Radical prostatectomy
We provide a private radical prostatectomy service for prostate cancer using our da Vinci robot. This pioneering technology means our consultants can perform keyhole procedures with greater accuracy and fewer complications than standard open surgery.
Quick facts
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What is it for?
Localised prostate cancer
Treatment overview
A radical prostatectomy is surgery to remove your prostate gland for prostate cancer treatment.
Your consultant may recommend it if you have localised prostate cancer – where the cancer hasn’t spread elsewhere in your body.
As a centre of excellence in both robotic surgery and cancer care, we offer prostatectomy using advanced surgical equipment known as a da Vinci robot.
Using this technology for radical prostatectomy reduces your recovery time and the risk of complications compared to open surgery.
We were the first private hospital in the UK to offer da Vinci robotic surgery and we’ve been treating patients with this state-of-the-art technology since 2005.
Why choose The London Clinic
Excellence in one place
We operate as teams of experts with world-class resources dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of medical care. You are surrounded by the latest treatments and advice with everything you need to get back to your best health.
Personal care, every time
Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. Our nurses, clinicians and support teams are dedicated to the care of a very small number of patients, so have more time for you. They’ll be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care around you and giving the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing you’re in the best hands.
Effortlessly simple
We work together as one to guide you through each step of your experience, with complexities unravelled and answers readily to hand. Your personal treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
What's included in your package?
Choosing The London Clinic means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
Your treatment package will include:
- Enhanced pre-admission assessment
- Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
- Personalised aftercare and follow-up
We want you to be in control of your health. That’s why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us.
How to pay
- You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
- You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
- If you’re paying for yourself, we have finance options available with Chrysalis
FAQs
A radical prostatectomy works by removing your whole prostate as a treatment for prostate cancer.
Radical means your entire prostate gland is removed, along with your seminal vesicles (a gland involved in semen production) and sometimes nearby lymph nodes.
At The London Clinic, our surgeons perform radical prostatectomy using our state-of-the-art da Vinci robot instead of using hand-held instruments that are used during open radical prostatectomy.
This advanced technology reduces your recovery time and helps ensure your treatment goes smoothly.
A robotic prostatectomy is a type of keyhole surgery, also called laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, using small incisions in your lower abdomen while you’re under general anaesthetic.
By improving the accuracy of your prostatectomy, the benefits of robotic surgery are reduced side effects, such as less bleeding, pain and scarring, and improved recovery time.
This is because by using the da Vinci robot, your surgeon can make smaller, more precise movements when cutting or stitching, which helps to avoid damage to the surrounding healthy tissues such as nerves.
This is known as nerve-sparing surgery.
How long it takes to recover from a radical prostatectomy depends on how fit and healthy you are before your surgery.
Recovery from a robotic prostatectomy with da Vinci is usually quicker than open surgery, so you’ll likely be back to your usual activities in two to three weeks.
Our enhanced pre-admission assessment will help you prepare for your surgery and know what to expect so you can get a head start on your recovery.
You may feel tired for a few weeks or possibly months after your surgery.
This is normal so just take it steady. You’ll improve day by day.
We’ll have regular follow-ups with you to make sure you’re recovering as expected, and if there’s anything you’re worried about, you can contact your care team at any time.
The most common side effects of radical prostatectomy are urinary problems and erectile dysfunction.
Your chance of having prostatectomy side effects and how severe they are can be affected by where your cancer is, your age and weight.
Urinary problems
After your prostatectomy, you’ll have a catheter (a tube inserted into your bladder via your urethra) in place for 10 to 14 days.
Once this is removed, you may notice leaking urine (urinary incontinence) or more rarely, difficulty urinating (urine retention). Most men find their urinary symptoms improve over time.
Before your surgery, your consultant will give you advice on how to manage urinary problems, such as using absorbent pads, so you’re prepared.
Erectile dysfunction
You’re likely to get erection problems after prostatectomy, but you should find this improves over time and treatments can help, such as medication.
It can take up to three years for erectile dysfunction to improve, however, you might find your erections don’t return to normal.
Your consultant will discuss your likely risk of having long-term sexual function problems and the options available to help you.