Treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) doesn’t always mean medications or invasive procedures at surgical centers.
When medications are no longer effective and the side effects of BPH become intolerable (frequent trips to the restroom, an urgent need to urinate, poor sleep due to waking up throughout the night to urinate), surgical options are usually the next treatment option.
The traditional TURP (Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate) procedure is the most common surgical option for BPH. Men refer to it as the “roto rooter” surgery, and it’s true that the TURP includes removing the obstructing prostate tissue. This is done using a surgical instrument called a resectoscope, which gets inserted through the urethra. It has an electrical wire loop which cuts obstructing prostate tissue and seals blood vessels one piece at a time. Although no actual incisions are needed, because it involves cutting and cauterizing tissue it can seem invasive.
However, there is another surgical method that doesn’t require cutting, heating or removing prostate tissue: UroLift. UroLift is an in-office procedure that treats BPH by implanting small “stents” that lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue so it no longer blocks the urethra. Additionally, the UroLift procedure typically includes less recovery time than a TURP. Urination usually improves in about 2 weeks and a catheter is often unnecessary post-procedure. UroLift is not appropriate for all patients, but for most it’s an alternative option to a TURP.
To learn more about UroLift and other BPH treatment options, contact us to schedule a consultation with a provider today!
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