Prostate Surgery

Prostate surgery covers a range of procedures addressing conditions from benign prostate enlargement to prostate cancer, and the right approach depends heavily on the underlying condition being treated. Understanding which type of surgery applies to your situation is the first step to knowing what to expect.

Why prostate surgery is performed

The two most common reasons for prostate surgery are quite different from each other:

1. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that becomes common with age and can compress the urethra, causing urinary symptoms like frequent urination, weak stream, or difficulty starting and stopping
2. Prostate cancer: where surgical removal of the prostate (prostatectomy) is one of several treatment options, alongside radiation therapy and active surveillance, depending on cancer stage and overall health

Surgical options for BPH

Several minimally invasive approaches are now available for enlarged prostate, generally with faster recovery than older, more invasive techniques:

1. TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate): removes excess prostate tissue through the urethra without any external incision, remaining one of the most common and well-established approaches
2. Laser therapy: uses laser energy to vaporize or remove excess tissue, often with less bleeding and a shorter catheter period than traditional TURP
3. Minimally invasive options: newer techniques for suitable candidates that can sometimes be done with even less downtime, depending on prostate size and specific symptoms

Surgical options for prostate cancer

When surgery is the chosen path for prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy — removal of the entire prostate gland — is performed either through traditional open surgery or, increasingly, using minimally invasive robotic-assisted techniques that generally offer more precision, less blood loss, and faster recovery for suitable candidates.

What recovery typically involves

Recovery differs significantly based on the specific procedure:

1. BPH procedures typically involve a short hospital stay of one to two days, with a temporary catheter for several days to a week afterward
2. Radical prostatectomy usually involves a hospital stay of one to three days, with a catheter for one to two weeks and a fuller recovery period of four to six weeks
3. Urinary control and, for cancer surgery, sexual function may take time to recover, and your surgical team should discuss these realistic timelines with you before surgery, not after

Making an informed decision

Because treatment options and outcomes vary meaningfully based on your specific diagnosis, age, and overall health, a thorough discussion with a urologist — including a clear explanation of the trade-offs between options — matters more here than perhaps any single surgical technique. This is exactly the kind of decision worth taking time over.

Next steps

Whether you're dealing with bothersome urinary symptoms or navigating a new cancer diagnosis, our urology specialists can walk through your specific case, explain which options genuinely apply to you, and provide a transparent cost breakdown for whichever path you choose.