Prostate surgery is the recommended treatment for an enlarged or diseased prostate. The surgery is chosen will depend on the size of the prostate and the amount of blockage that is impeding urine flow. An open prostatectomy removes the entire organ and is very invasive. Laser surgery removes the tissue that is causing the blockage and allows the patient to recover more quickly, and with less pain and discomfort.
Laser Prostate Surgery Recovery
Laser prostate surgery can be done on an outpatient basis or might require only one night in the hospital. Plan to take about two weeks off from work for this type of procedure. You might or might not have a catheter for urination after the procedure. The swelling that occurs on the urethra may cause a blockage.
Drink plenty of water after surgery to flush the bladder. You will notice blood in your urine during the first few days or weeks after the surgery.
Discuss medications with your doctor. There might be a restriction on blood thinners after surgery. Get the doctor's OK before resuming that type of medication.
Do not engage in strenuous activity or sex soon after laser prostate surgery. Patients usually have a one- or two-week restriction on such activity.
Open Prostatectomy Recovery
The recovery time is longer for an open prostatectomy than for a laser procedure. Immediately after prostate surgery, you will have a catheter and drainage tubes.
You should be able to get up and walk around the day after the surgery. The doctor will encourage this movement to help with recovery.
You will be discharged from the hospital within two or three days after an open prostatectomy. Watch for signs of infection, such as swelling and redness, at the incision site. Report any excessive pain to your doctor immediately.
You will not be able to return to your normal activities for four to six weeks after an open procedure. Sexual activity will have to wait for six to eight weeks after an open prostatectomy.
Long-Term Recovery
Report any problems with urination after the surgery. The procedure should have improved your condition and removed the cause of urinary problems. Some men notice that the symptoms that they had before the surgery get worse for a short period after recovery, and then improve.
Discuss any concerns you have after prostate surgery. Watch for returning symptoms after laser prostate surgery. In a small amount of cases, the tissue grows back.
Tags: after surgery, open prostatectomy, prostate surgery, after open, weeks after, after laser, after laser prostate
