How much does robotic prostatectomy cost in Bangkok?

Cost is not discussed on this site. Please email the Urology department at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters at bhquro@bdms.co.th, who handle all pricing and package enquiries.

What symptoms after surgery need urgent attention?

Pain or swelling in one calf, sudden breathlessness or chest pain — these suggest a clot and are emergencies. Fever or chills, spreading redness or discharge from a wound, or inability to pass urine after the catheter is removed should be assessed the same day rather than at the next appointment.

Can follow-up be done by teleconsultation?

Bangkok Hospital Telemedicine is available and suits reviewing PSA results and recovery progress once you are home. Arrange it in advance by email to the Urology department at bhquro@bdms.co.th. Samitivej Sriracha is in-person only.

Robotic Prostatectomy Bangkok | Da Vinci by Dr. Soarawee

Q: Is robotic prostatectomy better than open surgery?

Cancer control is equivalent between the robotic and open approaches when performed by experienced surgeons. The robotic approach generally involves less blood loss, smaller incisions, a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery. What it does not change is the operation itself: the prostate is still removed, and the risks of that removal remain the same. Outcomes track the surgeon's experience and volume more closely than the presence of a robot.

Q: Will I have urinary incontinence after surgery?

Some leakage immediately after the catheter is removed is the rule rather than the exception. Most men improve substantially over the following months with pelvic floor rehabilitation, and a minority are left with troublesome long-term leakage. Where it does not settle, an artificial urinary sphincter is the standard corrective operation and is performed at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters.

Q: Will I have erectile dysfunction after surgery?

Expect erections to be affected at first, even when both nerve bundles are spared. Recovery depends on surgical technique, age and how good erections were beforehand, and it is measured in months to years rather than weeks. Early penile rehabilitation improves the odds but guarantees nothing. Where recovery is incomplete, a penile prosthesis is an option, though implantation is irreversible.

Q: What is the cancer cure rate?

For cancer confined to the prostate, long-term cancer-specific survival after radical prostatectomy is high, and most men die of something other than prostate cancer. For locally advanced disease, radiation or hormonal therapy may be needed as well. PSA is monitored after surgery so that any recurrence is picked up early.

Q: How long do I need to stay in Bangkok for surgery?

International patients typically spend 10 to 14 days: 2 to 3 days of preoperative workup, 2 to 3 days in hospital, and 5 to 7 days of recovery before the catheter is removed and flying home is cleared. Follow-up is coordinated with a urologist in the patient's own country.

Q: Can I have children after prostatectomy?

No. Natural conception is not possible after radical prostatectomy, because the prostate and seminal vesicles are removed and there is no longer any ejaculate. This is permanent and applies to every patient. Men who may want children should arrange sperm banking before surgery, after which assisted reproduction can be used.

曼谷机器人前列腺切除术

Da Vinci robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer treatment — delivering precision oncologic control with optimized preservation of continence and erectile function. Bangkok Hospital Headquarters’ Center of Excellence for Robotic Urological Surgery.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone, MD — Board-Certified Urologist · Robotic Surgery Fellowship, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan

Book a Prostate Cancer Consultation

What Is Robotic Radical Prostatectomy?

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is the surgical removal of the entire prostate gland and surrounding tissues using the Da Vinci Surgical System. It is the most common surgical approach to prostate cancer worldwide and offers superior visualization, precision, and tissue handling compared to open or conventional laparoscopic surgery. For background on how this technology developed and where it is heading, see the rise of robotic urological surgery.

Advantages Over Open Surgery

Smaller incisions — 5–6 keyhole ports instead of one large abdominal incision
Reduced blood loss — typically less than 200 mL versus 500–1000 mL in open surgery
Shorter hospital stay — typically 2–3 days versus 5–7 days
Faster recovery — return to normal activity in 4–6 weeks
Better nerve-sparing precision — improved preservation of erectile function
Improved continence outcomes — with proper technique, urinary control returns earlier
Magnified 3D visualization — 10x magnification of surgical field

Cancer control is equivalent between robotic and open surgery in experienced hands; the advantages above relate to recovery and precision rather than to cure rates.

Who Is a Candidate?

Robotic prostatectomy is indicated for men with:

Localized prostate cancer (stages T1 to T3a)
Life expectancy of 10 or more years
Adequate general health for major surgery
Preference for surgical treatment over radiation
Cancer not invading adjacent organs or distant metastases

Selection between surgery, radiation therapy, and active surveillance is highly individualized and requires multidisciplinary discussion. Where the disease has already spread beyond the prostate, 雄激素剥夺疗法 becomes the mainstay of treatment instead of surgery.

Pre-Operative Workup

Prostate Biopsy — confirms cancer diagnosis with Gleason score grading
Multiparametric MRI — maps tumor location, extracapsular extension, lymph node status
PSMA PET-CT — modern staging modality for higher-risk cancers
Bone scan — when indicated for higher-grade disease
Pre-operative continence and erectile function assessment — baseline for postoperative comparison
Anesthesia review and cardiac clearance when indicated

Most patients reach this point after an elevated PSA result. What a high PSA actually means explains how false positives are excluded and how the decision to biopsy is made.

The Procedure

Anesthesia: General anesthesia
Operative time: 2–4 hours
Surgical approach: 5–6 small abdominal incisions for robotic ports
Nerve-sparing: Selectively preserves the cavernous nerves responsible for erections, when oncologically appropriate
Lymph node dissection: Performed when indicated based on risk classification
Hospital stay: 2–3 nights
Catheter duration: 7–10 days
Return to non-strenuous activity: 4–6 weeks
Penile rehabilitation: Initiated early to optimize erectile recovery

When Recovery Is Not Complete: Corrective Surgery

Most men regain urinary control and, with nerve-sparing surgery and rehabilitation, useful erectile function. A minority do not, and it matters that those men know the road does not end with conservative treatment. Two established corrective operations exist, and both are performed by Dr. Soarawee at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters, so a patient does not have to be sent elsewhere to complete his recovery.

Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) — a fluid-filled cuff placed around the urethra and operated by a pump in the scrotum, for men with persistent significant leakage that has not improved with pelvic floor rehabilitation and time. It is the standard treatment for this problem and restores continence reliably.
Inflatable penile prosthesis — for men whose erectile function does not recover adequately despite rehabilitation and medication.

Neither operation is a first step. Both are considered only after a genuine trial of conservative treatment, usually at least a year after surgery, and both are implants, so infection and the possibility of revision surgery years later are part of the discussion before anyone commits. Note that mid-urethral sling surgery and urethral bulking agent injection are not performed at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters; referral is arranged where those are the better option.

Robotic Prostatectomy at Bangkok Hospital — Dr. Soarawee’s Role

🤖 Robotic Surgery Fellowship — trained at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, one of Asia’s highest-volume Da Vinci surgical centers
👥 Part of the BHQ robotic surgery team — Dr. Soarawee contributes to robotic prostatectomy care within the multidisciplinary team, with a focus on men’s health and functional recovery
🎯 Functional outcomes focus — counseling on nerve-sparing considerations and structured post-operative penile rehabilitation to support erectile recovery
📊 Comprehensive recovery program — early continence guidance, post-prostatectomy ED management, ，和 TRT coordination when needed
🔧 Corrective surgery when needed — artificial urinary sphincter implantation for persistent incontinence, and penile prosthesis surgery for erectile dysfunction that does not recover, both performed at BHQ
曼谷医院总部 — fully equipped Da Vinci surgical platform with an experienced multidisciplinary urology team
🌐 International patient services — comprehensive surgical packages including transportation, accommodation, and post-operative follow-up
🔝 Integrated Men’s Health follow-up — Dr. Soarawee provides post-prostatectomy men’s health care, including erectile function, continence support, and hormonal health

常见问题解答

Q1: Is robotic prostatectomy better than open surgery?

Cancer cure rates are equivalent between robotic and open techniques when performed by experienced surgeons. However, robotic prostatectomy offers significantly less blood loss, smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and improved precision in nerve-sparing. It is now the preferred approach at most international referral centers.

Q2: Will I have urinary incontinence after surgery?

Temporary urinary incontinence is common immediately after catheter removal. Most patients regain continence within 3–12 months with proper pelvic floor rehabilitation, and permanent severe incontinence is uncommon with modern surgical technique. For the small number of men who continue to leak significantly after a year despite rehabilitation, an artificial urinary sphincter is the standard corrective operation, and it is performed at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters.

Q3: Will I have erectile dysfunction after surgery?

Erectile function recovery depends on three factors: surgical technique (nerve-sparing), age, and pre-operative erectile function. Younger men with good function beforehand and bilateral nerve-sparing surgery have the best chance of recovering satisfactory erections, typically over 12 to 24 months rather than immediately. Early penile rehabilitation with PDE5 inhibitors, vacuum devices, or injections improves outcomes. Where function does not return despite this, a penile implant is a definitive option.

Q4: What is the cancer cure rate?

For organ-confined prostate cancer, long-term cancer-specific survival after radical prostatectomy is very high. For locally advanced disease, additional treatments such as radiation or hormonal therapy may be required. PSA monitoring after surgery detects recurrence early, allowing prompt intervention. Your own figures depend on your stage and Gleason grade and should be discussed individually rather than taken from a general average.

Q5: How does Bangkok compare to the USA or Europe for robotic prostatectomy?

Bangkok Hospital Headquarters uses the same Da Vinci surgical platform found in leading international centers and holds a Center of Excellence accreditation for robotic urological surgery, at a hospital with international (JCI) accreditation. On cost, Dr. Soarawee does not quote prices himself — for the cost of surgery, hospitalization or any related service, email the Urology department at bhquro@bdms.co.th.

Q6: How long do I need to stay in Bangkok for surgery?

International patients typically spend 10–14 days in Bangkok: 2–3 days pre-operative workup, 2–3 days hospital stay, and 5–7 days post-operative recovery before catheter removal and clearance to fly home. Detailed follow-up instructions are coordinated with local urologists in the patient’s home country.

Q7: Can I have children after prostatectomy?

Natural conception is not possible after radical prostatectomy as the prostate and seminal vesicles are removed. Men planning future fatherhood should arrange sperm cryopreservation before surgery. Assisted reproductive technologies allow successful pregnancy from previously banked sperm.

Q8: Can I discuss my case by video before travelling to Bangkok?

Yes. Bangkok Hospital operates a Telemedicine service and Dr. Soarawee sees patients through it. Arrange it in advance by email to the Urology department at bhquro@bdms.co.th. A video consultation is a sensible first step for reviewing your biopsy result, MRI report and PSA history, and for discussing whether surgery is the right choice at all, before committing to a trip. The examination and the surgery itself are of course in person. Samitivej Sriracha Hospital does not offer telemedicine and is in-person only.

Book Your Prostate Cancer Consultation

Comprehensive prostate cancer care from biopsy through surgery and long-term follow-up.
International patient services available.

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曼谷医院远程医疗服务适用于无法亲自就诊的患者，包括国际患者——请通过电子邮件提前向泌尿科预约： bhquro@bdms.co.th. Samitivej Sriracha is in-person only.

免责声明 This content is written and reviewed by Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone, a board-certified urologist at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. It is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Medical advice, diagnosis and prescriptions are not provided through personal messaging channels or social media. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any treatment decisions.