Can I Have EMSELLA After Prostate Surgery?

Yes. EMSELLA® may be suitable for selected men experiencing urinary leakage after radical prostatectomy, once surgical recovery is appropriate and your individual circumstances have been clinically assessed.

Pelvic-floor rehabilitation may be relevant to leakage after prostate surgery. It does not treat prostate cancer or replace surgical follow-up. Timing depends on the procedure, healing, symptoms and any implanted continence device; the treating team may need information from your urologist.

EMSELLA after prostate surgery: what the male incontinence pilot study found · Who May Not Be Suitable for EMSCULPT NEO or EMSELLA? · Measuring pelvic-floor progress: what is useful to track?

In fact, urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy is one of the clearest male applications for pelvic floor electromagnetic treatment.

BTL Australia's current intended-purpose information specifically includes urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy among the conditions for which EMSELLA® provides pelvic floor muscle strengthening in Australia. [1]

Direct clinical research has also evaluated EMSELLA in men with persistent urinary leakage after prostate removal, with meaningful improvements reported in:

[2]

At ¹EM, however, previous prostate surgery should always be discussed during your consultation.

Dr Emir will consider the procedure you had, how long ago it occurred, your recovery, current urinary symptoms, relevant medical history and whether EMSELLA is appropriate before treatment begins.

The structures involved in urinary continence sit closely around the prostate and urethra.

During a radical prostatectomy, the prostate is surgically removed.

Although modern prostate surgery aims to preserve surrounding structures wherever possible, the operation can temporarily or persistently affect the mechanisms responsible for urinary control.

After surgery, some men notice leakage when:

Some men require absorbent pads.

For many, continence improves progressively during recovery.

Others continue experiencing leakage for months or longer.

Pelvic floor rehabilitation is therefore an established component of continence recovery following radical prostatectomy.

Current 2026 European Association of Urology guidance recommends offering pelvic floor muscle training, alone or in combination with approaches such as stimulation or biofeedback, to men undergoing radical prostatectomy to help speed recovery from urinary incontinence. [3]

EMSELLA uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic technology, or HIFEM, to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles.

These muscles contribute to urinary control after prostate surgery.

During treatment:

There is no internal probe and no surgical procedure.

The purpose is to repeatedly stimulate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles involved in continence.

Yes.

A 2025 study specifically evaluated the BTL EMSELLA chair in 27 men with persistent urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy.

Participants received:

6 treatments

2 treatments per week

28 minutes per session

Their average urinary incontinence score decreased from 10.58 before treatment to 5.43 after the treatment course.

At the one-month follow-up, the average score had fallen further to 4.16.

That represented average improvements of:

53.1% immediately after treatment

and

60.6% at one month

compared with baseline. [2]

Daily pad use also decreased significantly.

No adverse events were reported during the study. [2]

Yes.

In the same 2025 EMSELLA® study, an ICIQ-SF score of zero, indicating complete continence on that measure, was documented in:

The researchers also observed further improvement in a number of patients between the completion of treatment and the one-month follow-up. [2]

This reinforces an important point:

pelvic floor recovery can continue after the final EMSELLA session.

There is not one online rule that should be applied to every man.

The timing depends on your operation and recovery.

The strongest direct 2025 EMSELLA study enrolled men whose radical prostatectomy had occurred at least six months earlier and who continued to experience daily urinary leakage despite previous conservative treatment such as pelvic floor exercises. [2]

That is important context.

It means the published results specifically support EMSELLA in men with persistent post-prostatectomy incontinence.

It does not mean that every patient must wait exactly six months before EMSELLA can ever be considered.

Equally, it would be inappropriate to use that research to claim that EMSELLA should routinely begin immediately following surgery.

At ¹EM, Dr Emir determines timing according to the individual clinical situation.

Often, yes.

Current European urological guidance notes that conventional pelvic floor muscle training is commonly commenced relatively early after prostatectomy, including after catheter removal. [3]

However:

ordinary voluntary pelvic floor exercises and high-intensity electromagnetic stimulation are not identical treatments.

Evidence supporting early pelvic floor exercises should therefore not automatically be converted into an identical timing recommendation for EMSELLA.

This is precisely why previous surgery and timing are reviewed before treatment begins.

Your assessment may include:

The strongest direct EMSELLA evidence is after radical prostatectomy.

Other procedures involving the prostate are not automatically equivalent.

The stage of postoperative recovery matters.

Catheter status and urinary recovery are important components of the postoperative picture.

This may include:

For example, whether you have already been performing pelvic floor exercises or undergoing pelvic floor physiotherapy.

Any significant complication may affect the treatment plan.

Radiotherapy, systemic treatment and ongoing oncology or urology care may also be relevant.

EMSELLA should not be used in patients with contraindicated electronic or metallic implants.

Difficulty passing urine, unusual pain, haematuria or other significant urinary changes may require appropriate medical or urological review rather than simply starting pelvic floor strengthening.

The strongest direct post-prostate evidence is specifically for men who have undergone radical prostatectomy, most commonly for prostate cancer.

Other prostate procedures can also affect urinary function, but they are not necessarily the same clinical situation.

For example:

remove or alter prostate tissue differently from radical prostatectomy.

If you have had another type of prostate surgery, tell us exactly what procedure you had.

Dr Emir can determine whether pelvic floor strengthening is appropriate in that context rather than assuming all prostate procedures are interchangeable.

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy is still a radical prostatectomy.

Pelvic floor rehabilitation forms an important part of recovery for many men following robotic prostate removal.

Current EAU guidance notes evidence that adding pelvic floor muscle training to postoperative management after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy can shorten time to continence recovery. [3]

Whether EMSELLA® should form part of that rehabilitation plan still depends on your individual recovery and treatment suitability.

The 2025 EMSELLA study included men who had undergone radical prostatectomy, including men treated through an open surgical approach. [2]

The principle remains the same.

The clinical question is not simply how the surgeon accessed the prostate.

It is:

how are you recovering, what urinary symptoms remain, and is pelvic floor strengthening appropriate now?

Not necessarily.

Pelvic floor muscle training is already recognised within post-prostatectomy rehabilitation. [3]

EMSELLA® offers a different method of stimulating the pelvic floor.

Traditional pelvic floor exercises require you to:

EMSELLA® uses electromagnetic stimulation to generate repeated pelvic floor muscle contractions during treatment.

The two approaches can potentially complement one another rather than requiring an either-or decision.

That is particularly relevant.

The 2025 direct EMSELLA study included men with persistent daily leakage despite previous conservative management such as pelvic floor exercises. [2]

So persistent symptoms despite an initial rehabilitation effort do not necessarily mean there is nothing else to consider.

At the same time, ongoing leakage should still be assessed clinically.

Depending on severity and duration, other continence treatment options may also need consideration.

A 2026 rapid evidence assessment reviewed extracorporeal magnetic stimulation for urinary incontinence in adult men.

It identified:

Most participants had post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence.

The review found generally positive results, including:

The authors concluded that the evidence remains limited but generally positive and that larger high-quality studies are still needed. [4]

This evidence covers extracorporeal magnetic stimulation more broadly and is not limited exclusively to the EMSELLA device.

Yes.

A 2025 randomised, quadruple-blind, sham-controlled trial studied 40 men with urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

Twenty received active magnetic stimulation and twenty received sham treatment.

At eight weeks, the active-treatment group had significantly better outcomes.

Reported improvement rates were:

75% with active treatment

compared with

26.3% with sham treatment.

Reported continence rates were:

45% with active treatment

compared with

15.8% with sham treatment.

Active treatment also produced greater improvements in:

No serious treatment-related side effects were reported. [5]

This study used extracorporeal magnetic stimulation rather than the EMSELLA® device specifically.

It therefore strengthens evidence for the treatment mechanism, while the 2025 27-man study provides the more direct EMSELLA® evidence.

The direct 2025 EMSELLA® study used:

6 sessions

2 sessions per week

28 minutes per treatment. [2]

This aligns closely with the standard initial EMSELLA® program at ¹EM.

Your clinical circumstances and progress are still reviewed individually.

Related article: How Many EMSELLA® Sessions Are Recommended?

Improvement is generally better understood as progressive rather than instantaneous.

In the 2025 EMSELLA study, significant improvement was measured after six sessions, with further improvement seen at one-month follow-up. [2]

This suggests that muscular adaptation and continence recovery may continue after the final treatment session.

Related article: How Soon Will I Notice Results?

For post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence, useful real-world outcomes include:

Clinical studies also use validated questionnaires such as the ICIQ-SF to quantify urinary incontinence severity.

At ¹EM, the aim is not simply to complete six appointments.

It is to determine whether continence is actually changing.

That matters.

Continence commonly improves over time following radical prostatectomy.

The ¹EM assessment therefore considers the trajectory of your recovery, not simply whether leakage exists.

The question becomes:

Is additional pelvic floor stimulation likely to add meaningful value at this point in your recovery?

This is more useful than treating every man on an identical postoperative timetable.

Persistent pad use is a good reason to discuss pelvic floor rehabilitation and your broader continence pathway.

The direct EMSELLA study specifically involved men with persistent urinary leakage at least six months following radical prostatectomy. [2]

However, persistent incontinence can range from mild to severe.

If urinary leakage remains significant, other urological management options may also need consideration.

EMSELLA does not remove the need for appropriate specialist follow-up.

No.

Your urologist remains important after prostate surgery, particularly if you are also undergoing:

EMSELLA is a pelvic floor rehabilitation treatment.

It should sit alongside appropriate medical care, not replace it.

This is common after radical prostatectomy.

Erectile function following prostate surgery can be influenced by:

Pelvic floor muscles contribute to erection rigidity and maintenance, and early HIFEM research has reported improvements in selected male sexual-function outcomes.

However, erectile dysfunction after prostatectomy is more complex than pelvic floor weakness alone.

At ¹EM, urinary and sexual symptoms can be discussed together confidentially so Dr Emir can determine where pelvic floor rehabilitation may fit.

Related article: Can EMSELLA Help With Sexual Function or Erection Quality?

Potentially.

Urinary leakage can affect considerably more than pad use.

Men may change:

Published studies of magnetic pelvic floor stimulation after prostatectomy have reported improvements in quality-of-life measures alongside improvements in continence. [4,5]

A small 2024 HIFEM pilot also reported improvements in urinary incontinence-related sleep, emotional and social domains after treatment.

These findings should be understood as improvements associated with reducing the burden of incontinence, rather than EMSELLA being a direct treatment for mood or sleep disorders.

EMSELLA treatment is generally described as strong pelvic floor muscle contractions rather than pain.

You remain fully clothed and seated throughout the approximately 30-minute session.

If treatment becomes unexpectedly painful or uncomfortable, tell the clinical team immediately.

Related article: Is EMSELLA Painful?

There is generally no required downtime from the EMSELLA session itself.

Most suitable patients can return to normal daily activities afterwards.

However, this does not override restrictions associated with your prostate surgery.

If your surgeon has advised you to avoid certain activities during recovery, those instructions still apply.

Related article: Is There Any Downtime After EMSELLA?

Tell us exactly what was implanted.

This is particularly important if you have had subsequent continence procedures involving devices such as an artificial urinary sphincter or other implanted equipment.

BTL Australia's current safety information states that EMSELLA should not be applied in patients with electronic or metal implants. [1]

An online answer or reception should never independently clear an implanted device.

Where relevant, Dr Emir can review the device details and medical records before treatment is considered.

Related article: Who May Not Be Suitable for EMSCULPT NEO or EMSELLA?

If you are seeking EMSELLA following prostate surgery, Dr Emir and the clinical team may consider:

Where useful, relevant surgical or medical records can also be reviewed.

The aim is to understand where you are in recovery and whether EMSELLA is appropriate now.

Yes, potentially. EMSELLA has been specifically studied in men with persistent urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy.

Yes. BTL Australia's current intended-purpose information specifically includes urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

There is no universal online rule that should be applied to every patient.

The strongest direct EMSELLA study involved men at least six months after radical prostatectomy with persistent daily leakage. Timing at ¹EM is determined according to your individual recovery and clinical assessment.

No. That was an inclusion criterion for a specific clinical study, not evidence of a universal mandatory treatment interval.

It does mean that the strongest direct published evidence currently relates to persistent rather than immediate postoperative incontinence.

Do not assume so.

Conventional pelvic floor exercises may begin relatively early after catheter removal, but EMSELLA is a different form of high-intensity muscle stimulation.

Dr Emir should assess whether treatment timing is appropriate.

Yes, clinical studies have reported significant reductions in pad dependence following treatment.

Yes, some men in published studies reached complete continence measures following treatment.

Individual response varies.

The standard initial ¹EM program is generally six sessions, usually scheduled twice weekly.

Potentially. The 2025 direct EMSELLA study included men with persistent leakage despite prior conservative management such as pelvic floor exercises.

Potentially. Robotic radical prostatectomy is still radical prostatectomy, but individual recovery and treatment suitability need to be assessed.

Possibly, depending on the clinical problem, but the strongest direct EMSELLA® evidence discussed here is specifically after radical prostatectomy.

Tell Dr Emir exactly which procedure you had.

No. EMSELLA is a pelvic floor rehabilitation treatment and does not replace appropriate urological or prostate cancer follow-up.

Do not assume so.

Implanted continence devices require specific review, and electronic or metallic implants may make EMSELLA inappropriate.

No. Treatment is performed while you remain fully clothed and seated.

Urinary incontinence can be one of the most frustrating parts of recovery after radical prostatectomy.

For many men, it affects far more than bathroom habits.

It can affect:

Pelvic floor rehabilitation is an important part of continence recovery, and EMSELLA® now has direct published evidence specifically in men with persistent post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. [2]

The useful question is not simply:

"Have I had prostate surgery?"

It is:

"Where am I in my recovery, what urinary symptoms remain, and could additional pelvic floor strengthening help?"

If urinary leakage is continuing after prostate surgery, you do not need to decide on your own whether it is too early, too late or severe enough for EMSELLA®.

At ¹EM, Dr Emir can review your surgery, recovery, continence symptoms and treatment goals and determine whether EMSELLA® pelvic floor strengthening is appropriate for you.

CTA heading: Rebuild Pelvic Floor Strength After Prostate Surgery

CTA description: Book a confidential complimentary men's health consultation to review your urinary symptoms, post-prostate recovery and whether EMSELLA® should form part of your rehabilitation plan.

CTA button: Book a Men's Health Consultation

Internal links to add:

1. BTL Aesthetics Australia. EMSELLA® Australian Intended Purpose and Safety Information.

BTL Australia lists urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy among the genitourinary disorders for which EMSELLA® is intended to provide pelvic floor muscle strengthening in Australia. The Australian information lists the device under ARTG 302821.

2. Tosun H, et al. Evaluating the Efficacy of High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Therapy for Postprostatectomy Incontinence in Men. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 2025. PMID: 40909763.

Twenty-seven men with persistent urinary incontinence at least six months after radical prostatectomy received six 28-minute EMSELLA® sessions twice weekly. Mean urinary incontinence scores improved by 53.1% after treatment and 60.6% at one month, with significant reductions in pad dependence and no adverse events reported.

3. European Association of Urology. 2026 Guidelines on the Management of Non-Neurogenic Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

The EAU recommends offering pelvic floor muscle training alone or in combination with techniques such as stimulation or biofeedback to men undergoing radical prostatectomy to help speed continence recovery. The guideline also notes that conventional pelvic floor muscle training is commonly commenced early following catheter removal.

4. Wong R, Welk B. A Rapid Evidence Assessment for Extracorporeal Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Men. Canadian Urological Association Journal. 2026;20(2):63-70. PMID: 41191830.

Nine studies involving 181 men treated with extracorporeal magnetic stimulation were identified, predominantly following prostatectomy. Evidence was limited but generally positive, with several studies reporting earlier continence recovery and improvements in quality of life.

5. Unal B, et al. Efficacy of Magnetic Stimulation in Men With Urinary Incontinence After Radical Prostatectomy: A Randomized, Quadruple-Blind, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial. Neurourology and Urodynamics. 2025. PMID: 40223765.

Forty men were randomised to active or sham magnetic stimulation. Active treatment produced significantly greater improvement and continence rates and better urinary and quality-of-life outcomes at eight weeks. This study used extracorporeal magnetic stimulation rather than the EMSELLA® device specifically and therefore supports the broader treatment mechanism.

This article provides general health information and does not replace individual postoperative or urological assessment. Recovery after prostate surgery varies between patients. Treatment timing and suitability depend on the procedure performed, healing, current urinary symptoms, medical history, implanted devices and other individual clinical factors.