Learn Robotic Surgery fundamentals, types, and core definitions explained by multidisciplinary Robotic Surgery teams.

Robotic Surgery: Partners in Your Long-Term Recovery

The surgery is done. The robot has performed its precise work, and you are ready to leave the hospital. But for us, your journey is far from over. In fact, the most critical phase, Recovery and Rehabilitation, is just beginning.

At Liv Hospital, we understand that for our international patients, the flight home can feel like a disconnection from their care team. “What if my incision looks red?” “Is this pain normal?” “When can I stop taking blood thinners?” These questions don’t stop when you land.

That is why we have built a robust Remote Follow-up and Support System. We leverage technology, telemedicine, digital wound analysis, and secure messaging to ensure that you remain under our watchful eye, no matter where in the world you are. Whether you are rehabilitating a new knee or monitoring your PSA levels after prostate cancer surgery, our goal is to guide you safely back to full function.

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The First 30 Days

The first month after robotic surgery is when the most rapid healing occurs. It is also when complications, though rare, are most likely to arise. We structure this period with clear milestones.

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Discharge to "Fit to Fly"

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  • Wound Check: Before you leave Istanbul, you will have a final in-person check-up. We ensure the incisions (port sites) are dry, and the Dermabond (surgical glue) is intact.
  • Drain Removal: If a drain was placed (common in kidney or colorectal surgery), it is typically removed 1–2 days before discharge. It is a quick, painless pull.
  • Catheter Care: After prostatectomy, you will likely fly home with a urinary catheter. We teach you exactly how to empty the bag and keep the tubing clean to prevent infection.
  • Medication Supply: We provide a full supply of painkillers, antibiotics (if needed), and blood thinners (injections or pills) to cover your travel and the first week at home. We also give you a Prescription in English for your local pharmacy.
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Remote Wound Monitoring

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Once you are home, you become our eyes.

  • The “Selfie” Check: If you are worried about an incision, simply take a clear photo with your smartphone and upload it to our secure patient portal.
  • The Review: Your surgeon or a specialized wound care nurse reviews the image within 24 hours. We can tell you instantly if it is normal healing (bruising/itching) or if it requires attention (redness/pus).

Tele-Rehabilitation

Robotic surgery minimizes muscle damage, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for rehabilitation. This is especially true for Orthopedics (Mako) and Spine (Mazor).

Mako Knee & Hip Rehab

  • The Protocol: You will receive a personalized PDF and video guide that demonstrate the exact exercises to do at home (heel slides, quad sets, straight-leg raises).
  • Virtual PT: We can arrange video calls with our physiotherapists to check your form. They can see whether you are fully extending your knee or favoring one side.
  • The Goal: To achieve 90 degrees of flexion within 2 weeks and full extension within 4 weeks.

Pelvic Floor Rehab (Prostatectomy)

  • The Challenge: After the catheter is removed, most men experience some urinary leakage (incontinence). This is normal.
  • The Solution: We guide you through “Kegel Exercises” to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Doing these correctly is vital for regaining control.
  • Biofeedback: If leakage persists for more than 3 months, we can recommend local biofeedback therapy specialists in your country.
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Cancer Surveillance

For our robotic oncology patients (Prostate, Kidney, Colon, Uterus), the surgery was performed to cure cancer. We must verify that it worked.

PSA Monitoring (Prostate Cancer)

  • The First Test: You will check your PSA level (blood test) in your home country 6 weeks after surgery.
  • The Target: Ideally, the PSA should be “Undetectable” (<0.1 ng/mL). This confirms the entire prostate and all cancer cells were removed.
  • The Schedule: You send us your PSA results every 3 months for the first 2 years, then every 6 months. If the number rises (Biochemical Recurrence), we coordinate immediate next steps (like salvage radiation) with your local oncologist.

Imaging Surveillance

  • The Schedule: We typically require a CT scan or MRI of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis at 6 months and 12 months post-surgery to ensure no new tumors have appeared.
  • The Review: You can upload the CD/DICOM images to our cloud server. Our Radiologists will compare them to your pre-surgery scans and send you a detailed report.
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Functional Recovery

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Surgery fixes the anatomy; rehabilitation fixes the life.

Sexual Function (Penile Rehabilitation)

After robotic prostatectomy, nerves can be “stunned” (neurapraxia) even if they were spared. Erections may take 12–24 months to return fully.

  • The Protocol: We start “Penile Rehabilitation” early. This involves taking a low-dose daily PDE5 inhibitor (like Tadalafil/Cialis) to increase blood flow to the tissue.
  • Vacuum Devices: For some patients, using a vacuum pump helps maintain tissue health while nerves recover. We guide you on when to start this.

When to Call Us

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Most recoveries are smooth, but you must be vigilant. Contact your Patient Coordinator immediately if you experience:

  • Fever > 38°C (100.4°F): A sign of infection.
  • Increasing Pain: Pain should improve every day, not worsen.
  • Leg Swelling: If one calf is swollen, red, and hot, it could be a DVT (deep vein thrombosis). Go to your local ER immediately.
  • Inability to Urinate: If you cannot urinate after the catheter is removed, you must go to a local clinic to have a temporary catheter reinserted.
  • Vomiting: Persistent vomiting prevents you from taking your meds and leads to dehydration.

Long-Term Lifestyle Protection

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You invested in robotic surgery to fix a problem. Protect that investment.

  • Joint Protection: Mako implants are durable, but high-impact sports (running marathons, singles tennis) can wear them out faster. Switch to low-impact activities like cycling, swimming, or doubles tennis.
  • Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces stress on your new knees and heart and lowers your risk of cancer.
  • Hernia Prevention: If you had a robotic hernia repair, avoid heavy lifting (>10kg) for 3 months to allow the mesh to integrate fully into the muscle wall.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When is the catheter removed after prostate surgery?

Usually 7–10 days after surgery. If you live in Europe/Middle East, you might stay in Istanbul until it is removed. If you fly home sooner, we will give you a letter for a local nurse/urologist to remove it. It takes 10 seconds and is virtually painless.

Typically 2–4 weeks. This depends on your activity level. Once you are walking 5,000+ steps a day regularly, you can usually stop wearing them. Always ask your surgeon first.

Yes. The titanium clips used to seal blood vessels and the metal implants (Mako knees/hips) are MRI-safe. They will not move or heat up. However, you must tell the MRI technician you have implants so they can adjust the machine settings to reduce “artifact” (blurriness) on the images.

We provide a detailed “Discharge Summary” in English that explains exactly what surgery you had. You should give this to your local GP or Emergency Doctor. They can also call our 24/7 International Doctor Line to speak directly with your surgeon in Istanbul if they have technical questions.

Formal physiotherapy is rarely needed for the body, but “Pelvic Floor PT” is highly recommended for urinary control. If you are struggling with incontinence after 3 months, seeing a specialized pelvic floor therapist in your home country can speed up recovery significantly.

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