Robotic prostate surgery has changed the way localised prostate cancer is treated, offering less invasive operations, faster recovery and precise cancer control. The technology continues to develop. Several advances in robotic prostate surgery are shaping care in 2026, from how operations are planned to where they can be performed. This article looks at the most significant changes and what they may mean for patients.
Planning built around your own anatomy
MRI before biopsy
Multiparametric MRI is now a routine part of diagnosis in the UK, usually performed before a biopsy. It shows where any cancer sits within the prostate and how close it is to the edge of the gland. NICE guidance on prostate cancer recommends MRI as a first-line investigation for men with suspected localised disease.
For surgeons, this information is valuable. It helps decide in advance how much tissue to remove on each side and whether the nerves beside the prostate can safely be preserved. Our guide to nerve-sparing techniques explains why that decision matters.
3D models
Some centres now turn MRI scans into three-dimensional models of the prostate and the cancer within it. Surgeons can study these models before the operation, and in some systems they can be viewed alongside the live camera image at the console. The aim is to tailor each operation more closely to the individual patient. Models of this kind can also help surgeons explain the plan to patients, who often find a 3D image easier to understand than a scan report.
Clearer imaging during the operation
Robotic systems already offer magnified, high-definition 3D vision. Newer cameras and displays continue to improve clarity, making it easier to see small blood vessels, nerve tissue and the boundaries between structures. Combined with instruments that filter out tremor, this supports careful work in the narrow space of the pelvis. Our robotic prostatectomy page describes how the operation is performed.
New robotic platforms
For many years, one robotic system dominated prostate surgery. Several new platforms are now in clinical use, bringing different designs and, in time, wider access. Single-port systems, which work through one small incision, are one example. Our article on single-port robotic surgery explains what that approach involves.
Data and artificial intelligence
Robotic systems record a great deal of information about each operation, including instrument movements and video. Researchers are exploring how this data, analysed with artificial intelligence, could support surgical training, help assess technique and assist planning. These tools are still developing, and their role in routine care is being studied carefully. Any new tool must show that it improves safety or results before it becomes part of standard practice.
Surgery at a distance
Perhaps the most striking development is remote surgery. In 2026, Professor Dasgupta performed the UK's first long-distance robotic prostatectomy, operating from London on a patient in Gibraltar. Our article on this historic first describes how it worked and the safeguards involved.
What the advances mean for patients
Taken together, these developments aim to improve cancer control, protect continence and sexual function, and support a faster recovery. However, technology is only part of the picture. The experience of the surgeon and team remains one of the most important factors in results, and new tools are adopted only once the evidence supports them.
Cancer Research UK provides independent information on current treatments and research. When you meet a specialist, it is reasonable to ask which technology they use and how it applies to your case.
Experience alongside innovation
Professor Dasgupta has worked in robotic urology since its early years in the UK and remains closely involved in research and innovation. His work spans clinical practice, research and the training of surgeons in the UK and overseas.
To discuss how modern robotic surgery could help in your case, please contact the clinic to arrange a consultation.