Recovery After Robot Assisted Surgery: A Realistic Week by Week Guide

One of the strongest selling points of robot assisted surgery is faster recovery, and for many procedures that promise is genuine. Smaller incisions typically mean less pain, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and an earlier return to normal life than open surgery. But "faster" is relative, and patients who expect to feel normal in three days can be discouraged when reality takes longer. This guide sets realistic expectations. Timelines vary enormously by procedure and by person, so treat everything below as a general shape, not a schedule, and follow your own surgical team's instructions above all.

The first 24 to 48 hours

Most robot assisted procedures still involve a general anaesthetic, so the first day is about waking up safely. Expect grogginess, a sore throat from the breathing tube, and discomfort at the port sites. Two things surprise patients most:

• Shoulder tip pain. The carbon dioxide gas used to inflate the abdomen can irritate the diaphragm, which refers pain to the shoulder. It is harmless and typically fades within a couple of days. Walking and changing position help.
• How early you will be asked to move. Modern recovery protocols get patients out of bed within hours where possible. Early walking reduces clot risk, helps the bowels restart, and genuinely speeds recovery, even though it feels counterintuitive.

Depending on the operation, hospital stays after robot assisted procedures commonly range from same day discharge to a few nights, generally shorter than the equivalent open operation.

Week one: protect the healing you cannot see

The skin incisions are small, often closed with dissolvable stitches or glue, and they heal quickly. The crucial point is that the real surgery happened deep inside, and that internal healing follows its own timetable regardless of how tidy the skin looks. During the first week, most teams advise:

• Gentle walking several times a day, increasing gradually.
• No lifting beyond light household objects; many surgeons suggest nothing heavier than a full kettle.
• Showering is usually fine once permitted; soaking in baths, pools, or the sea generally is not, until wounds are fully sealed. In Mauritius, where a beach or pool is rarely far away, this rule is broken more often than it should be. Wait for your surgeon's clearance, as warm seawater and healing wounds are a poor combination for infection risk.
• Managing pain with the prescribed regimen rather than toughing it out, because uncontrolled pain stops you moving, and moving is medicine.

Fatigue is normal and often the dominant symptom. Anaesthesia, tissue healing, and disrupted sleep all demand energy. Napping is not weakness; it is physiology.

Weeks two to six: the gradual return

Most people feel substantially better by the end of week two, and this is precisely when overexertion injuries happen. Internal tissue layers regain strength over roughly four to six weeks, which is why lifting restrictions last longer than the pain does.

Return to work depends on the job. Desk based workers often resume within one to three weeks, sometimes part time or working from home first. Physically demanding jobs, agriculture, construction, hotel and hospitality work on your feet all day, usually require four to six weeks or a phased return. Driving is typically allowed once you can perform an emergency stop without hesitation and are off strong painkillers; check with your team and your insurer.

Procedure specific recoveries differ. Pelvic operations such as prostatectomy or hysterectomy involve additional milestones, from catheter removal to pelvic floor rehabilitation, that your specialist will map out individually.

Warning signs that need prompt attention

Contact your surgical team or seek urgent care if you notice:

• Fever, chills, or feeling progressively more unwell rather than better
• Increasing redness, swelling, or discharge at any wound
• Worsening abdominal pain, a swollen tense abdomen, or persistent vomiting
• A painful, swollen calf or sudden breathlessness, which can signal a blood clot
• Heavy bleeding from any site

If your surgery was performed abroad, agree before you travel home who handles problems locally, and carry a written operative summary. Your Mauritian GP or specialist can manage most issues far better with that document in hand.

Helping your own recovery

Eat enough protein, stay hydrated in the tropical heat, do not smoke, keep blood sugar controlled if you are diabetic, and walk a little more each day. These unglamorous basics influence healing more than any gadget.

Every recovery is individual. Use this guide to calibrate expectations, then defer to the qualified professionals who know your case.