A man with an enlarged prostate may have difficulty urinating, and may never feel as if his bladder is empty, even after using the restroom. An enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean that a man has prostate cancer, but surgery is typically performed to reduce this gland when needed, as it may otherwise lead to kidney stones, bladder stones, and the like.
If your doctor has recommended prostate surgery for your condition, he or she will be the best source of information about the process and what to expect before, during, and after surgery. However, note a few questions that many men have about this process, so you can know what to expect from this surgery.
Does the surgery require general anaesthesia?
Laser surgery is much less invasive and usually less painful than standard surgery with a scalpel. Because of this, many men are administered a local anaesthesia in the back, so that they cannot feel anything below their waist during the surgery; this allows a man to then stay awake during the process. However, if you feel you would be anxious during the surgery or would rather sleep through it for any reason, ask your doctor about being administered a sedative. This either put you to sleep or calm you down enough to go through the surgery with ease.
Does the surgery result in being incontinent?
In the past, damage to the bladder or urinary tract was often a risk factor for prostate surgery, but laser surgery has greatly reduced this risk. The laser is much more accurate and doesn't require as much of an incision, as said, so that a surgeon has less risk of damaging any area around the prostate. Your doctor can tell you your particular risk factors for incontinence, depending on the overall condition of your prostate, but this is typically a minimal risk for most men.
How long is the recovery time?
Your doctor can tell you how long you'll need to stay in the hospital after surgery, but this time is usually very short, as the small incision made with a laser requires little time to heal. You are generally asked to not lift anything for some time after the surgery, as the incision on the prostate itself will need to scab over and heal; lifting can put pressure on that scab and cause secondary bleeding. You may also be encouraged to urinate often after surgery, in order to clear the passageway and ensure the prostate is healing as it should.
