What is UroLift?
UroLift is a minimally invasive treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged and squeezes the urethra. As a result, patients with BPH may experience symptoms, including:
- A need to frequently empty the bladder, especially at night
- A sensation that the bladder is not empty, even after urinating is complete
- Decreased size and strength of the urine stream
- Difficulty in beginning to urinate
- Dribbling after urination ends
- Inability to postpone urination once the urge to urinate begins
- Pushing or straining in order to urinate
How does UroLift work?
During the UroLift procedure, the surgeon inserts implants to separate the two lobes of the prostate (similar to opening curtains). In doing so, compression on the urethra is relieved, enabling urine to flow normally.
UroLift can be performed in an office setting or as a same-day procedure in an ambulatory surgery center. Catheters usually aren’t required, and patients experience a shorter recovery overall.
Who is a candidate for UroLift?
Patients who are on medications such as RAPAFLO® or Flomax® that are either experiencing adverse effects or wish to stop the medicine are potential candidates for UroLift. Unlike more traditional treatment options—such as GreenLight™ Laser Therapy or transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)—there is almost no risk of erectile dysfunction or retrograde ejaculation with this procedure.
The evaluation to determine if a patient is a viable UroLift candidate includes a:
- Review of symptoms
- Prostate exam
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level assessment
- Cystoscopy (a procedure in which a telescope is inserted into the urethra to look at the prostate)
Meet the UroLift Specialists
At Partners in Urology, our specialists are the first in the Robert Wood Johnson Health System to offer and perform UroLift. As a practice, we are dedicated to the most advanced treatment techniques for BPH and other urological conditions in a continuous effort to provide superior care to our patients.
For more information on UroLift or to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, contact Partners in Urology today.
