Prostate Surgery Near You in MA and RI
At Southcoast Health, our urologists specialize in treating diseases and conditions of the urinary tract and male reproductive organs, and offer prostate surgery as a form of treatment for our patients. We are nationally recognized for our prostate surgery, ranking among the top 10 percent in the nation and receiving awards like the Prostate Surgeries Excellence Award™. Our urologist team has also been recognized as a Five-Star Recipient for Transurethral Prostate Resection Surgeries, which involves treating enlarged prostates. You can trust our urology team at Southcoast Health to make sure you have a healthy prostate for years to come.
Who Needs Prostate Surgery?
Prostate surgery, or prostatectomy, removes part or all of a man’s prostate gland. There are a few reasons why you might need prostate surgery – with the first being Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is the most common prostate problem in men older than 50. It’s an enlargement of the prostate gland that can occur with age and cause urinary problems, including incontinence, dribbling, difficulty starting or stopping, painful urination and incomplete emptying of the bladder. When talking to your urologist about your prostate problem, he or she may recommend prostate surgery to treat BPH.
Another reason you may need prostate surgery is due to prostate cancer, which affects one in seven men. Most men with early stage prostate cancer have no symptoms, so the cancer is usually discovered through prostate exams, such as blood testing (to detect elevated PSA levels) or a routine digital rectal examination. You should start receiving prostate exams regularly at the age of 55 and follow-up every year until age 70 to take extra precaution against prostate cancer. However, if you have not received a prostate exam, symptoms that are present down the road can include frequent urination, painful urination and painful ejaculation.
Types of Prostate Surgery
Depending on your condition, we offer the following types of prostate surgery in MA and RI:
- Simple Prostatectomy: Removes the inside portion of the prostate, making an incision from your belly button to your pubic bone.
- Radical Prostatectomy: Removes the entire prostate and surrounding lymph nodes with a single incision or a series of smaller incisions under your testicles or above your pubic bone.
- TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate): Removes all or part of the prostate in pieces through your urethra using a cystoscope ( a thin, tube-shape tool with lenses).
Your urologist at Southcoast will provide you with specific instructions about how to prepare for your prostate surgery. While prostatectomy is generally a safe surgery, there are a few risks of prostate surgery, including erectile dysfunction, infertility, retrograde ejaculation, urethral narrowing due to scar tissue, urinary incontinence and damage to the urethra, bladder rectum or nerves. However, our urologists are highly-trained to help reduce these risk factors during your surgery.
Prostate Surgery Recovery
Some types of prostate surgery require more recovery time than others, but in some cases, you can go home the same day. Otherwise, you may have to stay in the hospital for two to three days. Full recovery from prostate surgery takes about four weeks, and may involve some pain and discomfort in the beginning. Most over the counter medication, such as ibuprofen, can help with pain, but talk with your doctor further about pain management if general medication is not helping.
Prostatectomy and Prostate Cancer Screenings at Southcoast Health
At Southcoast Health, our urologists are here to talk with you about any of your questions regarding prostate surgery. Find a doctor and schedule an appointment to discuss your surgical options. If you’re also interested in a prostate exam, please don’t hesitate to schedule a screening today.
We offer prostate surgery at Southcoast Health in Fall River, Dartmouth and New Bedford, MA and surrounding areas of Rhode Island at our hospitals, including Charlton Memorial Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital and Southcoast Health Surgery Center.