Concierge urology · UK
Robotic prostatectomy - da Vinci precision, cancer first.
Robot-assisted removal of the whole prostate through keyhole ports, guided by a high-volume console surgeon. Less blood loss, a shorter stay, and a magnified view that helps spare the nerves - with clear cancer margins always the priority.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A high-volume robotic prostate surgeon
A consultant urologist with a large, audited robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy series on the da Vinci platform - the console surgeon, named to you, not a rotating list. In robotic surgery, case volume tracks directly with continence and margin outcomes.
- 02
Cancer control leads, function follows
The console magnifies the anatomy tenfold, but the goal is unchanged: remove the whole gland with clear margins. We are honest about when nerve-sparing is oncologically safe and when it is not.
- 03
Independent, and free
We take no fee from any hospital, so whether robotic surgery, radiotherapy or active surveillance fits your risk group is an impartial conversation that costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private robotic prostatectomy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner urology units. Send your diagnosis and we quote firm figures across surgeon and hospital options, with cover checked.
In short
Nerve-sparing RARP in our network: £15,000–£20,000, home the next day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), nerve-sparing | £15,000–£20,000 | 2–3 hrs | 1–2 nights |
| RARP with extended pelvic lymph node dissection | £17,000–£24,000 | 3–4 hrs | 1–3 nights |
| RARP for high-risk / locally advanced disease | £18,000–£25,000 | 3–4 hrs | 2–4 nights |
| Salvage RARP after radiotherapy | £20,000–£28,000 | 3–5 hrs | 2–5 nights |
| Multiparametric MRI staging (if needed) | £450–£900 | 40–60 min | Report 2–5 days |
| PSMA PET-CT staging (if needed) | £1,800–£3,000 | 60–90 min | Report 3–7 days |
| Urology consultation only | £250–£450 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by hospital, by the console surgeon, and by whether extended lymph node dissection or salvage surgery is needed. High-risk and post-radiotherapy salvage cases sit at the top of the range. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The robot is only as good as the surgeon at the console.
Every private hospital now advertises a da Vinci. What varies enormously is the surgeon’s volume, their continence and margin data, and whether nerve-sparing is judged on the cancer rather than the marketing.
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Volume, not the machine
Ask how many robotic prostatectomies your surgeon does a year and what their outcomes are. We introduce you only to high-volume console surgeons.
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Nerve-sparing decided on the MRI
Whether the nerves can be spared should follow the tumour’s position on imaging, not a promise made before the scan is even read.
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Rehabilitation planned before surgery
Pelvic floor exercises and an erectile recovery plan work best started before the operation - arranged up front, not as an afterthought.
The journey
From diagnosis to recovery - what happens, in order.
One team from first message through histology, PSA follow-up and continence and erectile rehabilitation.
Phase 1 · Before your surgery
Staging, MDT and surgical planning
Phase 2 · On the day
Console surgery and recovery
Phase 3 · After
Histology, PSA, rehabilitation
- 01
Before
You send us your diagnosis
A short, confidential form. PSA history, biopsy Gleason and grade group, MRI stage, and any staging already done.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether robotic radical surgery suits your risk group, how it compares with radiotherapy and surveillance, and an indicative price.
- 03
Before
Staging and MDT review
Multiparametric MRI, and a PSMA PET-CT for higher-risk disease. Your case goes to a urology cancer multidisciplinary team before anything is finalised.
- 04
Before
Surgical planning and consent
The console surgeon reviews the MRI to plan the plane of dissection, discusses uni- or bilateral nerve-sparing, whether nodes are needed, and your realistic continence and erectile outlook.
- 05
On the day
The robotic operation
Under general anaesthetic. Five or six keyhole ports, CO₂ pneumoperitoneum, and the da Vinci console. The whole prostate and seminal vesicles are removed and the bladder rejoined to the urethra. Usually 2–3 hours.
- 06
On the day
Recovery and early discharge
A catheter is placed; wound drains are often unnecessary. Blood loss is low. Most men mobilise the same evening and go home the next day with the catheter in.
- 07
After
Catheter, histology and PSA follow-up
The catheter comes out at 7–14 days, sometimes after a cystogram. Full histology at 2–3 weeks confirms grade, stage and margins. First PSA at about 6 weeks, then on schedule.
Typical end-to-end: 2–4 weeks from diagnosis to surgery. Back to desk work: about 4 weeks, catheter out at 1–2 weeks.
When it helps
When robotic prostatectomy is the right step.
The situations where the robotic approach earns its place, plus the one red flag that means staging must come before any surgery.
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Localised intermediate-risk cancer
Grade group 2–3 disease confined to the prostate in a man fit for surgery - the sweet spot for robotic radical prostatectomy.
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High-risk but operable disease
Higher Gleason grade or a raised PSA where robotic removal of the gland, often with lymph nodes, forms part of a curative plan.
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A man who wants a shorter stay
Robotic surgery means less blood loss, less pain and usually a single overnight stay - attractive for men keen to recover quickly.
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Higher BMI or a deep pelvis
The console reaches deep into a narrow male pelvis where open access is awkward, and magnified vision helps in men carrying more weight.
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Preference for keyhole over open
Some men choose the minimally invasive route for the smaller wounds and faster return to activity, with equivalent cancer control.
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When full pathology is wanted
Removing the whole gland yields complete histology - grade, stage and margins - that guides whether any further treatment is needed.
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Nerve-sparing where anatomy allows
When the tumour sits away from the neurovascular bundles, the magnified robotic view helps preserve them to protect erectile function.
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Red flag: disease already spread
Bone pain, weight loss or a very high PSA can point to spread beyond the gland - where surgery alone is not the answer and staging must come first.
Procedure options
One platform, several techniques.
The da Vinci console can be used by different routes and with different degrees of nerve preservation - the surgeon tailors the technique to your anatomy and your cancer.
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Transperitoneal RARP
The standard route. Ports enter the abdominal cavity, the bladder is dropped, and the prostate is approached from above. Gives wide working space and easy access to the pelvic lymph nodes.
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Extraperitoneal RARP
The space in front of the bladder is developed without entering the abdominal cavity. Can suit men with prior abdominal surgery and keeps the bowel out of the field.
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Retzius-sparing RARP
The prostate is reached from behind the bladder, leaving the front pelvic attachments intact. In selected men this can speed the return of urinary continence.
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Nerve-sparing (uni- or bilateral)
The neurovascular bundles are peeled off the prostate under tenfold magnification to protect erections. Sparing is always secondary to clear cancer margins.
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Non-nerve-sparing (wide excision)
Where the tumour abuts the nerves, they are taken with the prostate to secure margins. Natural erections are then unlikely, and this is discussed frankly beforehand.
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Extended pelvic lymph node dissection
For intermediate- and high-risk disease, the draining nodes are removed robotically and examined to complete staging and guide further treatment.
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Vesico-urethral anastomosis
After removal, the bladder is sutured to the urethra over the catheter using fine robotic needle-work - the watertight join that heals in the first two weeks.
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Salvage RARP
Robotic removal after failed radiotherapy. Technically demanding because of scarring, with higher complication rates, and offered only to carefully selected men.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of console surgeons, we picked them.
High-volume robotic urologists across London and the major UK cities. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every robotic surgeon in our network.
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Consultant urologists with high, audited robotic radical prostatectomy volumes and published continence and margin data
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Access to a urology cancer MDT, PSMA PET-CT and multiparametric MRI staging
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Continence and erectile rehabilitation pathways arranged before, not after, surgery
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A defined PSA surveillance schedule and a clear plan for adjuvant or salvage treatment if needed
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Robotic surgery reduces blood loss and stay, but the continence and erectile outlook is much the same as any radical prostatectomy - it is the honest planning that matters.
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Still a major cancer operation
Robotic surgery uses keyhole ports and a console, but it removes the entire prostate under general anaesthetic and is not a minor procedure. Expect a catheter for one to two weeks.
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Low blood loss, rare conversion
Blood loss is markedly lower than open surgery and transfusion is uncommon. Very rarely, dense adhesions or bleeding mean converting to an open operation - a safety step, not a failure.
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Urinary incontinence
Leakage is common in the early weeks after the catheter comes out and improves with pelvic floor exercises. Most men regain good control within 6–12 months; a minority need further treatment.
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Erectile dysfunction
Even with nerve-sparing, erections recover over months and often need medication or a vacuum device at first. Where nerves are removed for clearance, natural erections are unlikely - planned for honestly.
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Positive surgical margins
Cancer at the specimen edge raises recurrence risk and may prompt radiotherapy. Margins are reported in your histology and reviewed at MDT.
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Port-site and pneumoperitoneum issues
CO₂ insufflation can cause temporary shoulder-tip discomfort and abdominal bloating. Port-site hernia and, rarely, bowel injury are recognised keyhole risks.
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Loss of ejaculation and fertility
Removing the prostate and seminal vesicles ends ejaculation and natural fertility permanently. Sperm banking beforehand is an option for men who may want children.
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PSA and the meaning of recurrence
After surgery PSA should fall to undetectable. A rising PSA on follow-up signals biochemical recurrence and triggers restaging and a discussion about salvage radiotherapy.
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Red flags after surgery
Fever, spreading port redness, calf pain or breathlessness, heavy bleeding, or the catheter stopping draining need the same-day team or A&E, not a routine call.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whether the console surgeon used a transperitoneal, extraperitoneal or Retzius-sparing route, the note you receive keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the operation note and the histology before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Grade, stage and margins
The confirmed Gleason grade group, the pathological stage (whether the cancer was contained), and whether the surgical margins were clear or positive.
- 02 Technique
Approach and nerve-sparing
Whether a transperitoneal, extraperitoneal or Retzius-sparing route was used, whether nerve-sparing was done on one side, both or neither, and whether nodes were removed.
- 03 Findings
Lymph nodes and seminal vesicles
Whether the removed lymph nodes contained cancer, and whether the seminal vesicles were involved - both key to planning any further treatment.
- 04 Impression
PSA plan and next steps
Read this first: your PSA surveillance schedule, whether adjuvant radiotherapy is advised, and the continence and erectile rehabilitation plan.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Robotic radical prostatectomy is usually covered when medically indicated for prostate cancer. Cover levels and the robotic surcharge vary by policy, so we confirm your benefit before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about robotic prostatectomy.
Quick answers on the robot, recovery, continence, erections, cost and the NHS route.
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Is robotic prostatectomy better than open surgery for curing cancer?
For cancer control the two are comparable - large studies show similar margin rates and long-term outcomes between robotic and open radical prostatectomy in experienced hands. Where robotic surgery clearly wins is on blood loss, pain, length of stay and time back to normal activity. The surgeon’s volume and skill influence your result more than the machine, which is why we introduce you to high-volume console surgeons only.
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What exactly does the robot do?
The da Vinci system does not operate on its own. Your surgeon sits at a console a few feet away, viewing a magnified three-dimensional image and controlling wristed instruments that filter out hand tremor and translate large hand movements into tiny precise ones. Every action is directed by the surgeon in real time; the robot simply extends their hands into the pelvis through keyhole ports.
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How long is the recovery after robotic surgery?
Most men stay a single night and go home the next day with the catheter in. The catheter comes out at one to two weeks. Light activity resumes at 2–3 weeks and full activity, including driving and desk work, by about 4 weeks. Heavy lifting is avoided for roughly six weeks while the internal join heals.
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Will I be able to control my bladder and get erections afterwards?
Leakage is usual in the first weeks and improves with pelvic floor exercises started before surgery; most men regain good control within 6–12 months. Erectile recovery depends on your function beforehand, your age, and whether the nerves could be spared - it takes months and often needs medication for a time. Where nerves are removed to clear the cancer, natural erections are unlikely, and we discuss this honestly.
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What is Retzius-sparing robotic prostatectomy?
It is a variation in which the prostate is reached from behind the bladder, leaving the front pelvic supports and the space of Retzius intact. In selected men this can bring earlier return of urinary continence. It is technically more demanding and suits particular tumour positions, so it is offered where the anatomy and cancer allow.
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How much does robotic prostatectomy cost privately in the UK, and does the NHS offer it?
Privately, robotic radical prostatectomy typically runs £15,000–£20,000, rising to £24,000 or more with extended lymph node dissection or for high-risk and salvage cases, plus any staging scans. The NHS provides robotic radical prostatectomy free of charge at specialist centres for suitable men; the private route mainly offers choice of surgeon and timing. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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