UroLift Procedure: The Non-Surgical Solution for BPH

Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology | February 05, 2024

UroLift Procedure: The Non-Surgical Solution for BPH

As men age, they can experience an enlargement of the prostate resulting from a condition called BPH, or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Although benign, this condition can cause significant challenges in our daily lives because the enlarged prostate can obstruct the urethra. Consequently, the individual suffering from BPH may experience symptoms like difficulty in urination. To resolve this issue, typically medications are used or a TURP surgery is advised, which is invasive and needs a reasonably long recovery time. An alternative option to that is the UroLift Procedure, which we will be discussing in this article.

What is the UroLift Procedure?

The UroLift Prostate Procedure is a minimally invasive treatment procedure to treat BPH in men. This procedure is conducted by utilising small implants, which are used to lift and hold the enlarged tissue in the prostate. This helps in relieving the obstruction of urethra and in turn resolving the BPH symptoms. Since this procedure does not require any major surgical processes, including cutting or removing the tissue, it is much safer and aids in quick recovery post-procedure. By relieving the obstruction of the urethra, this procedure helps to improve the quality of life of the individual suffering from BPH, as they do not experience the difficulty in urination.

Before opting for the Urolift Procedure, it is critical to consult a medical professional and understand the requirements for one’s particular case.

BPH Symptoms

Knowing the symptoms of BPH is essential for identifying the issue. The main symptoms a patient may experience include the following:

• Slow or weak urine stream
• Inconsistent urine stream that often stops and starts in between
• Frequent urination at all times
• Inability to hold urination or getting an urgent feeling to urinate
• Experiencing difficulty initiating urination
• Sense of incomplete emptying of the urinary bladder

Conducting the UroLift Procedure

Although it is not a surgical procedure that involves any sort of cutting on the patient’s body, the UroLift procedure does involve multiple steps that need to be conducted precisely. The main steps included in this procedure include the following:

• Introducing the delivery device into the urethra until it reaches the enlarged prostate region. Since it is inserted through the urethra, there is no need for any cuts or incisions.
• The next step involves lodging and placing the small implants (typically 4-6) to hold the enlarged tissue of the prostate. These implants successfully keep the enlarged tissue out of the way, thereby ensuring that the urethra is not obstructed, and providing relief to the patients.
• The last step involves pulling back the delivery device after the implants have been placed and the urethra is opened. Once the procedure is completed, the patients tend to gain improvement of their urinary symptoms as the relief progresses.

With such minimal steps involved, there are very limited and temporary UroLift procedure side effects that one may experience. Typical side effects of this procedure can include temporary pain in the pelvic region, difficulty or pain during urination, increased urination frequency, and experiencing discomfort in the bladder or prostate region. However, it is essential to remember that the pain experienced is considerably less than with methods like TURP surgery, and patients are sure to make a quicker recovery from the procedure.

Benefits of the Urolift Procedure

The UroLift treatment procedure for BPH offers a lot of benefits to the patients, which has led it to become an increasingly popular treatment choice. Some of the core advantages of this procedure include the following:

• Shorter Duration of Procedure: The Urolift treatment is known for being a quick procedure that can be completed from start to finish in under an hour. Because there are no cutting or invasive steps involved, the process is quite time-efficient.
• Quicker Recovery: Since there is no invasive surgery needed, there are fewer things that the body needs to recover from. As such, the recovery to complete normalcy is comparatively more rapid for this procedure as compared to more invasive treatments.
• No Long-Term Medications: By getting a minimally invasive procedure, patients save themselves from having to consume medications for a long time, which is typically part of medication therapy treatment for BPH.
• No major concerning sexual side-effects such as retrograde ejaculation which is commonly found with other surgical interventions for BPH such as TURP. There is no impact on the sexual functions with urolift procedure. By making the patients free from the medications, it rather helps in improving and recovering from the sexual side-effects of the medications as well.

With so many benefits, the urolift treatment stands out as a safer option to pick. This procedure is also known for helping men retain sexual function, which can be hampered by other treatments.

However, after undergoing this procedure, it is essential that the patients follow precautionary care to ensure a full and rapid recovery. Some ways to practice care would include avoiding lifting heavy weights or engaging in strenuous exercises or activities for the duration prescribed by the doctors. Additionally, the patients need to avoid sexual activities

until they recover. Lastly, a focus on recovery should include a healthy diet and the consumption of adequate water.

Which is better: TURP or UroLift?

TURP is a traditional surgery to aid BPH in men. Compared to it, UroLift is a much less invasive procedure with little to no risks involved.

Is UroLift a successful procedure?

Compared to other treatments available in India, the UroLift procedure promises a higher success rate in men. The duration of recovery for this procedure is also much shorter, and the pain experienced is much less, making it a better choice.

What does UroLift cost?

Although in general the cost of a UroLift procedure can vary depending upon the individual case complexity as well as the region within India where it is being conducted, it can typically fall within the range of INR 1,50,000 to 3,50,000.

How long can aUroLift last?

Conducting the UroLift procedure does not take very long. In a mere 20-30 minutes, the procedure can be easily completed.

Does UroLift damage the prostate?

The UroLift procedure is designed to be minimally invasive. As such, it does not harm the prostate. In fact, the aim is to protect prostate function.