32–6. doi:10.4103/aja.aja_43_17He W, Ding T, Niu Z, Hao C, Li C, Xu Z,et al.Reoperation after surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Nov 9;14:1287212. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1287212
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Prostate cancer: Surgery.
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.Instructions for care after a radical prostatectomy (prostate surgery).
Yilmaz M, Karaaslan M, Polat ME, Tonyali S, Aybal HÇ, Şirin ME,et al.Is day-case surgery feasible for laser endoscopic enucleation of the prostate? A systematic review.World J Urol.2023;41(11):2949-2958. doi:10.1007/s00345-023-04594-7
Hass P, Fischbach F, Pech M, Gawish A.Feasibility of MRI targeted single fraction HDR brachytherapy for localized prostate carcinoma: ProFocAL-study.J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023;149(8):5397-5404. doi:10.1007/s00432-022-04491-3
International Society for Sexual Medicine.What is robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP)?
Zeng N, Sun JX, Liu CQ, Xu JZ, An Y, Xu MY,et al.Knowledge mapping of application of image-guided surgery in prostate cancer: a bibliometric analysis (2013-2023).Int J Surg. 2024 May 1;110(5):2992-3007. doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000001232
Yu Ko WF, Oliffe JL, Bottorff JL.Prostate cancer treatment and work: A scoping review.Am J Mens Health. 2020;14(6):1557988320979257. doi:10.1177/1557988320979257
Fonseca J, Froes G, Moraes-Fontes MF, Rebola J, Lúcio R, Almeida M,et al.Urinary continence recovery after Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in relation to surgeon experience.J Robot Surg. 2023;17(5):2503-2511. doi:10.1007/s11701-023-01687-8
John Hopkins Medicine.Erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer.
Mi Z, Liu J, Wang L, Luo Y, Yang K.Screening of associated factors for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy and construction of a clinical risk assessment model: a retrospective study.Arch Esp Urol. 2024;77(1):92. doi:10.56434/j.arch.esp.urol.20247701.12
Prostate Cancer Foundation.Managing prostate cancer treatment side effects.
American Cancer Society.Surgery for Prostate Cancer.
Cancer Research UK.Survival of prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Foundation.Infertility.
Ohio State University. Wexner Medical Center.Robotic prostatectomy—after surgery.
Mandel P, Chandrasekar T, Chun FK, Huland H, Tilki D.Radical prostatectomy in patients aged 75 years or older: review of the literature.Asian J Androl. 2017 Sep 26;21(1):32–6. doi:10.4103/aja.aja_43_17
He W, Ding T, Niu Z, Hao C, Li C, Xu Z,et al.Reoperation after surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Nov 9;14:1287212. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1287212
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