What to Expect After Prostate Removal

Updated: October 21, 2026

Prostate removal is an effective treatment option for prostate cancer. The procedure, a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland as well as some surrounding tissue. The surgery generally takes a few hours, and the recovery can take 4 to 6 weeks.

Here are three things Mina Fam, M.D., a urologist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, says you can expect after your prostate is removed.

Gradual Recovery

Prostate removal is a major surgery, so you will experience some soreness and pain. You’ll receive IV pain medications after surgery, and your doctor will prescribe pain medication to use at home. You will also have a urinary catheter in place for about the first week, which could be uncomfortable.

Most patients are walking the day of surgery and go home the following day. Although you will need to rest and gradually resume physical activity, Dr. Fam emphasizes the importance of gentle movement. 

“I want patients up and walking the same day of surgery because any kind of cancer surgery has a risk for blood clotting,” Dr. Fam says. “I encourage patients to keep walking during their recovery.”

If you had robotic surgery, you can generally resume your normal routine after four weeks. If you had traditional open surgery, your recovery could take up to six weeks. 

Changes in Your Sex Life

Most men experience some decline in erectile function after their prostate is removed, but this can be managed. “It can take six months or even up to a year for the affected nerves to recover from surgery. But with proper therapy and treatment, most patients can have good erectile function again,” says Dr. Fam.

Treatment options include:

• Medication
• Pelvic floor muscle exercises
• Penile implants
• Counseling

You will also no longer ejaculate semen during orgasm because the seminal vesicles are removed during surgery.

Bladder Problems

Urinary incontinence is another common side effect of prostate removal. You might dribble or leak urine when you sneeze or laugh, or feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom.

If you had normal urinary control before your surgery, you will likely regain this control over time. For most men, urinary incontinence will go away within a year, often within months.

The way your surgery was done can impact how severe your symptoms are and how long they last. “With the robot, we’re able to really preserve the length of the urethra and preserve all the muscles that control continence,” says Dr. Fam. “Though minor incontinence still occurs with robotic surgery, most men will have full control of their bladder after about six to eight weeks.”

There are treatment options to help with incontinence, including:

• Medication
• Pelvic floor exercises
• Artificial urinary sphincters (an implanted device to treat moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence)

Talk to your doctor to find the right treatment option.

Next Steps & Resources

• Meet our source: Mina Fam, M.D.
• Learn more about urology services at Hackensack Meridian Health.