Life After Prolapsed Bladder Surgery: Recovery, Support & Pelvic Floor Strength

What Is a Prolapsed Bladder Surgery?

A front wall prolapse or prolapsed bladder (cystocele) is a common condition where the bladder droops or drops from its position as it is no longer supported by the pelvic floor muscles. As the organ prolapses it begins to push into the front wall of the vagina, causing a noticeable and often painful bulge. To read more about bladder prolapses, visit the Types of Prolapse page.

For many women, prolapse symptoms can often be improved with non-surgical treatments such as pelvic floor rehabilitation, lifestyle changes, vaginal pessaries, and pelvic floor exercises. However, if symptoms continue to affect your comfort, bladder function, or quality of life, prolapsed bladder surgery may be recommended.

Bladder prolapse surgery aims to repair and support the weakened vaginal wall and help restore the bladder to a more natural position. Your surgeon will discuss the most suitable treatment options for your symptoms, lifestyle, and overall pelvic health.

If you’re considering surgery, it’s completely normal to have questions or feel anxious about recovery and long-term results. On this page, we’ll guide you through the different types of prolapsed bladder surgery, possible risks and complications, recovery advice, and the importance of ongoing pelvic floor rehabilitation and support after treatment.

Is Bladder Prolapse Surgery Right for You?

What is the Best Surgery for Prolapsed Bladder?

Bladder prolapse surgery is often called a bladder lift as it involves the movement of the bladder back up into place where it is then stitched. Many of these types of bladder repair surgery can be performed alongside other prolapse repair surgeries, to resolve all prolapses during one operation.

These surgeries do have relatively high initial success rates, however, it is not uncommon for symptoms to return over time, meaning further surgery is required.

Front Wall or Anterior Vaginal Repair (Anterior Colporrhaphy)

The anterior vaginal wall is the wall at the front of the vagina which, alongside the strong pelvic muscles, holds the bladder in place. If the bladder begins to drop, its can prolapse (bulge) into the anterior vaginal wall.

An anterior vaginal repair is often performed through the vagina whilst you are under general, regional or local anaesthetic. The tissue of the anterior vaginal wall is cut from bottom (at the entrance of the vagina) to the top, and then separated from the underlying supportive layer. Dissolvable stitches are then added to encourage scarring as increased support in this area. This surgery has an initial 70-90% success rate in restoring normal bladder function and resolving other symptoms associated with a bladder prolapse.

If this is a repeat surgery to resolve a bladder prolapse, or the prolapse is especially severe, you may have a synthetic mesh fitted as further support for the vaginal wall. This is however, currently only recommended within the context of research as there is insufficient evidence to prove its safety in this use.

Retropubic Bladder Suspension Surgery

This bladder repair surgery involves lifting the neck of the bladder upwards and attaching it to the tissues or bones of the pelvis with some surgical stitches to hold it in place. This kind of surgery is especially helpful if you’ve experienced a prolapse of the bladder along with the urethra (urethrocele), the tube that takes urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

It can be performed via an incision in the abdomen, just below the belly button, in an open procedure or through a laparoscopic surgery for prolapsed bladder. Recovery is often faster in laparoscopic (keyhole) surgeries due to the smaller entry wound.

This surgery is also a common treatment for stress urinary incontinence.

Bladder Sling Surgery for Prolapse

Bladder sling surgery is a procedure used to help support the bladder and reduce symptoms of bladder prolapse or urinary incontinence. During the surgery, a supportive sling or “hammock” is placed around the bladder or urethra to help hold it in a more natural position.

The sling may be made from your own body tissue or from a synthetic medical-grade material. There are different types of sling procedures available, and your surgeon will discuss which option may be most suitable for your symptoms and overall pelvic health.

Some synthetic materials used in pelvic floor surgery have been linked to complications and side effects in certain patients. Because of concerns around long-term safety and complications associated with some surgical mesh products, the use of synthetic mesh in pelvic surgery is now more carefully regulated and may only be recommended in specific situations or within specialist clinical settings.

Before surgery, your healthcare specialist should fully explain the potential benefits, risks, recovery process, and alternative treatment options available to you.

Keyhole Surgery for a Prolapsed Bladder

Keyhole surgery, also known as laparoscopic surgery, is a minimally invasive procedure used to repair a prolapsed bladder and restore pelvic support. The surgery is performed through several small incisions using specialised instruments and a tiny camera to guide the repair.

Compared to traditional open surgery, laparoscopic prolapse surgery is often associated with less pain, smaller scars, shorter hospital stays, and a quicker recovery. The aim of the procedure is to improve bladder support, reduce prolapse symptoms, and help restore comfort and everyday quality of life.

Risks and Complications of Bladder Prolapse Surgery

As with any surgery, bladder prolapse surgery carries some potential risks and complications, although serious complications are uncommon. Your surgeon will discuss these with you before treatment so you can make an informed decision about your care.

Possible risks and side effects of prolapsed bladder surgery can include:

• injury to nearby pelvic organs, including the bladder, bowel, or urethra
• bleeding or blood clots
• infection or abscess formation
• bladder infections (cystitis)
• constipation or difficulty opening the bowels
• pain or discomfort during sex
• difficulty emptying the bladder or pain during urination
• overactive bladder symptoms or urinary incontinence
• recurrence of the bladder prolapse or development of another pelvic organ prolapse. Research suggests that up to 20% of women may require further pelvic floor surgery in the future, which is why ongoing pelvic floor rehabilitation and strengthening after surgery are so important. At Kegel8, we’re here to support your recovery with expert pelvic floor advice, rehabilitation guidance, and products designed to help you maintain long-term pelvic floor strength and support.
• complications related to anaesthesia

While complications can sound worrying, many women recover well after prolapse surgery, especially when recovery advice and pelvic floor rehabilitation guidance are followed carefully.

If you experience severe pain, fever, heavy bleeding, worsening bladder symptoms, signs of infection, or anything that concerns you after surgery, it’s important to contact your GP, healthcare team, or surgeon as soon as possible.

How Long Does Recovery Take After Bladder Prolapse Surgery?

Recovery after bladder prolapse repair surgery takes time, and it’s important to allow your body to heal gradually. Immediately after surgery, you may have a catheter fitted to help empty your bladder, along with a temporary vaginal dressing or gauze pack to help absorb bleeding and support healing. These are usually removed within the first couple of days after surgery.

As your body heals, it’s normal to experience some light bleeding, spotting, or a creamy vaginal discharge for several weeks. Many women begin to feel noticeably more comfortable after the first few weeks, although full recovery can take longer depending on the type of surgery performed and your individual healing process.

As a general guide, many women are able to return to light daily activities within a few weeks and feel more back to normal after around 6 weeks. More strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and higher-impact activities are usually delayed for around 12 weeks or until your healthcare specialist advises it is safe.

Every woman’s recovery is different, and healing can depend on factors such as your overall health, age, pelvic floor condition, and the type of prolapse repair performed. Following your recovery advice carefully and supporting your pelvic floor during healing can make a big difference to your long-term results.

Pelvic floor rehabilitation after surgery is especially important. Research suggests that up to 20% of women may require further pelvic floor surgery in the future, which is why rebuilding pelvic floor strength and support after surgery matters so much.

At Kegel8, we’re here to support your recovery with expert pelvic floor rehabilitation advice, pelvic floor exercises, and recovery support designed to help you heal, rebuild confidence, and maintain long-term pelvic floor strength.

Daily Kegel / pelvic floor exercises - As soon as you are able, you can start to tense those muscles each day.

Make lifestyle changes - Following surgery, you will be recommended to follow the non-surgical treatments for prolapses to reduce the risk of further prolapses occurring. This includes treating any persistent coughs and taking steps to avoid constipation and straining. Using a toilet squatting stool reduces straining by 90%

Rest up - Take it easy for the first six weeks or so after surgery. This includes no heavy lifting (not even children or shopping bags), exercise or sex.

Maintain a healthy weight – Being overweight or obese puts extra strain on the pelvic floor muscles.

Don't rush back to work - Take your recovery at your own pace. You will usually be advised to stay off work for 2-6 weeks following bladder prolapse repair, depending on your role.

Attend follow-up appointments - It is important that you attend all follow-up appointments to continue to get expert advice on your treatment.

Read more about what to expect following a prolapse repair surgery on the Vaginal Repair Surgery page.

Surgery is not always necessary for a prolapsed bladder. In many cases, bladder prolapse symptoms can be successfully managed with non-surgical treatments designed to improve pelvic floor support, reduce discomfort, and help you feel more confident and comfortable in everyday life.

Your healthcare specialist will usually recommend trying conservative treatments first before considering surgery, especially for mild to moderate prolapse symptoms.

Non-surgical prolapse treatments may include pelvic floor exercises, pelvic floor rehabilitation, vaginal pessaries, lifestyle changes, specialist support garments, and bladder or bowel management techniques. These approaches aim to strengthen and support the pelvic floor, reduce pressure on the pelvic organs, and help prevent symptoms from worsening over time.

At Kegel8, we believe ongoing pelvic floor support and rehabilitation are an important part of managing prolapse symptoms — whether you choose surgery or not.

You can learn more about non-surgical prolapse treatments in our guide to Treating a Prolapse Without Surgery

Sources

Cody, J. D. Lapitan, M. Mashayekhi, A. (2017). Open retropubic colposuspension for urinary incontinence in women [online] Cochrane, 2017 [viewed 24/10/2024]. Available from: http://www.cochrane.org/CD002912/INCONT_open-retropubic-colposuspension-urinary-incontinence-women

Marinone, M. E. Moldovan, C. P. Staack, A. (2015). International Journal of Women's Health. Transvaginal retropubic sling systems: efficacy and patient acceptability. [online] 7, p 227-737. [viewed 25/10/2024]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4337501/

NICE. (2019). Urinary incontinence in women: management, 1 Recommendations [online] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2019 [viewed 24/10/2024]. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng123 

NHS Pelvic Organ Prolapse 2021 [viewed 24/10/2024] Pelvic organ prolapse 2021 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-organ-prolapse/treatment/