Prostate Surgery Recovery: What to Expect & Timeline

Prostate surgery recovery times vary according to the type of procedure performed. A radical prostatectomy is open surgery and requires the longest recovery period. Non-robotic laparoscopic and robotic laparoscopic surgeries offer quicker recovery times.

Surgery Time

• A radical prostatectomy procedure may take two to four hours with an additional two hours spent in the recovery room. A non-robotic laparoscopic procedure generally takes three to four hours (but may take up to eight), and robotic surgery times vary from two to three hours.

Hospital Time

• Hospital time after radical prostrate surgery is two to four days. Regular laparoscopic prostate surgery requires a two-day hospital stay, while a robotic laparoscopic procedure often has the patient returning home after 24 hours.

Recovery Time

• Most patients can return to normal activities after one to two weeks with robotic procedures (four to six weeks for men who do heavy lifting). Regular laparoscopic procedures have a recovery time of two to four weeks, while radical procedures may take up to 12 weeks for a full recovery.

Catheter Removal

• Catheters are removed within two to three weeks after radical surgery, an average of seven days after normal laparoscopic procedures, and four to 10 days for robotic laparoscopic procedures.

Benefits

• Laparoscopic surgeries have reduced complications and quicker recovery times because they utilize a technique that passes instruments through small incisions; radical procedures utilize large abdominal incisions during surgery.

Warning

• Patients undergoing a radical prostatectomy may require blood transfusions during the operation.