Recovery After Robotic Prostatectomy: Catheter, Continence and Return to Work
Updated: 1 day ago
Recovery after robotic prostatectomy runs on three timelines. First, the wound and the catheter take about 1 to 2 weeks, and daily life returns over 2 to 6 weeks. Finally, bladder control and erections keep improving for 12 to 24 months.
Medically reviewed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuncay Taş, urologist. Updated October 2026.
This guide follows each stage, from the evening of surgery to the one-year check. It also explains what is normal and what needs a call. In addition, it covers the practical side for men who travel from the US, Canada or the UK.
Recovery at a glance
Every man heals at his own pace. Even so, most follow a similar path, so the table shows the usual milestones.
Milestone | Usual timing | What it means for you |
Walking and sips of fluid | Evening of surgery | Early walking lowers the risk of clots and chest problems |
Hospital discharge | After 1 to 3 nights | You go home or to your hotel with a catheter |
Catheter removal | Day 5 to 10 | Leakage starts, so pads and pelvic floor exercises begin |
Pathology report | 7 to 10 days | Final stage, grade and margins guide follow-up |
Desk work and short walks | 2 to 3 weeks | Light routine returns, with rest breaks |
First PSA test | 4 to 6 weeks | PSA should be undetectable |
Lifting, cycling and gym | About 6 weeks | The internal join has healed well |
Clear gain in bladder control | Within 3 months for most men | Fewer pads, mostly dry at night |
Full bladder control | About 90 to 95 percent of men by 12 months | Most men need no pad at all |
Erection recovery after nerve-sparing | 6 to 24 months | Gradual return, often with help from tablets |
Before surgery: preparing for a faster recovery
Recovery starts before the operation. In fact, a few weeks of preparation make the first month noticeably easier.
Train the pelvic floor: start Kegel exercises 3 to 4 weeks before surgery, as described below.
Walk daily: better fitness helps you get up and move on the first evening.
Stop smoking: even a few weeks off cigarettes helps wound and lung recovery.
Review your medicines: your surgeon tells you when to pause blood thinners and when to restart them.
Plan help at home: arrange support for shopping and lifting in the first 2 weeks.
Assoc. Prof. Taş completed his uro-oncology fellowship at Heidelberg University and has published on training standards in uro-oncology. For this reason, he spends time on this preparation at the first consultation, not only on the operation itself.
In hospital: the first one to three nights
The robotic operation usually takes 2 to 3 hours. Most men wake up with five or six small wounds, a catheter and sometimes a small drain. Then the nurses help you stand up and walk the same evening.
Usually, tablets keep the pain at a moderate level. In fact, many men feel more discomfort in the shoulders than in the belly. That ache comes from the gas used during surgery, and it fades within a day or two.
Most men start with fluids and move to light food the next day. Meanwhile, the team removes any drain before discharge. Finally, a nurse shows you how to manage the catheter at home.
The catheter weeks: days 1 to 10
Why the catheter matters
During surgery, the surgeon removes the prostate and joins the bladder to the urethra. The catheter keeps that new join still and dry while it heals. Therefore, it usually stays in for 5 to 10 days.
Sometimes a scan before removal shows that the join needs more time. In that case, the catheter stays a few days longer. Although frustrating, a short delay prevents a much bigger problem.
Living with the catheter
Secure it: strap the bag to your thigh so the tube never pulls.
Keep it below the bladder: urine should always drain downhill.
Keep it clean: wash the tip of the penis daily with plain water.
Expect spasms: sudden cramps or leaks around the tube are common and usually harmless.
Keep stools soft: straining puts pressure on the join, so drink well and use a mild laxative if advised.
Light walking several times a day helps. However, avoid lifting anything heavier than a full kettle during this stage.
Catheter removal and the first weeks of leakage
Once the catheter comes out, most men leak some urine. Typically, leaks happen when you cough, sneeze, stand up or lift. This is stress incontinence, and it is a normal part of recovery.
Why does it happen? The prostate used to help close the bladder outlet. So after its removal, the sphincter muscle and the pelvic floor must do that job alone, and they need training.
For the first weeks, use absorbent pads and carry a spare set. Also, drink normally rather than cutting fluids, because concentrated urine irritates the bladder. By contrast, cut back on caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks, which can increase urgency.
Bladder control month by month
Bladder control returns gradually. Most men notice clear progress within 3 months. By 12 months, about 90 to 95 percent of men have full control.
Time after catheter removal | Typical pattern |
First 2 weeks | Leaks on standing, coughing and walking; several pads a day |
Weeks 3 to 6 | Dry at night for many men; leaks mostly with effort |
Months 2 to 3 | One light pad or none for most men |
Months 3 to 12 | Further slow gains, especially with heavy effort |
After 12 months | Persistent leakage is uncommon; further treatment is possible |
Pelvic floor exercises
Pelvic floor exercises, also called Kegels, speed up recovery. Ideally, start them a few weeks before surgery, so the muscles are already strong. Then restart them as soon as the catheter comes out.
Find the muscles you would use to stop passing wind and to stop the urine stream.
Squeeze and lift them for up to 10 seconds, then fully relax for the same time.
Repeat 10 times, three times a day, lying, sitting and standing.
Also tighten them just before you cough, sneeze or stand up.
Do not hold your breath or squeeze your buttocks during the exercise. If you cannot feel the right muscles, ask for a session with a pelvic floor physiotherapist.
What helps continence most
Surgical technique matters as well as exercise. During surgery, Assoc. Prof. Taş aims to keep the bladder neck narrow and to save as much urethral length as possible. In suitable men, a Retzius-sparing approach also leaves supporting tissue in front of the bladder intact.
Age, prostate size and earlier bladder problems also play a part. Therefore, your surgeon can give you a personal estimate before the operation. The robotic prostatectomy page explains these techniques in more detail.
If leakage does not settle
A small number of men still leak after 12 months. Fortunately, effective options exist. For mild leakage, a male sling supports the urethra through a small incision.
For heavier leakage, an artificial urinary sphincter gives the most reliable control. Meanwhile, pelvic floor physiotherapy and bladder medicines help some men avoid surgery altogether. Your urologist chooses the option after a pad test and a bladder assessment.
Erections after surgery
Erection recovery takes longer than bladder control. Even when the surgeon spares the nerves, they stay sleepy for months. As a result, recovery often takes 6 to 24 months.
Early treatment, called penile rehabilitation, helps keep the erectile tissue healthy during that time. It often starts with low-dose tablets after catheter removal. The penile rehabilitation guide covers the options step by step.
Eating, bowels and energy
Your bowel may take a few days to settle after surgery. So start with light meals and add fibre gradually. Also, drink about 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid a day unless your doctor sets a limit.
Constipation deserves special care, because straining strains the healing join. Therefore, a mild stool softener in the first weeks is common advice. Fruit, vegetables and short walks also help.
Low mood and tiredness are common after a cancer operation, too. Indeed, many men feel relieved and drained at the same time. Talking to your partner, your team or a support group helps more than most men expect.
Back to work, driving and exercise
Return to normal life depends on your job and your fitness. Still, most men follow a similar pattern.
Walking: from the first day, building up to 30 minutes or more a day.
Desk work: usually after 2 to 3 weeks, with short breaks.
Driving: once the catheter is out and you can brake hard without pain, often after about 2 weeks.
Physical work and heavy lifting: after about 6 weeks.
Cycling, golf and the gym: after about 6 weeks, starting gently.
Sex: when you feel ready after catheter removal; ejaculation no longer produces semen.
Tiredness can last several weeks after major surgery. So plan shorter days at first, and rest when your body asks for it.
Your pathology report and PSA checks
The final pathology report usually arrives 7 to 10 days after surgery. It confirms the grade, the stage, the margins and, if removed, the lymph nodes. Assoc. Prof. Taş then goes through it with you and explains the follow-up plan.
Once the prostate is gone, PSA should fall to an undetectable level. Therefore, the first test usually comes 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. After that, men test every 3 months in the first year and every 6 months from the second year.
Your local laboratory can run every test. Then you share the results with the team, so follow-up continues after you fly home.
Weeks 2 to 6: building back up
After the catheter comes out, energy returns step by step. For example, many men walk 30 to 45 minutes a day by the end of week 3. Even so, a short afternoon rest still helps at this stage.
Small wound bruises fade within 2 weeks, and the stitches dissolve on their own. Meanwhile, keep lifting light and avoid sit-ups or heavy core work until about 6 weeks. By then, most men feel close to their usual selves, apart from some leakage with effort.
Recovering at home after surgery in Istanbul
Most men from the US, Canada and the UK plan 7 to 10 days in Istanbul. That way, the catheter usually comes out before the flight. As a result, the most sensitive stage of recovery happens close to the surgical team.
Flying home safely
Long flights after surgery raise the risk of blood clots. To lower that risk, wear compression stockings and drink water regularly. Also walk the aisle every hour or so.
Pack pads in your hand luggage, together with a spare set of clothes. In addition, bring your operation summary and pathology report for your family doctor. If your diagnosis is not complete yet, start with the MRI fusion prostate biopsy.
Similarly, see the focal therapy page for small, well-mapped tumours.
Warning signs: when to call your urology team
Most symptoms after robotic prostatectomy are part of normal healing. However, some need prompt attention. Contact your team, or seek urgent care, if any of these occur.
A fever above 38°C (100.4°F), shivers or shakes.
No urine draining into the catheter bag for more than an hour, despite drinking.
Belly pain or swelling that keeps getting worse.
Redness, warmth or discharge from a wound.
Pain, swelling or warmth in one calf, or sudden shortness of breath.
Inability to pass urine after catheter removal.
Calf pain or breathlessness can signal a blood clot. In that case, call 911 in the US or Canada, or 999 in the UK, without delay.
When to see a urologist
See a urologist if you have a raised PSA, an abnormal biopsy or a new diagnosis of prostate cancer. A full review then checks whether surgery suits you. Equally, ask for a review if leakage is not improving after 6 months.
To plan an assessment in person, book a consultation with Assoc. Prof. Taş or message the team on WhatsApp. Patients from the US, Canada and the UK receive a personal plan and quote after the consultation. Then the coordinator arranges the days in Istanbul.
Frequently asked questions
How long is recovery after robotic prostatectomy?
Most men return to light daily life within 2 to 3 weeks and to full activity, including lifting and the gym, at about 6 weeks. Bladder control keeps improving for up to 12 months, and erections can take 6 to 24 months.
How long will I have a catheter after prostatectomy?
The catheter usually stays in for 5 to 10 days. It protects the new join between the bladder and the urethra while it heals. Sometimes the surgeon keeps it a few days longer if the join needs more time.
Will I leak urine after robotic prostatectomy?
Most men leak some urine after the catheter comes out, especially when they cough, stand up or lift. Leakage improves within 3 months for most men, and about 90 to 95 percent regain full control by 12 months.
When should I start pelvic floor exercises?
Start them a few weeks before surgery if you can, then stop while the catheter is in. Restart them as soon as the catheter comes out, several times a day, unless your surgeon says otherwise.
When can I go back to work after a robotic prostatectomy?
Many men return to desk work after 2 to 3 weeks. Physical jobs, heavy lifting and cycling usually wait until about 6 weeks. Pads and a spare set of clothes make the first weeks back easier.
When can I fly home after robotic prostatectomy?
Most men from abroad fly home after the catheter comes out, usually 7 to 10 days after surgery. Walking in the aisle, drinking water and compression stockings lower the risk of blood clots on a long flight.
When is the first PSA test after prostatectomy?
The first PSA test usually comes 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Once the prostate is gone, PSA should fall to an undetectable level. After that, men usually test every 3 months in the first year.
Sources
About the reviewer
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuncay Taş is a urologist in Istanbul with more than 20 years of experience and patients from over 60 countries. He graduated from Istanbul University in 2004, trained at Taksim Training and Research Hospital, completed a uro-oncology and laparoscopy fellowship at Heidelberg University and belongs to the EAU and the Endourological Society. Read his full profile.
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