With da Vinci Prostate Surgery, You're Back On Your Feet Fast

UVA’s nationally recognized urology surgeons are using advanced robotic surgical system in the world to get patients back to their lives faster — and with fewer complications.

Our surgeons are now better able to eliminate prostate cancer while greatly reducing recovery time and potentially reducing risk of impotence and other side effects by using the minimally invasive da Vinci® surgical system.

Larry Parks is one of those patients. He had his surgery on February 18, 2004, and was released from the hospital just two days later.

“When you hear the words ‘prostate cancer’ it really focuses the mind,” says Parks, a 61-year old systems engineer and dedicated woodworking hobbyist.

“I knew right away I wanted to be aggressive with my treatment so I opted for traditional surgery even though I wasn’t looking forward to the recovery.”

When Larry read about UVA’s da Vinci system he was sold.

“I could see how the precision and accuracy of robotics would translate to surgery and that really appealed to me,” he says. “I knew UVA was top-rated so I called to see if I was a candidate.”

He was.

“There were moments of discomfort following surgery, sure, but no pain,” he says. “That was a pleasant surprise.”

In fact, less than two weeks after the procedure, Larry was completely continent and ready to get back to his antique woodworking tools – and his life.