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If you are a male over 45 years old and experience difficulty urinating or always feel like your bladder is full, you may have an enlarged prostate. The Urologists at East Valley Urology Centerare highly trained in diagnosing and treating prostate issues. They are experts in minimally invasive procedures including UroLift® to correct enlarged prostate problems and relieve problems with urination. Call or book a consultation online today to learn more.

Urolift Q & A

What causes an enlarged prostate?

The prostate is a male gland essential to producing semen. The prostate surrounds the urethra, the tube that transports urine out of the body. As you age, the prostate tissue grows larger. If it becomes too big, complications like urination problems may occur.

What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate frequently occur in men 45 years and older:

  • Difficulty urinating
  • Blood in your urine
  • An urgent need to urinate
  • A weak or slow urine stream
  • A persistent feeling that your bladder is full

Untreated prostate problems may lead to other medical conditions, including frequent urinary tract infections or damage to your bladder or kidneys.

How is an enlarged prostate diagnosed?

First, your doctor reviews your medical history and symptoms. Next, he performs several tests to identify an enlarged prostate, including:

  • Blood tests
  • Imaging tests
  • A urine flow study
  • A digital rectal exam

For a more in-depth look at your bladder and urethra, you may require a cystoscopy procedure. Expect your doctor to insert a small tube with a lens attached into your urethra to identify an enlarged prostate and rule out other medical conditions.

What is the UroLift System?

The UroLift® System treatment is a revolutionary, minimally invasive approach to treating an enlarged prostate, or BPH, that lifts or holds the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra. There is no cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue.

Clinical data has shown that the UroLift System treatment is safe and effective in relieving lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH without compromising sexual function1,4. The goal of the UroLift System treatment is to relieve symptoms so you can get back to your life and resume your daily activities.

Most common side effects are light blood in the urine, some pain or discomfort when urinating, some increased urge to go and discomfort in the pelvis that typically resolve within two to four weeks after the procedure. 

Advantages of the UroLift System: 

  • Rapid symptom relief, better than reported for medications
  • Risk profile better than reported for surgical procedures such as TURP
  • Preservation of sexual function
  • Return to normal activity in days not months
  • Increased quality of life
  • No ongoing BPH medications
  • 19 clinical study publications; 5 years published clinical data

How the UroLift works

The UroLift System treatment is a straightforward procedure that is performed by a urologist. The urologist places tiny implants to hold the prostate lobes apart, like open curtains on a window, to relieve compression on the urethra. This allows urine to flow normally again. The UroLift System treatment is done as an out-patient. Typically, patients return home the same day without a catheter.

What can I expect during a UroLift procedure?

The procedure uses tiny implants that keep the enlarged tissue out of the way of the urethra. Your doctor administers a local or general anesthetic before the procedure to prevent discomfort.

A UroLift device deploys those implants into the prostate tissue. The implants are permanent and provide long-term relief of enlarged prostate complications.

Your doctor performs this same-day procedure in a comfortable office environment. Following the treatment, he may prescribe medication to relieve discomfort.

What can I expect after the UroLift procedure?

After the UroLift procedure, patients typically return home the same day without a catheter. Most patients experience minimal downtime after the treatment, and many patients experience symptom relief in as early as two weeks. 

During recovery, it’s not uncommon to see some blood in your urine or experience pain during urination. These issues usually resolve a week or two after the procedure. Your doctor provides instructions for proper recovery, including a timeline for when you can return to your normal routine and resume sexual activity.

What sets the doctors at East Valley Urology Center apart from other places offering the Urolift system?

East Valley Urology Center was the first practice in Arizona to have multiple doctors attain the Center of Excellence national recognition for superior outcomes with the Urolift system. Our doctors also hold national recognition for other BPH procedures as well.

Frequently Asked Questions For the Advanced Patient

The UroLift® System is a new minimally invasive treatment designed to treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
The UroLift System consists of a delivery device and tiny permanent implants. FDA cleared in 2013, this unique technology works by directly opening the urethra with tiny implants that hold the enlarged tissue out of the way, like tiebacks on a window curtain. No cutting, heating, or ablating tissue is involved, making the UroLift System the first and only BPH treatment that does not remove prostate tissue and does not negatively impact a man’s sexual function.
The UroLift System is a proven treatment option for BPH patients who are looking for an alternative to drugs or major surgery. You may be considering or scheduled for a TURP/Laser treatment, or are unhappy with or have stopped taking medications. The UroLift System is appropriate for patients seeking a minimally invasive treatment and are concerned about preserving their sexual function and their quality of life.
If you and your doctor decide that the UroLift System treatment is right for you, your doctor will provide the specific, detailed information relating to your condition. In general, the UroLift System is a minimally invasive treatment that entails minimal downtime. Your doctor will use the UroLift delivery device to deploy permanent implants to relieve obstruction caused by the enlarged prostate that is pressing on your urethra. The procedure may be performed under local or general anesthesia and you may be given medication to feel comfortable during the treatment. Typically, no catheter and no overnight stay is required post-treatment.
After the treatment, almost all patients go home the same day without a catheter. There is minimal downtime post-treatment and many patients experience symptom relief in as early as 2 weeks. Patients may experience some urinary discomfort during the recovery period. The most common side effects may include light blood in the urine, some pain or discomfort when urinating, some increased urge to go and discomfort in the pelvis that typically resolve within two to four weeks after the procedure.
Sexual function has been preserved among the hundreds of patients treated in our clinical studies. This is a unique benefit of the UroLift System treatment compared with other BPH therapies such as TURP, laser, and even medication.
The UroLift Implant is a permanent implant, and the treatment is intended to be permanent. Durability has been shown to at least 5 years in U.S. clinical data,(1) and results will continue to be published as follow-ups continue. One unique aspect of the UroLift System is that it does not preclude retreatment or other BPH treatments, should that be needed and desired in the future.
The implant is made up of standard surgical implantable materials: a nitinol capsular tab, a stainless steel urethral tab, and polyester suture that holds the two tabs together. Your doctor can simply remove the implant, if needed. The suture can be cut and the urethral endpiece can be retrieved with a standard grasper. The capsular tab will remain outside the prostate capsule in place.
The primary contraindications are an obstructive or protruding median lobe of the prostate and a prostate with a volume of >80cc.

Non-clinical testing has demonstrated that the UroLift Implant is MR Conditional. That means that you can be safely scanned in an MR system meeting the following conditions:

  • Static magnetic field of 3 Tesla or less
  • Maximum spatial gradient magnetic field of 1500 Gauss/cm (15 T/m) or less
  • Maximum MR system reported, whole body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4 W/kg (First Level Controlled Mode)

Under the scan conditions defined above, the UroLift implant is expected to produce a maximum temperature rise of 2.4°C after 15 minutes of continuous scanning.

In non-clinical testing, the image artifact caused by the device extends approximately 15 mm from the UroLift Implant when imaged with a gradient echo pulse sequence and a 3 Tesla MRI system.

Patient implant cards are provided to inform the patient that the UroLift implant is MR Conditional and can safely be scanned only under specific MR conditions.

If you have any questions about MRI safety, please consult your doctor.

No. The implants are placed on the anterior (front) side of the prostate, and a DRE is conducted on the posterior (back) side of the prostate. The implants are not expected to interfere in a DRE.
Over 950 patient-years of clinical data has been presented in peer-reviewed publications to date demonstrating that the UroLift System is safe and effective. Clinical studies have been conducted in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.
The first step is to make an appointment with a urologist to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for the treatment. At East Valley Urology Center, we woud be happy work with you and your health plan to learn more about your healthcare benefits specific to the UroLift implant procedure.
Yes, all Medicare carriers provide benefits for the UroLift System when medically necessary. Discuss the UroLift System with your physician to determine if the UroLift treatment is an option for you.
A urologist, a doctor who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the urinary system and sex organs, uses the UroLift System to treat urinary symptoms due to BPH. The urologist completes comprehensive training prior to using the UroLift System. Find a UroLift System doctor.
The UroLift System is available for sale in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia.
NeoTract, Inc. manufactures the UroLift System. The company is based in Pleasanton, California.